Official Stanford SCEA 2016 Applicants' Discussion Thread

Colleges & Universities Stanford University
541

<p>Stanford can fill their entire URM requirements with athletes. </p>

<p>Someone with no ECs, 24 ACT, 3.1 GPA is not required to assure Stanford has enough URMs. There are a boatload of people that meet that criteria at every school in US. I know enough URMs in Houston that can fill a high school football game, and about 200 URMs at my kid’s school can fill that role and they all actually have better GPAs but end up going to community colleges.</p>

<p>The fact that he showed you a letter and he is attending Stanford does not make your understanding of his stats and admission circumstances accurate.</p>

<p>He went with 3.1 GPA from your school and currently has a 3.7 GPA at Stanford? Please give us a break.</p>

542

<p>I’m serious.</p>

<p>I still talk to him on Facebook and over the phone (very rarely).</p>

<p>He works his tail off, I guess.</p>

543

<p>@StanfordCS: You have a tendency to use anecdotal evidence to draw broad conclusions – for example, the guy who got a 3.1/24 ACT, which apparently means that test scores do not accurately predict your ability to succeed in college (though you draw no link between one’s test scores, one’s getting INTO college, and one’s success in college). </p>

<p>You say that he has a 3.7 GPA as an econ major; this implies that 1) you maintain regular contact with him and are on good enough terms with him to inquire about his GPA and major and 2) that he’s already declared his major, which Stanford students do by the end of their sophomore year; certainly not during their freshman year. So either he’s either a prospective econ major, or you were a sophomore (if not freshman) in Calc AB while he was a senior. </p>

<p>In fact, test scores DO predict, to a high degree, one’s college success. Assuming your friend’s story is real, he would be an extreme anomaly, and not the norm.</p>

<p>[In</a> Defense of the SAT - The Daily Beast](<a href=“http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/blogs/nurture-shock/2009/09/18/in-defense-of-the-sat.html]In”>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/blogs/nurture-shock/2009/09/18/in-defense-of-the-sat.html) </p>

<p>Or take the guy from your school who was accepted REA last year w/ a 2.97 GPA, which apparently means that “So, it shows many spots are reserved for Stanford’s football team, while on CC I saw 2400 SAT applicants rejected. That’s why I suggest many people to apply RD instead of REA.” </p>

<p><a href=“Stanford SCEA Chances Please! - Stanford University - College Confidential Forums”>Stanford SCEA Chances Please! - Stanford University - College Confidential Forums;

<p>Why do you need to lie on a forum? There are thousands of ■■■■■■ on this forum; I suspect that in your case, your lying on a forum is to inflate your own sense of self-worth and, odds are, mediocre chances because of these two anecdotal examples. Two anecdotes does not a sound conclusion make. Intentional or not, your lying would not be the first on CC, nor will it be the last. Stanford’s class profile suggests that yes, in fact, GPA and test scores DO matter. Quite a lot, actually. Look at the last page of the Stanford profile and tell me GPA and test scores don’t matter. <a href=“Page Not Found : Stanford University”>Page Not Found : Stanford University;

<p>I would have no problem with your lying, except you’re dispensing faulty conclusions based on anecdotal evidence as advice and misinforming other users on this forum.</p>

544

<p>Did you ask him how and why he got in with those 50 percentile stats for high school population in this country with no ECs and discernible achievements other than his skin color and got into a top 5 school in this country?</p>

545

<p>Back to race and class: it is tempting to say Stanford should just take class / parental income into account, but I don’t think that captures life in the US. Reminds me of something Chris Rock said: “No white person in America would trade places with me, and I’m rich!”</p>

546

<p>@solemn Okay, I was a Sophomore when I took Calc AB because I took Pre-Calc as a Freshman. Oh, and I took Algebra 2 on FLVS. If test scores predict your ability to succeed in college, then why does Stanford admit anyone below a 25 on the ACT? According to Stanford’s admissions profile for the class of 2015 ([Applicant</a> Profile : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/profile.html]Applicant”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/profile.html)) 2% of the admitted students had an ACT score ranging from 18-23 and 3% ranging from 24-29. Also, 2% of the admitted students had a SAT score below 600 on each section of the SAT. Also, 2% were ranked 21% or worse in their respective graduating classes. Let me guess? Your defense will be those students are student athletes. Right? Well, that cannot be true either, because as the name suggests, they are STUDENT athletes. So, Stanford’s athletes have to be able to perform in the classroom and not just on the field.</p>

<p>If test scores predict college success, then why does Stanford even admit these students?</p>

<p>And, if test scores mattered then why have many universities like Wake Forest gone test optional? </p>

<p>Please explain to me how am I a ■■■■■? </p>

<p>Also, you said I have minute chances of being accepted? Well, I guess we’ll find on December 15th.</p>

547

<p>They admit these students because test scores are not everything to admission. It’s just a number. Sure they matter but there are a lot of other factors that contribute to admission. </p>

<p>Sent from my PC36100 using CC App</p>

548

<p>Well, it seems in Solemn’s mind, test scores should be the sole factor of admissions.</p>

549

<p>Wells that’s ridiculous! Does one test negate 18 years of hard work!</p>

<p>Sent from my PC36100 using CC App</p>

550

<p>Exactly my point, StanfordGirl22!</p>

551

<p>@StanfordCS: My critique of you is multifaceted; don’t attempt to reduce my position to a short little sound bite. We already have too many politicians doing that.</p>

<p>I’ll do a line-by-line of your post.</p>

<p>1) So you took Calc AB as a sophomore. Then I’ll assume that your friend has declared early or is a prospective econ major. Unlikely, but I’ll roll with it. Fair enough.</p>

