avdaxes

After having been over-familiarized with CC, I have become sick of useless chances posts, useless speculation about how to get in, and useless crying and complaining about the process.

The purpose of this post is to give back to the CC community with the way to get into college for the "normal" student (normal in quotes because you really do have to be extraordinary to get in). It is absolutely cliche, but most take it for granted and come far from realizing...

**Do what you love and do it well.**

Really well. Really really really well.

You should be well rounded and intellectual in that you get good grades in most subjects and score decently well on the SATs/ACTs/SAT IIs. You should be specialized in that you are clearly passionate about something.

It is actually true that an application can only be evaluated as a whole, and in the end, "stats," as CC people call them, tend to fade out. In particular, the importance of recommendations is completely undervalued by most applicants.

More oversaid cliche advice about essays: actually be yourself. Everybody thinks they are being themselves...very few actually are. The point of the essays are *not* to "sell yourself" to the committee (even in the intellectual vitality essay). You have the rest of the application for that. The essays are to make your reader *like* you. Make them want you on campus. Make them want to be your roommate. Also, weave multiple ideas into your essays to make them more you.

In short:
Grades - show well-roundedness, initiative
Course Selection - show either well-roundedness or a special interest, initiative
SATs/ACTs - show base-level smarts
ECs - show PASSION, DEDICATION, and LEADERSHIP, initiative
EC essay - again, passion, leadership, community involvement, initiative
Main essay - show who you actually are, and make yourself likeable. And again: passion, passion, passion
Intellectual Vitality - they couldn't have made it easier. Show your passion, intellectualism, and again, make them like you.
Roommate - really make them like you; be casual.
Why Stanford - make them see why stanford is the "best fit" for you, and vice versa
Short Answers - make yourself real to them, and make them like you. Find a way to show your voice here, too.

Never let your parents or teachers take out your voice in your essays. Never let them call your essay too flippant. They should be conversational. Formal is boring.


Do not overanalyze your application. The criteria described here are really the only things that the admissions officers "look for" when they first open an application. Remember, most admissions officers are not much different than yourself, a few years older. Make them like you. But please don't be gimmicky so that you'll be remembered. Do not try to over-impress. So please, cut the chances threads. In the Stanford facebook group, I see that ***everyone regrets using CC.*** So take this advice and get OFF.

Good luck. Want to change the world and show them that. Then get in and actually change it.

friedrice

Thanks for the help. I would say this is general advice and can apply to any top school.

Hippo724

This is great advice. But even though I know chance threads can get annoying (even though I'm guilty of posting a few of them myself :P), I don't think that people will stop posting them. I mean, the college admissions process is very stressful and because of that, a good amount of kids (don't forget that chance threads are posted by teens) lose their better judgement and try to find reassurance in any way possible.
Chance threads are just nature's way of releasing stress.

Zanejin

Wow, rarely do I see such valuable advice in such a succinct format. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge with the community! Of course, congratulations on being admitted to Stanford.

GraceH

as an admitted student also (and incoming freshman yayyy!), i totally agree with your post-especially how much you stress having PASSION/DEDICATION for something. i truly think thats what makes certain students stand out among the rest.

.illogic

This is true. I didn't have a strong personal passion or focus to show in my application, but I did strongly emphasize my lifelong commitment to my family's business.

I did have high grades and test scores, but they definitely weren't the most compelling part of my app. I think the numbers-based stuff will help get your foot in the door, but it's how you convey your personal situation and circumstances that will ultimately make or break your case.

takoyakiixflipp

Thank you!

Missy Jo

This is good advice. Whether or not applicants take it is up to them, but I wholeheartedly agree with all of avdaxes points

kyledavid80

Where is the "how"? None of that was "how." For example:

I think that's pretty obvious in the question. So, what the prospective student is now wondering, How do I do that?

I'm not even sure how you're supposed to show initiative in grades--what, self-studying APs?

Nobody can claim to know how to get into Stanford--because there is no "how-to." The general themes you described, though, are important (as the admissions office has emphasized): passion, initiative, dedication, leadership (PIDL, as it were). Or as Stanford puts it: "intellectual vitality." That's the unifying theme, I'd say.

avdaxes

@kyledavid:
I do apologize for the obvious statement you quoted.

The "how" of the post was simple: "do what you love and do it well." The rest was really commentary.

The more specific "how"s, like in the Why Stanford question, as you say, have no formula, and vary greatly from person to person. And yes, you are correct about intellectual vitality as a unifying theme (of course, they basically give you an essay for this, too).

Oh, and self-studying APs doesn't hurt

vishnucmouli

I promised myself to stop using CC in a week.
I have 3 days left
i'm really gonna miss this