<p>I’m not particularly good w/ chance threads but I’ll give this a shot and try to address every aspect of your application.</p>
<p>Ethnicity- well, you don’t have a URM hook but being Asian doesn’t necessarily put you at a disadvantage; plenty of Asians get into Stanford
Financial aid- families that make 100K+ can still qualify for financial aid; it probably won’t be a lot though</p>
<p>Stats- your SAT score looks strong; so do your SAT IIs for Math, Chem, and US Hist. I find it interesting that you haven’t taken the Biology SAT II or Physics SAT II since your major is Biophysics (just a thought). And although your Chinese score is a little low, it makes a big difference if you are a native speaker. If you’re a native speaker, then the Chinese score may hurt your chances a little. If you’re not, then that’s fine–languages are hard anyway (especially Chinese!) Your GPA is also very good and the fact that you’ve taken a lot of APs will definitely help.</p>
<p>Essays- it’s still early in the process so that’s okay if you don’t know. But remember that Stanford does place a lot of weight on its essays–so make sure you take the time to thoughtfully write them; try to avoid cliche topics-just be straightforward and sincere</p>
<p>Teacher recs- while it’s nice to show yourself as a well-balanced student by getting a science and humanities rec, remember to pick teachers who know you well. This is the best way to avoid the generic-cut-and-paste letter syndrome that can sabotage the best applications.</p>
<p>Counselor rec- slightly confused by your comment w/ counselor getting the end of the alphabet w/ experience writing to top colleges?</p>
<p>Supplementary- definitely send in the research stuff–I think it’ll be a unique part of your application. Think about the violin tape–only if you’re very confident in your talent, you should send it in. From what you’ve written, you sound like a very capable player, but it’s really up to you.</p>
<p>Hook- I believe they do consider the fact if your sibling went to Stanford. Again, not quite sure if it’s a hook.</p>
<p>Extra-curriculars- I like how your interests focus around math/science and the violin. Your research in physics and breast cancer seem very impressive. I suggest you focus on those. You’ve also done community service and newspaper so you can put those towards the end of your app (since it seems you spend more time w/ your research). Let your passion for your extra-curriculars shine in your essays.</p>
<p>Awards- they aren’t terribly important but they help show how far you’ve advanced in your coursework and extra-curriculars. Remember, there isn’t one BEST activity or award. It’s just have much time and effort you’ve invested in it. National Merit Semi-Finalist is pretty impressive (I only made Commended) but definitely try for the Siemens! Good luck!</p>
<p>Final notes- Looking at your last two posts, it seems you’ve already decided on some of your essays. It’s great that you’re deciding to write about research–just make sure the essay doesn’t end up turning into a research paper! 
Keep in mind about the length of the CommonApp essay- usually a good essay length is between 500-700 words, unless you have some way to compel readers to read 1000+ words. Also your question about your dad being a legacy. I think that a legacy is if any of your immediate family has attended the college you’re apply to (in this case, Stanford). So, I’m not sure if your dad’s job may count as a legacy. But remember that legacy is just a hook. There’s plenty in your application that speaks to your strengths. Just remember to keep up the rigor of your senior coursework.</p>
<p>If you need any clarification, you can just PM me. Sorry for this long post!</p>