yosephyoo

I'm currently a sophomore with a 3.67 unweighted GPA. This will be 3.83 by senior year. I scored 2000 on the PSAT (600 reading 600 writing 800 math) and expect to receive 2250-2300 on the SAT. I took the SAT Math IIC and got an 800 on my first try. I plan on majoring in either engineering (possibly mechanical) or mathematics. I'm playing no sports this year, but will next year. I ran xc, track, played tennis, and wrestled last year. I will most likely attend Harvard's SSP Summer Program this summer and Oxford's Summer Program next summer. I'm attending the HOBY leadership conference this summer and plan on attending West Point's Leadership Seminar and Boys State next summer.

This year's classes: Chem Honors, World History Honors, Precalc Honors, English 2, Leadership, Korean 4, Leadership
Next year's classes: Physics AP, Calc AB AP, English 3 Honors, US History AP, Korean 5, XC/Track, Leadership

Who I Am: Vice-President of Sophomore Class, Vice-President of church Student Council, Secretary of District's Youth & Government [state-wide club that is recognized by the government (the governor of CA comes to our last convention)], Short-term missionary (I went to Kenya for a month for missions), Music Volunteer for Kaiser Permanente (200+ hours), Snowboarder (started when I was 7 years old)

I don't have a ton of leadership positions yet, but in the next two years I will be...
Junior Year: Junior Class President, CSF Secretary, Youth & Government Secretary/President
Senior Year: Student Council President, Youth & Government President, Officer in Civil Air Patrol, CSF President/Vice-President

Please tell me what I need to work on. I'm not yet sure which college I want to go to so I'm trying to be as well rounded as possible.

jusmymajinayshun

come on dude! decisions are tomorrow! get some sleep!!

jusmymajinayshun

oh wait ur not a senior.
sorry.
well, enjoy spring break!

Muddslinger

you'll be fine. Keep up your GPA, get some summer programs in math/science and get some EC's in those too. Fortunately your admissions will likely be a bit easier since you'll be "over the hill" - the surge of baby-boomer offspring reaches its peak next year and after that it'll get less competitive.

Now that I think about it, you'll probably compete at this level: don't let next year demoralize you because that's more competition than you'll face.

Your GPA isn't all that great but mine isn't all that much higher. Try to relax over the next year or so. Work on the essays EARLY.

myndimcd

just one pointer.. make sure you are really passionate in the things you do. stanford REALLY looks at quality of experience and development than seeing a student be president of 4 clubs but less committed to each. you can also write killer essays when you are move invovled in less things. work on the essays early, and work them and work them until you really like how they turned out.. lots of readers.. really unique ideas.

MetFan2289

@myndimcd, yeah, you're right. That's the best pointer right there. Here is a summary of what I think Stanford wants.

1. Show your passions (be genuine)
2. Write killer essays (I think that is what got me in!)
3. Don't stress about your grades or SAT scores so much. Since a majority of students have great scores and grades, getting a 2100 or a 2300 won't make too much of a difference. I think once you are in Stanford's range (2000-2300) which is the 25th and 75th percentile, then it all comes down to who YOU are.

I know some people will argue against what I have just said, but that is fine. If you truly have passion and show it in your application, and Stanford knows that you can handle the workload, then you have a great shot of getting in.

mercruz

so, what happened?

iamtooperfect

yes good luck. i had only a 2010 and i got into stanford. i hope to inspire stanford-hopefuls with low sat scores. i think my essays helped me get in. i got a personal note adressing my essays! aint that just awesome?

walkyu

As cliche as it might be, I have to say the essays (I think) made a huge difference for me. I'm most proud of the ones I wrote for Stanford, and there's a huge difference when compared to my other essays (more conversational, engaging, and detail-filled). Metfan pretty much hit the mark.

Dsalon

you will not get in.

prove me wrong.

stop wasting your time thinking about college when you're sixteen.

chubeebo

so you have these future positions in the bag? i can see that self-confidence will be the least of your worries