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Hey everyone,

I'm a Junior in high school at a highly competitive school in the Bay Area, California.
Here are my stats:

Sophomore year GPA: 4.3 (weighted)
Expected Junior year GPA: 4. 3- 4.7 (weighted)

My school doesn't do class rank, but I'm in the top 5 - 10 % definitely.

Classes:

- Calculus BC/AP
- Computer Science AP
- U.S. History AP
- French AP

Expecting at least 4 more APs in Senior year, as well as several classes in college (Stanford offers classes during the school year to high school students).

SATs

SAT 1: 760 Math, 730 Verbal
SAT 2s: 800 Math 2c, 750 Writing, expected 750-800 Physics

Might take some SATs again - any advice on which ones?

EC:

On the scale of ** to * to - I've rated what I think will be most beneficial to my admission - what do you think?

* Vice President FBLA organization (national vocational business organization - FBLA stands for Future Business Leaders of America) of my school chapter - www.cafbla.org

** President next year of FBLA in my school chapter

* Active in FBLA for 4 years come senior year, won competitions and awards in local and state levels

* Founder and President of my own computer company (NextGen), I design and sell computers to local customers (active for 3 years come senior year)

** Co-Founder and President of community service organization called CompAid (active for 3 years come senior year) designed to obtain and donate computer systems to local low-income community centers

** A lot of success expected in community service organization (donations expected from companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, Apple, etc.)

* Have taken summer jobs and internships as a marketing research analyst at a top Silicon Valley private company, taking it again this summer (or something similar)

- The usual clubs and organizations I have been a member of: Speech and Debate (no leadership positions), CSF, Octagon, etc.

- Volunteer as exhibit explainer at Tech Museum of Innovation for 3 years come Senior year, will have about or over 200 hours of community service

I'm also an Asian Indian, which I don't know is relevant or not.

I have several teachers in mind that I know well that I can get reccomendations from. Also, on the topic I have a question: will getting reccomendations from a Stanford alumni help my chances of getting in?

I have wanted to get into Stanford all my life and I've thought about it every single day of my life!

What are my chances of getting into Stanford? I realize there is no "formula" for getting in, but what do you people think (anyone here in Stanford right now?)

Also, if you can, can you tell me what more I can do between now and application season to improve my chances of getting in? Advice greatly appreciated (especially after reading this huge post)!

Thanks a lot!

- Hopeful Stanford admit

By Supernova (Supernova) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 09:56 pm: Edit

* Founder and President of my own computer company (NextGen), I design and sell computers to local customers (active for 3 years come senior year)


i'd say thats **.... very impressive

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 01:07 am: Edit

Also, one more question.

What does Stanford focus on, if they do focus on one central thing? Are there any trends towards what Stanford likes, etc.?

Thanks!

By Dxiw (Dxiw) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 01:28 am: Edit

Hey, I also own a company, Blue Light PC. Check out my site at http://bluelightpc.com/ we could definitly use some intelligent people in the forums. Anyways, wow, nextgen, I think i've seen your site not sure. Anyways, good luck, they dont seem to show trends atleast I dont think, just good sat scores, gpa and leadership/volunteer. Anyways, we should talk sometime, my AIM sn is annihilate6400.

By Dyip10 (Dyip10) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 01:34 am: Edit

Well I'm a freshman in high school and I am President and founder of Archiweb Solutions. I do graphic and web designing. I wouldn't necessarily say that's impressive. I got a job offer to work for this other company.

By Bangaloreboy (Bangaloreboy) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 05:37 am: Edit

it takes luck

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 12:03 am: Edit

Also, if not that many people know about
Stanford specifically, what are my chances at

- MIT
- UC Berkeley
- UCLA
- Harvard

And other colleges?

Thanks!

By Jason817 (Jason817) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 12:52 am: Edit

You are in any school in the country. Enough said.

By Bangaloreboy (Bangaloreboy) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 01:06 am: Edit

Well Stanfordgoal...i've been admitted to Stanford ED for the coming fall. Your stats are good, and I would say write some candid essays. And apply for the ED program. It will really help.

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 04:22 am: Edit

To Jason817, why do you say that? Is it my ECs, my stats?

To Bangaloreboy, congrats on getting into Stanford! So you felt that it was easier to get into Stanford ED than with regular decision? Is it generally easier even though you are competing with a higher caliber of students? How do you know when to apply for ED and when to apply for regular decision?

