<p>Decision: Deferred –> Accepted</p>
<p>Objective:</p>
<p>SAT I (breakdown): 2340, M:800, R:740, W:800 (Essay 12)
ACT: 35 E:35, M:35, R:34 S:36 (Essay 9)
SAT II: Math II:800, Biology 740 Chemistry 760
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.984 (Got first B senior year…
)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Unweighted in the top 3
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Calc AB(5), APUSH(5), APGEO(5), Stats(4), AP Calc BC(5), AP Biology (4), AP Chemistry (4), AP Macroecon(4), AP American Literature (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: Multivariable Calc, Engineering, AP Language, Latin IV, AP Physics, AP Government
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): SIEMENS Semi-Finalist, ISEF 1st Place Team Awards, Published science paper in Harvard’s Journal for Emerging Investigators, project presented at NA-ISMET (international science conference) among other small local/state awards</p>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<p>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
President of school science club and worked hard to help setup student-run lab for other students, captain of Swim/Dive, Rowing, Vocalist for Choir at one point, founder of nonprofit (inspiration from my science fair)
Job/Work Experience: Interned at local research center for experience, Habitat for Humanity council
Volunteer/Community service: Hospital volunteer for 2-3 years, church stuff
Summer Activities: theater camp, science fair, running, counting cards, raspberry pi stuff, documentary filming and other cool things :)))
Essays: Common App: Talked about an how an accident changed my outlook on life (8), for extracurriculars, I talked about my involvement and leadership in the science club (8), Intellectual Vitality: Talked about my research with fuel cells and how I was so driven internally to figure it out (9-10), Roommate Essay: Super laid-back and talked about how I take 30 minutes showers and sing taylor swift among other random details that defined me. Ended with #Stanford2018 haha (8), What Matters: I said people matters and our relationships with each other. It doesn’t matter what one does in life, as long as it benefits someone else and is driven from a passion for humanity. I was super transparent and didn’t hold back my inner thoughts (9). I also submitted an optional update which emphasized my research and current activities, pretty much reinforcing what the Adcoms already knew
Teacher Recommendation: Biology Teacher (7-8?) She was nice about it and knew of my research experience and was enthusiastic to help, History Teacher (8-9) Loved me and is an excellent writer so that definitely helped a lot
Counselor Rec: Didn’t read but probably pretty generic
Additional Rec: From the professor who gave me lab space in Sophomore year, and worked with me on building up the lab and science club - assumed it was professional and praiseworthy
Interview: Talked for 90 minutes at Caribou! She was super friendly and nice (it was my first college interview) and was super bubbly! She wore ALL Stanford gear! We are still in touch!</p>
<p>Other</p>
<p>State (if domestic applicant): MN
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Race(s) (White, AA, AI/AN, Asian, NH/PI): Asian
Hispanic (Y/N): N
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 100000-120000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Absolutely none, maybe science research and passion for humanities as well?</p>
<p>Reflection</p>
<p>Strengths: Research, open-mindedness, intellectual vitality essay, not your typical asian american
Weaknesses: Asian male, engineering major (probably will change),
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I honestly think that Stanford saw my passion for energy and impacting the world. All my essays revolved around this. I loved my research and wanted to make the world better and my activities and extracurriculars backed it up.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: State school full ride, USC (presidential scholar), UC Berkeley, Duke
Waitlisted: UPenn
Rejected: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT</p>
<p>General Comments: Guys, dreams do come true. Thank you, College Confidential Community, for being such a support through the years. You are part of the reason I got into Stanford. To those who were denied admission, I totally empathize with you - all the ivies denied me too and I was so depressed with life, believing I had no chance at Stanford. During my time in limbo, I cried, mulled, and kept asking why why why why why…? And I realized that it ultimately wouldn’t matter where I went, as long as I had a direction in my heart. Most of the world’s most successful people like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs didn’t need the Ivies or Stanford to change the world, because they had the passion and drive to succeed, which is ultimately what is matters. And that starts with you. Of course I can’t complain - Stanford is definitely a great platform and I am so humbled to have gotten in, but I also realize that my undergraduate education should not define me, even if that undergraduate education IS Stanford, one of the best schools in the world. So I guess in parting, rejects: don’t get down on yourself; there is a full life ahead of you and once your make millions, it won’t even matter where you went to college. Waitlist peeps: Keep your head up in case Stanford calls you, but be realistic at the same time so you go to college next year. Admits: Congrats! We made it! It’s be a wonderful rollercoaster of a journey and I am so glad it’s over. Time to change the world 
(btw if you need help with essays, definitely check out chalky.co. They have real essays that worked!)</p>
<p>NB: I was deferred before but accepted now. It was really depressing at first but I realized it was an opportunity to really showcase myself (even though I got a fricken B first semester of senior year). But passion trumps everything - do what you love because you love it, not because colleges “think” it’s cool. Here’s a great article for future deferees: <a href=“Deferred gratification”>http://www.stanforddaily.com/2013/03/06/deferred-gratification/</a></p>
<p>Peace out homies </p>