Chance me for Stanford; give me like a percentage of chance I can get in. [CA resident, 3.88 GPA, 1540 SAT, biomedical computation or engineering]

[fretfulmother]

I also want to reply about MIT. I’m concerned not only about the number of B’s overall, and the number in STEM, but also the fact that you say you got a B in AB Calc and in Honors Chem. Both of those courses are known to demand what is essentially cooperation with new ways of solving problems, and perhaps good student skills in general. This would be a red flag for me, despite an A in BC Calc.

My kids got into MIT, but one of them did not get into Stanford. Stanford seems not only competitive but weirdly random in ways I have never understood. As a HS teacher for almost 30 years, I saw kids get into Stanford that really surprised me, and some rejected that really surprised me. I think the athletics could open a route to Stanford, but that will not happen for MIT.

Also, I don’t exactly know what Computational Biology is, but are you sure that major even exists at MIT? It’s true that any STEM major will be world-class at MIT (or Stanford) - but it will also be great at many, many other colleges out there. As someone else asked, are you making a nice list of likelies that you might want advice on?

[Momofthree24]

@fretfulmother

I think the athletics could open a route to Stanford, but that will not happen for MIT.

The OP’s sport is chess so it won’t confer any sort of athletic recruiting advantage at Stanford.

[fretfulmother]

In that case, I think the reach is probably untenable at both.

[Darcy123]

Computation biology is world class at MIT. They have a joint degree with Computer Science and molecular biology. They also have a relationship with Harvard to establish the Broad Institute.

OP as has been said - these are lottery schools. Shoot your shot and concentrate on find places where you’ll be happy to attend.

[aunt_bea]

My husband used to interview for Stanford. Stanford is building a “class” and wipes the slate clean with each new class.

So as applications start coming in, they start to see a theme. Then, they build onto that theme.
They know which athletes and artists, musicians, linguists, they need and will recruit.

Checkmarks are GPA, rigor, coursework. Then, on-campus participation with staff and students, because they expect their Cardinal students to be busy participating outside of the classroom, as well as inside.

So things like athletics, the arts/music, scouting, unique community participation (especially Green causes and work in low income areas), and part-time jobs because they expect their students to be able to adapt and perform well, in multiple environments, while maintaining exceptional grades. Every year is different.

They like to see students who have performed extremely well (in all areas), are trustworthy- according to staff, likable, considerate, honest with the ability to multitask.

So when you ask us to give you a percentage, we can’t because every year, there’s a different need.

@DadTwoGirls

I still fondly recall when I was a graduate student at Stanford (master’s degree) spending six hours on a Saturday (late morning through about 5pm) working on one single homework problem, out of six problems on one homework assignment, out of five classes that I was taking at the time.

My son, who attended Caltech, had this same experience. It takes, at least a full day, to do a math problem at these types of elite schools because the authors of math texts are at these top schools; they’re the ones creating new textbooks.

@ohiohi1

I would feel pretty happy that I spent time and was able to solve the problem…mostly I would feel doubtful if I was studying enough though as it would take me a whil to solve the problem

The problem is that you can’t afford to spend a whole day on a math problem when you also have other classes that are just as intense. That’s why these schools want students who can adjust, adapt and multitask quickly, rapidly, and correctly.
Although your GPA is strong you appear to have difficulty with STEM subjects.

[michaelcollege]

What is shown on the transcript?

[L_NewEngland]

@aunt_bea

Checkmarks are GPA, rigor, coursework. Then, on-campus participation with staff and students, because they expect their Cardinal students to be busy participating outside of the classroom, as well as inside.

So things like athletics, the arts/music, scouting, unique community participation (especially Green causes and work in low income areas), and part-time jobs because they expect their students to be able to adapt and perform well, in multiple environments, while maintaining exceptional grades. Every year is different.

They like to see students who have performed extremely well (in all areas), are trustworthy- according to staff, likable, considerate, honest with the ability to multitask.

This sounds not at all unique to Stanford to me FWIW. Sounds like holistic admissions at a highly selective school. (I also interview at a highly selective school).

Though I would add fit to the specific college community, as well. Does kids interest match what college has on offer - Stanford has nearly everything, but I am sure something is absent, or weaker.. (like wanting to do daily research in a bayou

[fretfulmother]

Yes, I think all these colleges imagine that they follow exactly that same procedure. Nonetheless, I have often accurately predicted kids getting in at other HYPSM and other colleges, but rarely been right about what Stanford is mysteriously looking for. (They have taken kids that I refused to write a letter for due to ethical violations, for example. And have rejected kids who were seemingly perfect and ended up going to peer schools.)

A friend of mine in the biz at H thinks that S doesn’t take east coast kids RD if they’ve applied to a peer school in REA, in most cases.

[L_NewEngland]

@fretfulmother

Nonetheless, I have often accurately predicted kids getting in at other HYPSM and other colleges, but rarely been right about what Stanford is mysteriously looking for

so what is the mysterious thing they are looking for?

All the schools reject seemingly perfect students.

[L_NewEngland]

@fretfulmother

I think all these colleges imagine that they follow exactly that same procedure.

They don’t have to imagine it, really; there is cross-pollination, and most top private HS have counselors who have been AOs at multiple selective schools. This isn’t some magic.

[skieurope]

Let’s return focus to the OP, please