How does Stanford SCEA look for me?

CollegeAddiction · November 11, 2009, 1:21pm

Basics: (Asian) Indian male, Sikh
School: Competitive charter school in Colorado
Rank: School doesn’t rank but I’m definitely top 3%
GPA: 4.0 UW/ 4.6 W (weighted is lower than expected because I took extra classes before school)
SAT 1: 2240 (680 CR, 800 M, 760 W)
SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 Chemistry, 780 World History, 740 Biology
APs: 14 by graduation. So far:

Sophomore year:
Human Geography: 5
World History: 3 (self-study and collegeboard admitted to losing my free response packet and compensated with a refund that’s all)
Microeconomics: 4 (self-study)

Junior Year:
AP Chem: 5
AP Bio: 5
AP Calc BC: 5
AP US History: 4
AP Eng Lang: 4

Senior Year APs:
AP Physics C Mechanics
AP Physics E & M
AP English Lit
AP Spanish Lang
AP Statistics

Academics: Toughest class in all of school’s history and taking Calc 3/Differential Equations and Honors Science Research Seminar as a senior year right now

Recommendations: Counselor said I was the best student in the class and another counselor wanted to tag team my counselor rec, so it should be excellent. The other two recs are from my Chemistry and US History teacher; the latter said I was the best student in her teaching career. I was in clubs that both were advisers for. These recs should also be excellent.

Essays: Very unique and powerful: talked about my diversity and my overcoming of discrimination at school.

ECs:
Boy Scouts of America (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, during the school year)
3 hr/wk for 52 wk/yr (624 hours total)
Details: Boy Scouts (6th-9th grade); Varsity Scouts (10th grade); Venture Scouts (11th-12th grade); Librarian, Scribe, Patrol Leader, Activities Coordinator, Eagle Scout Award, Den Chief Service Award

National Honor Society (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, during the school year)
President for two years (wrote about this in my 150 word essay on how I created a community service plan that gave over 1200+ hours to our community in a matter of 8 months. Also, discussed how I am starting the National Honor Society Organization of our state)
3 hr/wk for 36 wk/yr (432 hours total)

Science/Math Team (10th, 11th, 12th, during the school year)
Co-Captain of Science Team and Captain of Math Team
3 hr/wk for 36 wk/yr (432 hours total)
Details: Math, Science Bowl, Ocean Bowl, and Science Olympiad Teams; Many state awards, including 3rd place in Ocean Bowl two years in a row in a tri-regional competition and 3rd place at State Cell Biology and 4th and 5th in several Science Bowl and Science Olympiad competitions.

Student Council/Government (12th)
President of student body of 600+ students
2 hr/wk for 36 wk/yr (72 hours total)

Speech and Debate/Forensics (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
Member
6 hr/wk for 18 wk/yr (432 hours total)
Details: Speech and Debate/Forensics:Competed in Original Oratory and Public Forum Debate (PFD); won several 3rd place regional awards in OO and 7th place in Public Forum at State.

Model United Nations (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
Under-Secretary General/Vice-President
1 hr/wk for 36 wk/yr (144 hours total)

Key Club (11th, 12th)
Member
1 hr/wk for 36 wk/yr (72 hours total)

Leader’s Challenge (11th)
Leader with distinction
2 hr/wk for 36 wk/yr (72 hours total)

Restorative Justice (11th)
Member
1hr/wk for 36 wk/yr (72 hours total)

Athletics

Varsity Cross Country (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
Varsity Captain-12th grade; JV Captain-10th grade
14 hr/wk for 20 wk/yr (1120 hours total)

Varsity Outdoor Track & Field (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
Varsity Captain (12th)
18 hr/wk for 12 wk/yr (864 hours total)
Details: MVP Award 11th grade

Awards:

Boy Scouts Eagle Scout Award
AP Scholar with Distinction
Citizen of the Year Award
Oceanography Bowl Tri-Regional: 3rd Place (10th and 11th grade)
Science Olympiad 3rd place Cell Biology at State
Den Chief Service Award
Track MVP/Puma Award
Science Bowl Tri-Regional: 5th place
Science Olympiad Team: 4th place at state
State Public Forum Debate: 7th place
4 3rd place Original Oratory Regional Awards; 1 3rd place Public Forum Debate Regional Award
Presidential Volunteer Service Award, 2009
Peak to Peak Scholar with Distinction, 2009
Leaders Challenge Graduate with Distinction; Raised $5,500 for P.E. depart., 2009
Total of 22 Awards of Excellence for Academic Performance from 2004-2009

Total Number of Logged Community Service Hours: 719 hrs

Thank you in advance!