<p>2) “If test scores predict your ability to succeed in college, then why does Stanford admit anyone below a 25 on the ACT?” </p>

<p>I’ll flip the question on you: if test scores DON’T predict your ability to succeed in college, then why does Stanford (or any other top-notch school) ask for your scores in the first place? Why not just go test optional as all of those other universities (like Wake Forest) have?</p>

<p>What particularly frustrates me about you is that you say that since 2%of admitted students have lower than X scores on Y test, test scores don’t matter. I’m don’t have data about those 48 (.02*2439) people; maybe they had a bad test day, maybe they had other extenuating circumstances. But your drawing norms and conclusions from a minute fraction of cases which you ALSO have no idea about is damaging to your credibility and misinforms other applicants on this forum. That you make conclusions based on your feelings and NOT on the data makes you as bad as Rick Perry in my book. To quote Jon Huntsman,</p>

<p>“When we take a position that basically runs counter to what 98 of 100 climate scientists have said, what the National Academy of Sciences have said, about what is causing climate change and man’s contribution to it, I think we find ourselves on the wrong side of science and therefore in a losing position.” </p>

<p>You are taking a position counter to what the other 98% of successful applicants suggests, and that puts you in a losing position; furthermore, you don’t make a case against the data and statistics I provide.</p>

<p>3) How are you a ■■■■■? I’ll refer to this thread here:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/1237351-additional-info-requested.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/1237351-additional-info-requested.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>orangepekoe and collegeinfo1994 already nailed it for me. </p>

<p>4) And yes, we will find out on December 15th, though I wouldn’t be surprised if you posted your stats as an acceptance just to save face. Am I cynical towards you? Absolutely. </p>

<p>5) Finally, you distort my argument and put words in my mouth, saying that “it seems in Solemn’s mind, test scores should be the sole factor of admissions.” Nowhere do I say such a thing. I’m one of the biggest proponents of holistic admissions I know. However, I will fight misinformation like yours regarding test scores, especially when it damages the applications of other students. If you want more information regarding Stanford’s admissions priorities, I suggest you go here: [Stanford</a> University: Common Data Set 2010-2011](<a href=“http://ucomm.stanford.edu/cds/2010.html#admission]Stanford”>http://ucomm.stanford.edu/cds/2010.html#admission)</p>

<p>I welcome other individuals’ input on my and StanfordCS’s discussion.</p>

552

<p>solemn - I mentioned earlier stanfordcs was trying to denigrate URMs but based on past history that you are pointing to, it does look like he/she has a low opinion of URMs and has this ridiculous notion that just by the color of their skin they can get into Stanford.</p>

<p>I also think the numbers provided by stanford are for the matriculating class of 1750 or so and not 2400+. In the common data set they provide the number of people providing SAT vs ACT scores and usually the ACT reports are far fewer, in the range of 600-700. So the 2 percent translates to 14 people.</p>

553

<p>Let’s talk about a happier topic. Post links to your favorite songs people!</p>

<p>I’m currently in love with Death Cab for Cutie:
[Death</a> Cab For Cutie - Marching Bands Of Manhattan - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>

554

<p>If I am one of the few lucky ones to receive an acceptance, I will post my letter for you on here.</p>

555

<p>I rest my case . . . ■■■■■</p>

<p>"Adam Wheeler is a straight up baller! I am so fascinated by how he forged transcripts, rec letters, etc…</p>

<p>I agree with HelloRabato, I am in awe of him as well and admissions personnel must be stupid. </p>

<p>Just think about it, he would have graduated from Harvard had he not gotten greedy and forged a thesis for a scholarship.</p>

<p>They need to make a hall of fame for this guy, he is ****ing amazing. </p>

<p>I would love to meet him!!!" - StanfordCS 11/17 5:34pm</p>

556

<p>Okay, so what does that prove? I think it’s fascinating how he got away with it for so long.</p>

557

<p>All I can say is that I BELIEVE that Stanford (and every other college for that matter) is trying to build a community. That community will have students with all kind of personal characteristics (male/female/genetic/heredity/orientation) and interests. If colleges only admitted students who had perfect test scores and grades and interests in science OR english OR athletics OR arts or parents who attended, it would not be a liberal arts community. People choose colleges like Stanford because there are myriad kinds of community members and choices to make. Fortunately, I believe Stanford may choose an artist with less than perfect test scores, or an athlete with less than perfect grades or a URM with fewer ECs or any combination of the above and infinitely more possibilities, because they are creating a cohesive, but diverse community with ONE common denominator: the potential to be successful at Stanford. History, essays and, critically, recommendations point Stanford to the students who have potential to succeed. I have to believe this, or I would not have applied, with decidedly less-than-perfect test scores.</p>

<p>It makes some people feel better to try and ferret out the “chances” of acceptance. The truth is, we’ll never know what anyone’s “chances” are, whether they’re a legacy, urm, cancer curer or whatever, because it’s not a scientific process. We’re all obviously achievers of something, in an instant-gratification era. We might as well settle in for the 4 week remaining ride and be supportive of one another.</p>

558

<p>Great post, NewtoCollege.</p>

559

<p><a href=“http://25.media.■■■■■■■■■■/tumblr_lgkj7ja3za1qesc3io1_400.gif[/url]”>http://25.media.■■■■■■■■■■/tumblr_lgkj7ja3za1qesc3io1_400.gif&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

560

<p>I just wanted to express the fact that everyone on this forum is in my thoughts and prayers. (: . . . As i hope to be in you guy’s position for Stanford’s class of 2019, I hold a tremendous amount of respect and admiration towards all of you that have made it this far. Please remember that even if you are not accepted, you are extremely talented and have gone farther than most of your peers. I love you all, and wish you the best of luck!</p>