woowski777

In my opinion Stanford and Notre Dame are the two best colleges in America for their mix of strong academics and athletics (Stanford wins because its in Cali)

My question is what are my chances for Stanford? I know people say you need to be DIFFERENT from everyone else to stand out, what do you guys think?

BACKGROUND:
Male
Hispanic
Chicago, IL
School sends some grads to top universities (most go to UIUC)

ACADEMICS:
GPA: 5.9 Weighted, 4.9 UW (were on a 5.0 scale, 6.0 for honors/AP)
Rank: 3/500
Most rigorous classes-all honors, AP (10 by graduation)
Tests: ACT-34
Subject Tests- Math II-720
- US HIST-700
- Spanish- 680

National Merit Commended or SF (prob commended)

OUTSIDE EC's:
Varsity Baseball (Sportsmanship Award)
Youth Volunteer Baseball Coach (100+ Hrs.per Spring/summer since 7th grade)
Illinois High School Assocation Patched Umpire + Youth Umpire for baseball


Reading Nights with intercity elementary schools

Volunteer Special Olympics Basketball Announcer and Ref
Organize and Run Special Olympics Track Meets

Church Youth Group-various fundraisers, foodrives

Big Leadership Award (given to only 4 kids in the school)
Mentor at multiple Student-Athlete Leadership conferences around the state


SCHOOL EC's:
Debate Team (2 years)
Club Investment (2)
Athletes Committed to Excellence (ACE; 2)
Student Athletic Advisory Committee (2)

Spanish Tutor, Math Tutor
NHS (+ Executive Board Member)
Spanish National Honors Society

Good Recs, Counselor Comments and Essay
---

As you may have noticed, I'm very leadership oriented and strive to use it as much as possible with my true love: baseball. That is why I voluenteer so much with youth ball players, so they can excell both on and off the field (one rec discusses how I do such). Maybe this and my hispanic heritage make me unique?



Anyways, thanks for reading. And if you feel obliged, please comment! All thoughts are greatly appreciated!!!

gladmom

woowski777: I think you have as good a chance as anybody to get into Stanford. My son was admitted SCEA this year, but you have him beat on test scores, rank and number of APs. We live in a suburb of Chicago and agree with you that Stanford is the best college in America!

You sound like an awfully nice kid, and I wish you luck. A certain amount of luck is needed for admittance to any elite school. Have fun on the essays for the app. Of all the application essays that my son wrote, I thought the Stanford ones were the best (and the most fun for him to write).

mumzy3

I agree with gladmom: good chance as anyone.

My D didn't have perfect scores and she got in SCEA; but I think her essays helped. Similarly, my D had fun writing the essays and there were quite a few, some short and some long essays -- she was herself in her all of them and even I had fun reading them. I think essays are what set some students apart when things like scores, ranks, and EC are similarly strong.

Relampago

I think Stanford is a solid environment for Latino Students, some of the best Chicano/Latino Studies scholars in the country are there and there are some good networks on campus for Latino Students. So you would feel comfortable being there. San Jose and San Fran are also close. The "pilsen" of San Fran is the mission district. Although it has become increasingly gentrified. I think you will love it there! Bueno Suerte!

mercruz

chancing is evil and ought to be abolished...
but, sure, you might get in, who knows?

woowski777

thanks for all the input
..except for mercruz? lol