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My academics are good but my EC's are lacking.

SAT I: 1550 (800 M, 750 V)
SAT II: 800 Chem, 790 IIC, 740 Writing
GPA: 4.7 W, 3.9 UW
Class Rank: 4/420ish
Recs: I hope they will be good and have a good feeling about them.
Essays: I can't speak for them myself. Too hard to predict.

EC's:
Math Team (9,10)
Asian Culture Club (12)
School Website Club (12)
Golf Team (9,10)
Volunteered at a hospital (100 hrs), pro golf tournament for two years, a day at an air museum
Manage a website on golf swing instruction (3 years)
Piano for 10 years at Hartt School of Music

Awards:
Science Fair award for chemistry (9)
Placed 5th out of 300ish students in Local Chem. Olympiad and qualified for the Nat. Chem Olympiad (11)
Won a Book Award (11)
3rd in Audrey Thayer Piano Competition (9)
Selected to play in Honors Recital (9)
Select Student - Piano (10, 11)

I don't participate in a a lot of EC's and piano and golf take up most of my time. I am in awe of people who can have 5+ EC's going on at the same time and with leadership positions, etc.

I don't know if this will be a hinderance for me at Stanford. Maybe if I really stress my two most important EC's? But then again, it's not like I have a lot of variety. Will this hurt me?

By Paulhomework (Paulhomework) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 09:55 pm: Edit

well, not having outstanding ECs will hurt anyone, no matter how good academically you are.

ECs are only part of the admission though, so don't worry too much. Besides, you have extreme dedication to two ECs, which I think is much better than having 10 ECs and spending less than an hour on each weekly.

By Patient (Patient) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 09:26 am: Edit

I posted notes on another thread about Stanford's admissions talk. They prefer depth in ECs, not breadth. Don't be in awe of people who have 5 ECs going unless they're doing all of them at a state level. You look extremely impressive. They want to hear about your passion--note the singular.

BTW, my son is a freshman there, he had 3 ECs on his application--one he was playing at a national level, the other at an honors level locally, and the third just contributing in a normal way. (not a recruited athlete by the way, despite the strength in his sport).

No one can promise anything with schools where 10 students are competing for every spot, but if your application and essays are really good, I'd say you have a very good chance.

By 007 (007) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 01:33 am: Edit

Stanford only takes years 10,11 & 12 into account. So you cant use:
Science Fair award for chemistry (9)
3rd in Audrey Thayer Piano Competition (9)
Selected to play in Honors Recital (9)

By 007 (007) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 01:36 am: Edit

Stanford only takes years 10,11 & 12 into account. So you cant use:
Science Fair award for chemistry (9)
3rd in Audrey Thayer Piano Competition (9)
Selected to play in Honors Recital (9)

By Nngmm (Nngmm) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 11:35 am: Edit

You do not need to have tons of ECs. Just to be REALLY good in the once you are passionate about. If you are really good at piano, make sure to send in an audition tape (they have forms and instructions on the web site).