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Going to make this as brief as possible:
Applying Stanford EA, California resident, Asain Male.

Good/Decent info:
- Class rank 1/624 (not sharing I believe)
- weighted 4.24 Total GPA, unweighted 4.0 (regular classes = 4.0, AP = 5.0)
- 1430 SAT 1 (800m 630v)
- AP's: 5 in Calculus AB/BC; 3 in World History, US History, English Language/Comp
- Teacher recs (I hope)

Bad:
- Minimal EC's: Varsity Hockey (club sport, but lettered) 3 years, 2 School Specific clubs (officer) only for senior year, NHS (maybe) senior year.
- 10 HOURS community service so far
- 2 in AP Biology
- no real hooks

Other:
- Taken most rigorous classload all years, currently in AP Government, AP Econ, AP English Lit, and AP Physics.
- My school is quite low on standards, I believe I share the highest SAT score with one other person at our school. NO ONE from my school has been accepted to Stanford, dont think any Ivies either. Its not a new school either.

After discovering this board I was hit by reality. Everything I have is sub-par (to the people on this board) except my rank/GPA, which is due to my area/school. I have HORRIBLE EC's and nothing to make me stand out. I know it is mostly a lottery ticket but any and all opinions will be most greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time!

By Lefty9ak (Lefty9ak) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 06:33 pm: Edit

I too, go to a pretty horrible hs and would like to go to Stanford. My 1480 is like the best in YEARS and it's been about 20 years since anybody got into Stanford. My best advice is try to emphasize how you've risen above your school's mediocrity (I AM!). You should take the SAT II's also. Good luck to you, and don't stress too much about your chances...it's a lottery for some and a waste of time for the rest who apply there. At least you're in the former group.

By Miseryxsignals (Miseryxsignals) on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 08:37 pm: Edit

thanks lefty! Looks like we are on the same boat, good luck to you as well on admissions. I am signed up for the Nov 1st SAT II's but dont know if that'll be too late.

By Pinkfreud (Pinkfreud) on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 12:00 am: Edit

standard EA is november 1st...

By Miseryxsignals (Miseryxsignals) on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 03:04 am: Edit

yeah, i heard some conflicting things like they do accept nov 1st, or they dont. i guess i'm just sending them regardless, unrushed. whatever

By Ycnan7 (Ycnan7) on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 04:31 pm: Edit

I feel the same way as you two. I thought my chances were OK in getting into Stanford or some other schools, but now after reading about so many of the .. better.. students applying, i feel so down. I'm an Asian female from Chicago, but i visited Stanford this summer. It's a nice school, but since i had envisioned a perfect image of it prior to going there, i was a bit disappointed. Oh well, I'm applying ED to Northwestern now. By the way, your stats are not so bad, but maybe turn in some more service hours... Doesn't your school have a minimum number of hours in order to graduate?

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 07:16 pm: Edit

Probably won't get into Stanford, but you have a very nice chance at Berkley and UCLA. Have you looked at those schools?

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 07:29 pm: Edit

Last year's stats for Stanford:
13% accepted overall, 23% of ED applicants accepted, 25th percentile SAT 1350, 75th percentile 1540, 88% of accepted students in top 10th of class, ranked 6th nationally in selectivity. Source: The Atlantic Monthly, November 2003.

Have good back ups. Your application is a lottery ticket. Good luck to all!

By Miseryxsignals (Miseryxsignals) on Sunday, October 05, 2003 - 03:48 pm: Edit

Thanks for all the input! I'm looking at UC Berkley and UCLA, as well as USC and *maybe* CalTech (long shot). Ycnan my school has a 10 hour min to graduate for the class of '04, '05 and after have to do 40.

By Ycnan7 (Ycnan7) on Sunday, October 05, 2003 - 11:26 pm: Edit

Yea, my school requires 40

By Miseryxsignals (Miseryxsignals) on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 05:14 pm: Edit

Any guesses on my chances at UCB, UCLA, USC (brother graduated from there) and possibly CalTech?

By Freak4korn72 (Freak4korn72) on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 06:23 pm: Edit

November 1st... if I take the SAT this Saturday and have Stanford as one of my four colleges, do you think I can still apply EA? I know i'll be a long shot but EA would help.

I just took two practice SAT tests these past two days and got 660m/660v and 670m/660v on each. I believe I can raise my math score up to at least 700 because some of the problems were unable to be seen, and verbal im hoping to get that 660.