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it.

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 04:22 am: Edit

(Edit: Double posted accidentally, moderator remove this one please!)

By Bangaloreboy (Bangaloreboy) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 07:06 am: Edit

Stanfordgoal, for me Stanford was my dream school, much like yours. I fell in love with Stanford and desperately wanted to goto Stanford. Since I was so keen on going, ED was the best possible choice as I did not mind being bound to their agreement if I were to get in! Cuz thats what i really wanted. And though u will be competing against a very competitive pool of applicants, the ED admit rate is slightly higher. And it would also show the Stanford admission officers your keen intent on going to Stanford.

See, now I already know that I'm going to Stanford and I'm in a much relieved and confident state of mind. We have even formed a Stanford2007 yahoo group, and basically its the best feeling in the world to know in advance that this september i'll be going to the best university in the world!

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 09:01 pm: Edit

Bangalaroreboy what are your stats?

And to others who are going to Stanford also, how did you do it?

Thanks

By Aurelia (Aurelia) on Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 01:54 am: Edit

Stanfordgoal, do you go to Lowell?

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 04:03 pm: Edit

No, I goto a school near San Jose.

By Slackernumba1 (Slackernumba1) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 06:50 pm: Edit

On the Stanford ap they ask you to provide all the alumni you're related to. They give you about ten boxes and tell you to attach an additional page if necessary. In other words, you have to be perfect and know people.

Oh yeah and i talked to guy on the stanford admissions board and he said "4.0 GPA / 1500 SATs are a dime a dozen"

so good luck

By Icex1 (Icex1) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 09:41 pm: Edit

It takes everything to get into Stanford. Stanford, more than the other upper echelon schools such as the ivies, looks not just for well rounded people, but a well rounded student body. If you have a 1600 and a 800 SATII average and all your honors are academic, it's still very tough to get in.

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 12:56 am: Edit

Does Stanford look for one area more than anything else? Any trends?

By Icex1 (Icex1) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 10:08 pm: Edit

Obviously, since Stanford arguably has the best over athletic program in the country, they will look for excellence in sports. Basically you have to show them that you really want to grow intellectually and that you've kicked ass in everything you've done. I know people who got rejected with 1500+ and excellent apps and then I know people who got accepted with mid 1200's with no major distinctions so I think they look for that special something an applicant has that you just can't quite put into words. So either you have to have it, or in a lot of cases, convince them that you do have it.

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 06:20 pm: Edit

Icex1, these people that you know that got into Stanford, any idea what "special thing" they have? For example, do they have some special qualities, like leadership or something like that? Or is it something they have done that makes them special?

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 06:20 pm: Edit

Double post, ignore!

By Track4life17 (Track4life17) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 11:56 am: Edit

hey stanfordgoal, just wondering, do u go to harker?

By Yourlocalmayor (Yourlocalmayor) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 01:00 pm: Edit

you're in at stanford.

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 06:56 pm: Edit

No I don't goto Harker, keep guessing (that's close)!

Yourlocalmayor, why do you say that? Me and a couple of my friends are really interested at what it actually takes to get in. Can you point out some specific parts of my resume that make me a good candidate for Stanford?

By Yourlocalmayor (Yourlocalmayor) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:27 pm: Edit

you are very active in the community and you have good academic stats.

here come the nay-sayers to reply...

By Smith (Smith) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:59 pm: Edit

Hey I don't know if the freshman app is like the transfer app that I've been filling out online...but it seems to me that Stanford will never see the detail of all your great ec's if it is!!!

I was just interested how other people have got around this problem as they note on the application that they don't want resumes etc.

By Yourlocalmayor (Yourlocalmayor) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:08 pm: Edit

i was looking at the transfer application for stanford today...not sure exactly why...but it's longer than any application i've ever seen before.

By Smith (Smith) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:29 pm: Edit

did you look at the online application? It's long in terms of the essays you have to write...but for activities and awards, the fields are really small when it comes to entering text. I think the computer wiz's that constructed the site messed up as when you print out a copy of the online app, you can see that the fields don't extend as far as the space (and is far more restrictive than the paper application).

You might say "why not fill out the paper app then?" But when printed out the online app looks so much neater and it's their prefered method etc.

