savetheworld24

I plan on applying to Stanford this fall. It truly is my dream school, but I know that with my test scores my chances aren't that great. I have taken the ACT once and I got a 30. I'll be taking it twice in mid-April (I'm from Illinois so we also take it during the school day) and I'll probably get it up to a 31 or 32. I haven't taken the SAT yet. My GPA is a 4.4 weighted, but I'm not sure what it is unweighted... probably around a 3.5. I am 22/569 in my class, which is in the top 4%. I'm currently taking Pre-calc H, AP Psychology, AP US History, AP English 11, PE Leaders, Spanish 4, and Physics H. Next year I'll be taking AP Calc AB, AP Economics, AP government, AP English Lit, AP Biology, AP Spanish, and PE Leaders.
I am Sergeant at Arms of NHS, and a member of the Foreign Language Club, CIVITAS (social studies honors society), Key Club, Philosophy Club, O Ambassadors, and NSHSS. I tutor freshmen during my lunch period. Last summer I volunteered at an orphanage in Ghana, where I taught the children English, math, reading, and even some science. I was there for three weeks.
I played volleyball and basketball my freshman and sophomore years. I was a captain of the basketball team; however, I quit both teams so I could get a job to help me pay for college (my parents aren't paying a cent).
This summer I will be going to either Nepal, Ecuador, or Guatemala and volunteering at an orphanage unless I go to Guatemala, where I would work on ecology projects or environmental education.
I am extremely active in community service and it's something I would love to continue in college.
I know I can get great recommendations and I'm a really good writer, so my essays shouldn't be a problem.

Any suggestions? Do I even have the tiniest chance, given my less than excellent test scores and grades?

I realize that if I was a minority student, I would have a better chance of getting in. However, I am white. Right now I kinda wish I was Native American or something.

Any advice is appreciated!

kingmo1990

from looking at your post, you seem to have an interest in the environment and in international relations...am I right?
your stats are fine for Stanford; people with 2400s get rejected, some with 1900s get accepted.
if your essays can convey your "passion" (it's sort of a judgment call about what that is) in a powerful way, and your recommendations are at least of an average/above average quality, then you have an excellent chance
Also, make sure that you convey your ECs effectively; things like NSHSS don't really matter (anything that asks for money isn't worth writing down...I didn't, and I got in)

Good Luck!!!