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I was wondering your opinion on my chances for EA at Stanford.

My Stats:

State: NC (Raleigh)
GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.83 weighted (APs worth 6, Honors - 5)
Rank: 3/325
AP's: 5 US and 5 Euro
Sr Courses: AP Latin, AP Psych, AP Calc, AP English (lit and language), Yearbook
SAT: 1500 (770 v, 730 m)
SAT II: 800 US, 760 Math IC, 760 Writing
Legacies: none (actually, my parents didn't go to college)
Race: White
Other: Will have taken all but one of AP's school offers

Extracurriculars and Awards:
debate (president), yearbook (business manager) - staff won state award for best yearbook, National History Day national finalist, school awards for grades, choir (5 state tour), student council, math team (3rd at division), work as intern at local paper, summer program at a top five university (two A minuses), editor of online student newspaper, weekly volunteer at local food bank

My stats are good, but I feel like they're like everyone elses. Do you think it's better to appear well-rounded or to have a "theme?"

Anything you think that is particularly good or bad about my stats?

By Bmy (Bmy) on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 06:51 pm: Edit

Your stats are good, but may be average for Stanford EA. You've shown interest in academics by taking almost all your school's AP's and going to a university summer program. What level courses did you take while you were there? Did your course selections support an interest pursued in or out of school?
Your EC's are okay, but do you have a hook? Any sports? Being the first in your family to go to college might work in your favor. What about recommendations? Outstanding or just plain good? If you have a true passion for something and that's supported by your EC's and/or courses, reflect that in your essay and choice of recommenders. Otherwise, I think you have to self-present as pretty well-rounded.

By Celebrian23 (Celebrian23) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 11:11 am: Edit

your stats are great, but so are most of the people's stats who apply there, it's a toss-up, you could go either way

By Jellybean24 (Jellybean24) on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 05:03 pm: Edit

Courses at university summer program were both introductory. One was a science (because my school has no AP science) and one was economics (because we don't offer economics). I have no sports. My "thing" is probably writing, but it's hard to convey that though a list of activities. Recs will probably be good, but it's hard for me to judge.

By Jrlg86 (Jrlg86) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 07:34 pm: Edit

i think you're a very very strong contender. just pour your hear into the essays. as far as EA goes, you've got about a 50/50 chance of deferral or acceptance-- i don't think you're going to get the automatic shaft. you definitely don't have a nationally-ranked "hook," so you may even be a strong waitlist contender... as sad as that sounds.

there are no guarantees, but the odds are definitely not against you. good luck!

By Jellybean24 (Jellybean24) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 11:02 pm: Edit

Wow. Random posting. I wrote this a while ago. But thanks! For the record, Stanford RARELY does the deferral thing. Also note, National History Day I was a national winner - not too bad with over 700,000 participants, thank you very much

By Nngmm (Nngmm) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 09:32 am: Edit

Get recommendations from teachers that know you well and LOVE you, write good essays, - and you are in. Being a national winner at anything is a pretty big hook. It is more impoortant to be passionate about something then "well rounded".

By Paulhomework (Paulhomework) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 08:35 pm: Edit

Stanford rarely does deferral!! NOooooooooooo

By Nngmm (Nngmm) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 11:43 am: Edit

From people who apply EA, about 25% are accepted, 25% deferred, and 50% rejected. At lest that's what I heard.

By Aim78 (Aim78) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:28 pm: Edit

More like 19.5% accepted, right? It's about a 1/5 chance, so you've got 5 people, most with great stats, competing for one slot each.

By Aim78 (Aim78) on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:33 pm: Edit

More like 19.5% accepted, right? It's about a 1/5 chance, so you've got 5 people, most with great stats, competing for one slot each.