CollegeAddiction · November 11, 2009, 5:23pm

34 views and no one responds -_-…

tigerton · November 11, 2009, 5:44pm

Stanford is a shot in the dark no matter how good your stats are. The stats are definitely up to par with the best of the best. All you can do is hope. I’d say you have a good shot.

applicannot · November 11, 2009, 6:56pm

It is definitely a crapshoot at Stanford, especially for ORMs. People “better” than you will get rejected. People “worse” than you will get accepted (yes, even ORMs).

pewpewpew · November 11, 2009, 7:49pm

Well, you’ve DONE a lot and Eagle Scout is certainly a boost, but you’re still ORM with average test scores (for Stanford) and relatively bland ECs w/o passion.

To be honest, you definitely have an above average shot, but not a fantastic one. Your admission depends on interesting essays and a well-presented application.

CollegeAddiction · November 11, 2009, 9:02pm

Yea, I’m not coming out as a lopsided applicant, rather a well-rounded one, so my passion isn’t necessarily in an organization or club, but in an idea- leadership, which I feel I show very well. But anyways, how is being president of NHS and StuCo and Captain of cross country and track not showing passion OO? Sure my passion is spread out, but there is passion nonetheless --. If I’m not mistaken you’re solely basing your judgment on the variety of clubs/organizations I am in. Don’t take me offensively, but after dedicating hours after hours every week on my “passions”, saying I lack it disparages my hard work.

Also, I know I am an ORM, but the fact that I am Sikh and culturally VERY different should compensate for that. As I had stated in my profile, my essay is all about me overcoming discrimination and then becoming president/captain of several clubs/organizations in my school, being the only “brown kid with a turban” in a school of white conservatives. So in that case, admission officers should see that I will be adding more diversity to their university than any other asian and probably even more than any hispanic/black (though affirmative action, which is based solely on race, may say otherwise =/).

Thanks for your input! I guess I’ll just wait it out till December 15th

jony6789 · November 11, 2009, 9:40pm

CA - don’t be offended by comments you are asking for. I think what pewpewpew was trying to say is that there are A LOT of kids who also do math team, NHS, student gov, debate, boy scouts, MUN, etc. You show you have a passion for leadership but a lot of kids do too. I say it comes down to your intellectual vitality.

CollegeAddiction · November 11, 2009, 9:59pm

yea my bad I guess I did ask for it. Thanks for your input once again.

indianmonster · November 11, 2009, 10:03pm

yeah colleges like students who they can summarize in a few words. are you that science kid who won did research, won international awards and made it into a prestigious journal? or are you that musician who played in Vienna and composed his/her own award winning peices?

Again, these are just examples. Looking at your ECAs, I really do not find a clear passion that you seem to possess. “Leadership” is a quality, not a passion. Passion is an activity that you really love doing and do your best in it until the adcom sees it blatantly from your achievements. Getting leadership roles n various activities is good, but really does not stand out.

But I would say you have quite a good chance compared to the avg kid applying to Stanford, seeing all your awards. Good Luck :)

KevRus · November 11, 2009, 10:22pm

I think you have a great shot. To the user who said your test scores are “average,” I disagree. Your test scores are most definitely above Stanford’s averages.

Rolandic7 · November 11, 2009, 10:29pm

Just saying something, one thing an ORM should never write about (as a main essay) is his culture; EVERY Asian applicant will talk about his culture, just further ensconcing them withing the stereotype. Stanford has too many applicants to find the differences between a Sikh and a South Asian.

So hopefully you took an angle setting you apart from those Asian applicants all about culture and diversity. For an Asian, it’s about as being as Non-asian as possible which boosts your chances.

Apart from that, good application, SAT score is okay, varied ECs; I can see where others are going on about a lack of passion, but if you somehow managed to combine those ECs together into one essay, you can still convince them you have a passion.