By Smith (Smith) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:30 pm: Edit

In comparison to others - some of the Uni's I've applied to don't even ask for any of that...but those that do give you a lot more room e.g. UNC and Duke.

By Icex1 (Icex1) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 01:51 am: Edit

I really don't know what they had that grabbed Stanford's attention. I do know that were involved in leadership but did nothing extraordinary in that area. I mean, I had considerably better stats than this one guy I know in every area and he got in and I didn't. I guess this is the best way to look at it: everyone's gonna have the grades, SAT's, and EC's, everyone's not gonna have that wonderful, creative, orginal essay that really reveals who there are and what drives them without boring an admission's officer to death.

By Notegirl15 (Notegirl15) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 02:21 am: Edit

Saratoga, Milpitas, Palo Alto or Leland?

Just curious.

By Track4life17 (Track4life17) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 01:33 pm: Edit

then where? los gatos? pinewood? mtn view? st. francis? gateway? pine hill? plantation? actually wuteva...i give up

By Innotof (Innotof) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 05:37 pm: Edit

Bellarmine?

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 07:16 pm: Edit

CUPERTINO!

By the way, does anyone have any real applications filled out by Stanford admits? That would be really helpful. Is there any place where I can find a real application filled out by a Stanford admit?

By Smith (Smith) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 10:20 pm: Edit

That's a great idea stanfordgoal. I'm sure that most of the people who got into stanford would have been bright enough to keep a copy! I would also be interested!

By Hack5111 (Hack5111) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 12:13 am: Edit

Does it help to get into stanford if you're from NY?

By Slackernumba1 (Slackernumba1) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 02:00 am: Edit

I have two friends who got into Stanford on early decision...

The first girl is going to be a 3rd generation Stanford graduate. She was homeschooled for a year because she went on a self exploration trip ... basically she lived in a tent for a year. Of course she also had the grades and SATs and all that ish.

The second girl that got is a mystery!!! No offense to her, but she doesn't seem super special. Her only stand out quality that i see is her nonconformity. Other than that ... she didn't have all honors/APs and I have no idea what her SATs were.

A guy who was deffered i personally think is perfect ... He has Varsity soccer/volley ball, 1570 SATs, 4.0, all honors/ APs ... and he's a musical prodigy.


Anywho, if you'd like to know their process of choosing ppl ... there are about 10 ppl on the board. They personally read every app and pull out 1 of about 20ish. If your app gets pulled by the majority of the readers then you're put into a second pile where they reevaluate.

So whatever this special quality is, multiple people have to see it. And if i were you, i wouldn't reference other people's apps until you've already written your essays/ filled everything out.

By Track4life17 (Track4life17) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 07:34 pm: Edit

their admission rate is 12-13%, not "1 of about 20ish" (5%)...also, about getting a real app filled out by a Stanford admit, well the best thing to do is get in touch with someone who's gotten in such as a friend or friend's friend, etc...they may have a copy of theirs. u wont find it by asking the college or something like that obviously...haha...they dont like to give out that kinda info if u know what im saying

By Stanfordgoal (Stanfordgoal) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 07:46 pm: Edit

So anyone here goto Stanford right now and have your apps with you? I would really like a copy of those!

By Aznbreakdancer3 (Aznbreakdancer3) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 08:38 pm: Edit

What is your gpa unweighted on a 4.0 scale?

By Booboo2 (Booboo2) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 08:41 pm: Edit

monte vista?

By Hildegard (Hildegard) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 03:28 am: Edit

I think that the tons of extracurriculars sometimes don't say the type of person you really are. I know a guy in my school who is a complete ass****, he is president of an honor society, (didn't get voted, was appointed by ex-president), he's in the UN team, has good grades, and does all this crap to stand out.
However, he is a complete jerk. He is dishonest, is always gossiping and creating rumors, attempted to impeach the president of student senate (because of a personal vendetta) and a bunch of stuff.

I think (my opinion) that your essay will say alot about the way you think, and also the way your recommendations speak about you.

If you make an impact on them with your essay, and your recommendators seemed to have that image of you, and they get that image, and everything else is "ok" (grades and stuff), then you're that special student that will get far.

If you write crap on your essay, and teachers barely know you, then you might just be one of those who sign up to every single student club and exaggerates it on their resumes. Thousands of people do that, and there's no way for the admissions committee to find out, so they rely on the recs and your essay.

