Hello all, thanks for stopping by. First off, I really freaking want to go to Stanford. But, i have a problem. My parents made me go to this small christian high school that i didn’t like that much (our public school system where I live is pretty bad). All they had to offer was honors all the way up until junior year they finally offered some AP. Well, freshman year I got all A’s except one high B in spanish and i took all honors and got MVP for the varsity soccer team. In Sophomore year I took all honors (got a B in spanish one quarter and a high B in math one quarter) and got top scorer on the soccer team, was a soccer referee, was running a business on etsy, was apart of my senators campaign (only a few were), in NHS, and started my blog which I really have a passion for. Junior year I decided I needed to switch schools because this school was not offering enough for me so, I switched schools which was a lot better than my overall experience at my last school and I am taking 2 College Classes and then the rest are honors and I also am taking Spanish 3, am the president of the 4-H club, got top-scorer in my soccer team, and joined a rec. volleyball team (i like volleyball and I am good at most sports I play). Junior year I also got to teach a 5th grade girls life group and have the responsibility of doing that, I won the Presidents National Volunteer Award, my blog became more successful and I started a business online and gave part of my profits to saving sea animals because I love the sea and the animals that inhibit the ocean. I also got PADI dive certified and I dive a lot in the ocean and help out with beach cleanups a lot in my 4-H group, also as of right now i am getting all 95 and above in all of my classes. How do I look so far in consideration to Stanford and question: does AP and IB look better than taking Colleege classes? Which is better looking?
UCSD looks pretty good as does UC Santa Barbara (UCSB).
The top schools want to see you take the most rigorous courses available to you.
SATs?
ETA: And why do you want to go to Stanford, again?
Not a great idea to fixate on one school (especially an elite one) during this process. Also not a great life plan to do things based on how they “look” to others rather than what is interesting and important to you.
@JustOneDad I did take the most rigorous courses available to me… my SAT was a 2200 and I want to go because I like the school.
This coming year there will be about 40,000 other students who ‘like’ it, too. Do you know any of them? I mean, have you met any other students from other schools who look good for Stanford?
yes I do actually know a few students @JustOneDad
How about students who go to Stanford?
yes, thats what I meant… Stanford students. @JustOneDad
What does it mean when you say you are taking ‘college classes’?
@JustOneDad I am taking 2 actual college classes not AP, college.
Do you mean your HS has cross-registration with a community college or …?
yes, a state college actually. @JustOneDad
What classes?
US History, Comp 1, and Calculus
and I am taking an elective math that is liberal arts math @JustOneDad
What part of your application are you the proudest of?
Well my GPA and SaT scores are good but I really am proud of the Presidents Volunteer Community Service award and I really like my Extra-curriculars like diving, my blog, my philanthropic business, my entrepreneurial spirit.
Have you seen the marine programs at UCSD and UCSB?
Lots of good marine programs at the UCs, but is the OP in-state for California or have parents able to pay the full $55K+ OOS cost?
UC Berkeley has a research station in Moorea. We drool over Facebook photos from a friend involved in administering the dive part of the program. UCSB and UCSD are also good.
@JustOneDad @Ynotgo I really love diving and have a passion for it but it’s just a hobby/discovery thing for me. I don’t want to have it be my career or anything I just like to do that in my free Time or when I can/ to discover and research on my own. I want to get my MBA, or become a lawyer!