What should I work on the most if I want to improve my chances of getting into Stanford?:

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
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Hi all,
I have been aiming to go to Stanford for years now, and it is my #1 dream school. I know my odds for getting in are low, but I was wondering if you all could give me some advice on what to work on? I am currently a junior in high school Thanks!

GPA (unweighted): 4.0
GPA (weighted): 4.553 (AP = 5, Honors = 4.5, Regular = 4)

PSAT: 1500 (probably National Merit Scholar, but I don’t know yet)
SAT: 1570
ACT: not taken yet, taking in June
SAT Subject: World History: 780, and I am taking Math II and Chemistry this June
AP Tests: 5’s on Physics C Mechanics and Calc AB, and a 4 on World History

I am currently taking AP Spanish, AP Language, AP Chemistry, AP Calc BC, and AP US History, and I am planning on taking all 5 AP tests. I have registered for AP Comp Sci, AP Lit, AP Bio, AP Statistics, and AP Govt next year

Extracurriculars:
Lead trumpet player of my high school’s jazz band, which is one of the best in the country (Garfield High School). Our band has won the national competition 4 times (although not while I have been a part of it), performed at Lincoln Center, played with the Seattle Symphony, and toured Europe.

Volunteering ~100 hours, tutoring students in math and on trumpet, as well as doing trail maintenance.

Founder and President of Engineering Club at my school
Member of Earth Corps, Junior Statesmen of America, and Multiracial Student Union.

Leader for an outdoors organization at my school.

Cross Country (Varsity, but barely), and Track. My rec soccer team lost the state championship sophomore year, too.

I also took an online Spanish 4 course, to make up for several bad Spanish teachers that I’ve had

Lastly, my father got a PhD from Stanford in 1998, which might help.

Anyways, what do you guys think are the biggest things missing from my application?

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whoops sorry, wrong thread

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My partner’s son graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford four years ago and the one element that stood out the most was his essay which laid bare his heart, mind and soul. I won’t go into further detail but he really let the readers into his thoughts and feelings on a weighty personal matter. He had all the other academic bells and whistles but who he was came through in his writing

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This is the Duke forum. Did you inadvertently post here by mistake? If Stanford is your top choice, not sure if many of here can give advice.

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OP, how about attention to detail? (Sorry, couldn’t resist. Best of luck.)

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@nigelthetrumpet you seem to be passionate about the trumpet! You really want to stand out above the field. If I were brutally honest, you’re grades are stellar and you have prolific extracurriculars, but otherwise so does everyone else that applies to Stanford. How do you stand out? Maybe it’s with the trumpet.

World class jazz musicians are more accessible than you probably think. To talk to, to be mentored, to build relationships. Why not? How many other brilliant students applying to Stanford could write about their experience with some world class musician? Stands out.