Rolandic7 · November 11, 2009, 10:34pm

@ KevRus;

The OP’s scores aren’t above Stanford’s averages. Stanford’s SAT averages are misleading due to the athletes and other minorities who get in. For Asians, the SAT standard is very high; you will be compared alongside other Asians, and in there, all your SAT scores must be 75th percentile in each section for your SAT to be favorable to your chances (aka 2300+); 2240 isn’t a bad SAT score by any means, but (this is from a advisor at Stanford) it’ll be rated as OK, neither a detriment nor an incentive for admission.

NJDS · November 11, 2009, 10:40pm

i would warn you against coming across too strong
you posted all of your numbers and became defensive when people critiqued them

you seem to define your involvement in terms of numbers, which is something that shouldn’t be done

seeing as you have already applied, our opinions dont matter
you can’t change anything about your application

i guess you can just use other opinions to decide on how many other schools (and which ones) you should apply to while you wait for a stanford decision

nonetheless
good luck

CollegeAddiction · November 11, 2009, 10:56pm

^ Yea I’m sorry if I sounded too defensive. I have been on these forums for a very long time and spent a lot of time in My Chances forums and felt my ECs were definitely the strongest part of my application. Hence, I expected a little more optimistic response from the forum. Whatever, this anxiety is just building up lol. Thanks for your input everyone and sorry if I came out too defensive.

QuantumArbiter · November 12, 2009, 1:24am

Don’t listen to Rolandic 7. He’s being ignorant and he has no sense of humor.

Honestly, guys, race really isn’t a big issue. Its not going to change everything. Even the college adcoms (I went to Duke, Georgetown, Penn, Harvard, and Stanford’s presentations) themselves say “We don’t racially discriminate when we chose applicants.”

Why does it seem that black people and Hispanics get in even with lower test scores? Its because a majority do not have the right opportunities that whites, Indians and Asians have. Its really that simple. If an Indian doesn’t have the right opportunities, then he will be considered with that in mind. If a white is disadvantages, he will be considered with that in mind. If a black kid’s parents are both Harvard alumni, then he will be considered with that in mind.

It really depends on what opportunities you have and how you’ve made use of them. It DOES not have to do with race too much. Race will not make or break the deal. Its something uncontrollable. I really don’t get why people make a big deal about it.

As for the culture essay, I’d say its great! Write about anything that shows you as a person.

Out of curiosity, OP,
what did you write about in your other three short answer essays?

Alsoooo
Your SAT score is perfectly in range. It does NOT have to be above 2300 as Rolandic7 unreasonably claims.

applicannot · November 12, 2009, 10:39am

I agree with QuantumArbiter. What colleges at Stanford’s level are looking for are not African American / Hispanic / Native American students. What they are looking for are students who have excelled despite not having a cushioned life, or even a normal life. Those students are disproportionately black, Hispanic, or Naive American. There are fewer white and Asian students coming from that background. For example, take a look at your profile. Much of what you have done shows that your parents have money and/or care about your success. For example, 14 APs is over $1200. Plus, you probably bought materials (not expensive in and of themselves, but in total) to self-study with. You don’t appear to work. So, your parents support you or you have a ridiculous trust fund - either way, you’re a pretty average middle or upper middle (perhaps even upper) income student. There are a select few students who make it to the top level but who don’t have that kind of support. Those are the students that Stanford wants. Those students have “lower” SAT scores or statistics or ECs what have you for a variety of reasons - including, for example, having to work many hours to support their family much less cough up $1200 for AP exams. Stanford, and other schools at its tier, admire students who overcome diversity. So while you are a fantastic student, there’s nothing that makes you stand out. You’ve won a lot of awards, which means at least you’re a great student. Guess what? Stanford has thousands of great students. It could fill its undergrad with students just like you. That’s not harsh, it’s true. Stanford wants students that are set apart from the mold. They want students who can succeed when there is nothing behind them to push them forward. They want students who are going to reach the top not because there is an award for it or because they are going to be rewarded for it, but because they have the innate drive to do so. And, frankly, they want students who they can bring in from the street, pay COA for, make rich, and in ten years see a lot of money from. All these reasons explain why Stanford is 24% first generation and 17% low-income - extremely high numbers for a school anywhere near Stanford’s rank. It isn’t about the awards you’ve won, or the religious diversity you bring, or the color diversity you bring - it’s about being academically capable of doing the work and thriving despite any setbacks.