Good luck. Have you thought about any topic for your essay? I would start to think about that right away. It took me a looong time to be satisfied with my admission essay, and it take days "in-between" to rest and re-read it over and over again until it is good enough. So make sure you start it EARLY!!

By Bangaloreboy (Bangaloreboy) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 05:56 am: Edit

i'd advise u guys to not look at other ppl apps because it may hamper your own creativity and thus make your application pretty ordinary.

By Dferraro (Dferraro) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 01:45 pm: Edit

"I've been thinking about stanford everyday of my life"

yuck, you all make me wanna puke -- if you think that just cuz went to some fancy "stanford" you are going to get a good job or something, make shitloads of money? Probably not, because people who think like this:

"I've been thinking about stanford everyday of my life"

Get pushed around and get called pyschos, because they fuss and fret about stupid things and they can never get anything original or productive out. go back to your whole computer nerd, i hope you get in but you probably wont make anything out of it.

By Dyip10 (Dyip10) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 02:08 am: Edit

bump

By Unicorn (Unicorn) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 06:58 am: Edit

dferrero is a jerk. 'Do you all CONCUR?'

By Incognito (Incognito) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 11:31 am: Edit

I concur

By Bangaloreboy (Bangaloreboy) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 02:09 pm: Edit

i definitely concur

By Randy80016 (Randy80016) on Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 12:53 am: Edit

I say do a sport- any one, just get out. From what I see, you seem to be a little too nerdy, and taking a sport, no matter how well you do can be both a real learning experience and help you get past that stereotype that admissions officers might make from your application

By Towey (Towey) on Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 02:28 am: Edit

i soooo dont concur, sure uni is important but its not the be all and end all

By Lisamarie (Lisamarie) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 08:35 am: Edit

What about AP classes.... does Stanford give any credit for any? Or are there the ticket to get in... along with all other academic tops... and good strong passions in EC's

By Socalgirlie (Socalgirlie) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 12:41 am: Edit

Hi guys.....quite the discussion we have going here isn't it? This is my first post, and I must say that after searching endlessly online I've finally found a message board pertaining to Stanford! I'm an SMC student who wants to transfer, with a 3.8 that should climb to a 4.0 within the next 6 months. Between now and March '05 I need to take either the SAT I and II
and/or the ACT, as I was born and raised in Canada. Can anyone tell me which test they prefer?

By Trisweb (Trisweb) on Friday, May 02, 2003 - 12:16 am: Edit

Hey, have a friend that goes to SMC.. actually, not anymore... whatever...

Well, Stanfurdgoal... you've picked a nice school. You'll definately get what you pay for. And I have no doubt you'll get in, just keep that GPA up... and you've got the SATs down.

First, let me say that I was not accepted at Stanfurd. And let me also say that I chose to go to the rival school, UC Berkeley. I am glad that I didn't get in to Stanfurd, actually, because I am now a member of the wonderful Cal band, which has been one of the greatest groups I've ever had the pleasure to be in.

You have your heart set on Stanfurd, but you really should consider Cal. I can tell you want to be a CS major. Well, Cal has one of the best CS programs in the nation, and yes, I know Stanford has the top program in the nation. Cal follows a close 3rd. But I, being a CS major here for the last 2 semesters have been very pleased with the classes and the department in general.

But get into Stanfurd. It's where you want to go. But if you don't, turn the other cheek and go to Cal. You'll be happy you did. And as one last argument, our band is much better.

Oh, and, IceX1: "Obviously, since Stanford arguably has the best over athletic program in the country..." Not so. WE HAVE THE AXE! Hahahahaha! (At least, either school you go to, you'll have that great rivalry! :-)

By Psamtik071 (Psamtik071) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:30 pm: Edit

Although I don't like his attitude, Dferraro makes a good point. Stanford is not everything. You have to make the best of whatever situation you are given. You also have to demonstrate a GENUINE interest in persuing whatever you want to accomplish (What do you want to do at *school* ?). This is not necessarily apparent from your SATs, GPA, or even course load and ECs. Read, take some summer courses, devise an independent study program, even browse through some graduate texts. Get serious about what courses you want to take (think AP x 10). Then lay out your plan of attack. Finally, cross your fingers and wish for good luck. And if all else fails? Hey, a student like you would probably even be successful at a school like *gasp* Berkeley.