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I'm a 17 year old Indian-American senior from a pretty small town in Texas(population<50,000). I know it does make a difference, so I thought I'd start out with that...now to the vitals.

GPA = About 103 on a 100 point scale(Yeah, our school's weird)
Rank = 3 out of about 500
SAT = 1520(First time, wanted to take again, but was advised not to)
PSAT = 235(National Merit)
SAT II's = 760 Writing, 720 US History, 760 Biology(Re-taken), 780 Math IIC
AP's = 5 Cal AB, 5 US History, 4 English

Vice President of National Honor Society - 11/12
President of Health Awareness Club - 11/12(Member - 9/10)
Treasurer of WHO(We Help Others) - 11/12
Special Olympic Volunteer and Organizer - 10/11/12
Class Council - 10/11/12
Student Advisory Council - 11/12
Member of School spelling team - 9/10/11/12(3rd in state - 9, 2nd in state - 10)
Member of School Math team - 11/12
Member of Disc Golf Club - 10/11
Tennis - 10/11/12
150+ volunteer hours at a hospital
150+ volunteer hours at a local free medicine program
Summer research
Tutored in various Grammar camps sponsored by the English department during the summer
50 Hours work experience
Yearbook staff
Honor Guard(Ceremonial Position...hold flags at football games, etc...) - 12

Senior Classes :
AP Gov.
AP Eco
AP Cal BC
AP English Lit.
Fillers...

So...yeah, what are my chances? I'm looking to apply to Stanford early. I will apply to Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, Penn, and a few others(UT, UVA, Wash U, Emory, Georgetown, Michigan, Rice...I'll pick three or four of these, and I'm guaranteed admission at UT).

Specifically, what are my chances at Stanford EA? Should I be applying elsewhere with my EA? I would hate to burn my one EA if I have no chance at my choice.

By Fighterpilot (Fighterpilot) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 04:46 pm: Edit

Chances not so great in the early field


Very good chance for regular

By Paulhomework (Paulhomework) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 09:49 pm: Edit

Why is Stanford EA (and most other top tier schools, like MIT's )so much harder to get into than their regular pools?

I'm just wondering. I thought applying early would at least give you a similar chance, if not a better one.

By Run4fun (Run4fun) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 10:33 pm: Edit

Your numbers are up to par for Stanford EA. However, after reading your EC's there didnt seem to be much substance. I'd say if you can write good essays you have a fighting chance.

By Cardinalhopeful (Cardinalhopeful) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 11:55 pm: Edit

Thanks...that helps. I had been pretty set on Stanford Early, but I'm considering Yale now.

"However, after reading your EC's there didnt seem to be much substance."

To be honest, there's definitely truth to that. A lot of those positions mean very little, but a few of them really are projects that I considered worthwhile and put a decent amount of time into.

I'll expand a little...

Vice President of National Honor Society - 11/12
(Total popularity contest; Not a true reflection of my leadership skills, and, thus far, we have done very little as far as service goes)
President of Health Awareness Club - 11/12(Member - 9/10)
(Nothing big...gather volunteers for heart walks, arrange for some speakers to come in every once in a while...our most worthwhile accomplishment was raising funds to purchase equipment that has recently been donated to the school nurse)
Treasurer of WHO(We Help Others) - 11/12
(Tutoring program...Meet every Tuesday and Thursday and tutor freshmen/sophomores in subjects that their parents/teachers have asked us to tutor them in)
Special Olympic Volunteer and Organizer - 10/11/12
(This I consider worthwhile...It's only a 2-3 week commitment every year, but I am responsible for finding a good portion of the special olympic volunteer base. I also attend monthly board meetings)
Class Council - 10/11/12
(Stupid...Just another opportunity for me to be in the yearbook)
Student Advisory Council - 11/12
(See Class Council)
Member of School spelling team - 9/10/11/12(3rd in state - 9, 2nd in state - 10)
(Lots of studying and prep time...Sort of sad, but I consider this one of my bigger ones)
Member of School Math team - 11/12
(Advanced to regionals, where we were slaughtered)
Member of Disc Golf Club - 10/11
(See Class Council/SAC)
Tennis - 10/11/12
(Nothing special...Varsity letters, but no real accolades)
150+ volunteer hours at a hospital
(Just like everyone else)
150+ volunteer hours at a local free medicine program
(What I'll probably write my essay on...I actually wish I had spent more time here, as it really is a special place. It's run completely by volunteers and on donations. Most of the volunteers are also clients...Truly an amazing program)
Summer research
(Proud of this one also...Researched under a very esteemed surgeon who serves as team doctor for several professional sports teams in the Houston area. Spent my summer shadowing him and contributing research to an article that will be published in the near future; Unfortunately, no, my name will not see the light of day on this article)
Tutored in various Grammar camps sponsored by the English department during the summer
(Taught students who failed Texas' standardized test, TAKS...2 weeks every summer)
50 Hours work experience
(Eh...Just typing and filing records for a family-friend's medical practice)

Any more input would be greatly appreciated!

By Cardinalhopeful (Cardinalhopeful) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:12 am: Edit

Oh yeah...I can't really predict how my essays turn out. I'm good with words, but not extremely creative. They won't be spectacular, but they won't be bad.

I'm pretty sure that my rec's will be quite good.

By Cardinalhopeful (Cardinalhopeful) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 01:04 am: Edit

hmmm...Bump

By Patient (Patient) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 09:31 am: Edit

You should check Yale and Stanford EA stats. I think that Stanford admitted about 20% of its EA applicants last year; I don't know what the percentage was for Yale but my impression is that it was lower. Your stats definitely put you in a strong position. I think you need to tailor your application to what drives you, what your passion is. Stanford really cares about that.

Lots of kids from Texas there, that's for sure!

By Cardinalhopeful (Cardinalhopeful) on Saturday, September 25, 2004 - 06:34 pm: Edit

I'm pretty sure that Yale had lower ED stats, but, with the switch to EA, it seems like everyone and their mother is applying to Stanford EA.

Honestly, Harvard is my #1, and Stanford is my #2, but Yale isn't far behind. If I have a better chance at Yale, I think I would probably take it, even though it is my #3 choice. Bad, reasoning, I know(Since the purpose of EA/ED is for students to highlight their #1 choice), but oh well.

BTW, I've always heard there weren't many Texans at Stanford, especially from Texas public schools.

By Paulhomework (Paulhomework) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 12:53 am: Edit

It's true, not many public school students from texas get into stanford.

my school which graduates around 1500 seniors every year has not had a Stanford freshman for over 6 years. During these six years, only one person was accepted, and that person chose Yale over Stanford.

By Patient (Patient) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 09:46 pm: Edit

Sounds like paul knows more about the public school vs. private school situation. There definitely seemed to be a lot of Texans though, unless my experience was skewed--lots of "TX" on the dorm room doors, person I sat next to at convocation was from same, etc. Just anecdotal feeling that there were a lot.

About 60% of the freshman class is from public schools, but how it breaks down vis a vis Texas, I can't tell you. Good luck though!

By Celebrian23 (Celebrian23) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 10:23 am: Edit

i thought a lot of texans would be in stanford, but anyways, i think you have a good shot rd, ea, not so great