KevRus · November 12, 2009, 1:40pm

@Rolandic7

You’re extremely mistaken. I mean, what you’re saying makes no sense. Why would you not include athletes and “other minorities” in the SAT averages? They are students at Stanford, right? So no, Stanford’s averages are not “misleading,” they are just that - averages. The OP’s scores are perfectly fine. They’re not AMAZING, but MOST applicants have scores similar to the OP, and about 25% of applicants have scores lower than the OP.

You will not be compared to other Asians, you will be compared to other Stanford applicants. You’re above average - your chances are just as good as other qualified applicants, but it will all come down to luck.

Rolandic7 · November 12, 2009, 5:56pm

To all:

I may have not explained my intentions clearly, and I apologize for that, but what I was trying to get across was that you will be compared to others who are similar to you. I’m not saying that you will ONLY be compared to Asians, but they make you put your race down in the application for a reason. Race isn’t the ONLY factor used for admission but it does play a role.

And when we’re all competing with the best of the best for admission, we all tend to be so good, they will start looking for reasons to mark us down. And in doing so, they probably will group those with similar applications and look for which one in the group stands out. Race can be one of the criteria used to group people (not that it’s the only one), and in that sense, you are being compared to other Asians (in addition to being compared with everyone else).

I agree with Applicannot in that they don’t want specific races but people who have overcome adversity, but in all honesty, don’t you think there is to some extent some stereotyping? Doesn’t a URM with a luxurious life still get a boost in admissions simply because of their race (I don’t know the answer to this, but I assume so)?

And about the SAT scores, if you are being compared to Asian people, you generally tend to find their scores to be above the average. 2200s is a great score, no doubt, but as KevRus said, MOST applicants have similar scores.

I gave the misconception that you are only compared to your ethnic group, which is wrong; you’re compared to everyone through a variety of criteria apart from race (region, major, ECs, etc.). What I’m trying to say is that, when you are compared to those similar to you (in this case your ethnicity), you need to find something which makes you stand out from everyone else. Culture is a great topic to write about, but I’d advise it not to be your main essay because many others choose that same topic, reducing it’s originality, when you are compared alongside other applicants.

Race is just one factor, as QuantumArbiter said, among the many. If you made your application apply to yourself only, and not to anyone else (whether it be race, EC, etc.), then you should be good.

@ QuantumArbiter: What exactly did my post have to do with my sense of humor?

CollegeAddiction · November 12, 2009, 6:16pm

Hm maybe I should be a little bit more specific as to what my essays were about.

My Common Essay:
I was kicked out of the State Senator Chambers for my turban, I was questioned to run in cross country meets because of my turban, and I was asked to sit outside of diner halls in Boy Scout camps because of my turban. My essay is about how I was a gawky awkward freshman and how I didn’t take initiative to challenge these discriminations. However, when I moved to Colorado I was given a new opportunity and how despite being the only “brown kid” in a school of white conservatives I overcame social reality and became Student Body President. My essay is NOT about my “culture”, but overcoming it’s apparent disability.

Also, I come from a relatively mid-middle class family. I came to the US in late 2000 if that helps put things in perspective.

To answer another question that was asked:
My other essays:
Int. Vitality: Talked about the finals in the oceanography bowl and then transitioned into my interests in neurology and how my cousin, who’s diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, influenced by interest.

Roommate: Teachers have said this was the “best” college essay they’ve read in their career. It is about me wearing short shorts in cross country and how laughing at my differences has created my personality. Very comical piece.

Why Stanford: I take on the role of a professional detective and solve a mystery in Stanford which overall proves my interest in the premedical/biological science programs at Stanford.

In addition, I know my score of 2240 won’t suffice academically (I only took it once), but won’t my SAT IIs (2380) compensate for that at all? Also, I don’t want to sound defensive, but isn’t 800 math I score above the 75%, and 760 writing above the 60%, and a 680 CR score right on the 25% mark for Stanford? So how are my scores higher than only 25% of the applicants considering that only about 20,000 people score over 2240 (source: SAT chart on collegeboard). Again I’m not trying to be defensive it’s just that the numbers don’t support some of the claims ><

indianmonster · November 12, 2009, 8:43pm

Haha your essays sound pretty cool! Do you mind showing ur Roommate essay to me (out of sheer curiosity), since we all have finished our SCEAs. Life should be funny for a sardhar with a pagari, I always thought :D

How does Stanford SCEA look for me?

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