<p>looking at all these posts im completely lost at how on earth the stanford admission process works, im assuming an outstanding essay and EC’s but not the ‘highest grades’ will put applicants on the same wavelength as someone with the ‘highest grades’ ?</p>
<p>Dizeaze, I completely agree with you. ALL FUTURE STANFORD APPLICANTS: THE ESSAYS AND ECs MATTER TREMENDOUSLY! My scores are very low for the average accepted student, but I had a strong rising trend and worked my butt off with my ECs. Essays definitely got me in.</p>
<p>I heard the essays have to be written casually rather than formally, So how would that be effective ? Also seems that people who did hundreds of random voluntary hours are being frowned on because it seems that they’re only volunteering to pad up there EC’s, whereas people who are passionate about doing something in a particular area are getting the attention… </p>
<p>seems like stanford is sort of like Xaviers Institute from xmen lol</p>
<p>@ bubbles , did you have any awards or were you’re ECs just very impressive ?</p>
<p>Dizeaze, the thing you said about ECs is very true. I did a summer volunteer internship at a hospital a few years ago because I used to want to be a doctor, so I thought I’d try it out to see what it was like. I ended up with around 150 hours just that one summer but I ended up not putting that entire activity in my college app because it has absolutely nothing to do with anything I did after that (IR/foreign policy/economics stuff, which I definitely want as a career now). I hated working at the hospital and gave up on wanting to be a doctor a long time ago. Package yourself to stand out and become known for ONE THING, not a shallow assortment of things that don’t relate. If I would have put down the hospital volunteering it would’ve been odd next to the IR related things and would’ve looked, like you said, as if I was padding my application. Don’t be afraid to leave things out of your app!</p>
<p>I didn’t have any major awards. My ECs were very specific, I had A LOT of leadership, and I showed my passion for foreign affairs things. To be honest though, I think I got in because I’m gay and put that in my application. Diversity of the 21st century, I guess.</p>
<p>Ugh. Reading this all is making me so nervous. 
I have major awards in different ECs, but I’m also in two community service clubs (tho i have leadership in both) as well as job shadowing that I didn’t really talk about in my app at all (tho I did talk about it in the WL submission form! as there were new developments) so I’m hoping that they won’t think I’m “unfocused” in my passions etc. Plus I didn’t directly talk about any of my ECs in my essays … I talked about my passion for history and news instead. Oh well. I guess I’ll kno by the end of this week…</p>
<p>Stanford - along with almost all other colleges - looks at all aspects of your application, but what they weigh most heavily on are your essay, grades/scores/course rigor, exracurriculars, community service, and rec letters. Most importantly, they look for people who not only excel academically and intellectually, but socially as well. They look for people who have a passion for something, who stand out from all the rest not just because of their smarts but their personality and hobbies. What you need to remember is that these people are basing their decisions on whatever YOU put on your application, and unless you have an interview, that’s all the info they get. In other words, you need to make yourself shine through, essentially, a paper application. It’s difficult, yes, but it’s what separates the average from the extraordinary.</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted</p>
<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): Critical Reading = 730; Math = 730; Writing = 660; Total = 2120
ACT: 31
SAT II: US History (780); Math Lvl 2 (670
ouch); Biology-E (760); Chemistry (750)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA (out of 5.0): 4.5
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5%
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calculus AB (5); US History (5); European History (5); Biology (5)
Senior Year Course Load: AP English Lit, AP Psych, AP Chem, AP Calc BC, Symphony Orchestra, Biomedical Research, Teachers Aide, AP Chinese</p>
<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Symphony Orchestra; Math Team; Junior Varsity Badminton (10th grade)
Hobbies: Writing fantasy novels, learning origami
Volunteer/Community service: Since I like reading and tutoring, I did a lot of peer tutoring (and tutoring for elementary kids). I also worked in the library a lot promoting summer reading programs.
Summer Activities: See above.
Essays: I liked my essay. It was a bit of a risky topic as I wrote about something very personal. Although it wasnt particularly fancy in prose, I felt it was very sincere (hopefully the adcoms felt the same way). Writing is my passion so writing the essays were my favorite part of the application.
Teacher Recommendation: Hmm, I did the waiver thing, so I didnt get a chance to look at the letters, but I assume they were good.
Counselor Rec: See above.
Additional Rec: I was waitlisted, so I accidentally sent a letter from my AP English teacher (before I read their little blurb on their site about them not accepting supplementary stuff). Anyways, I dont think it counted against me.
Interview: Didnt have one.</p>
<p>Other
State (if domestic applicant): California
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Chinese
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 20,000-22,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First generation college</p>
<p>Reflection
Strengths: I really dont know. I think my strongest points were my essays. And maybe my GPA (which is really not that spectacular because at least twenty other people at my school have 4.0s)
Weaknesses: SAT scores, lack of leadership roles, not a ton of extracurriculars (but Im really into the few activities I am involved inI love my violin to bits <em>kisses the wooden scroll of her battered instrument</em>); didnt get any national level awards, just local
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Yeah, again, I was wait-listed at first. But I guess there must have been something that the committee liked about my application. It just goes to show that you dont need to do groundbreaking research or solve global warming to get into Stanford (this does not mean that one shouldnt do these activitiesthe world needs more people like these!)</p>
<p>General Comments: Besides Stanford, I had gotten wait-listed at Harvard, Yale, and Pomona, so I was on pins and needles ever since the decisions came out. But during the wait, I had made myself happy with the top school I had been accepted toUCLA. So, I have until June 5th to make my decision. Depending on how the financial aid goes (and hopefully Stanfords awesome financial aid program will pull through), Ill be attending Stanford this fall!</p>
<p>is it just me or did it seem like more qualified kids got rejected than URMs who had substantially lower stats? this discrimination is so sad</p>
<p>^self selecting nature of cc posters.</p>
<p>I’m an ORM (white male) who got in with low stats.
so don’t chalk everything up to affirmative action.</p>
<p>just sayin’.</p>
<p>^^^true, but define low.</p>
<p>Also the urms had SUBSTANTIALLY lower stats,</p>
<p>What are URMs exactly nowadays?</p>
<p>I’m pretty torn. I’m looking at Stanford mainly because of it’s financial aid. At first I thought there was no way I’d get in, but it does seem pretty “friendly” toward URMs. That said, my ECs aren’t that strong, like most of the URMs who have posted. It might be doable though…</p>
<p>I don’t think you have to be a URM or have fabulous stats or extracurriculars (though having them will definitely help). What’s more important is to showcase the passion and effort you’ve put into your schoolwork (taking rigorous classes and doing well in them) and actually being very enthusiastic about the extracurriculars that you are involved.</p>
<p>Then again, the college apps process sometimes seems very random. But you know that your chances of getting in is 0% if you don’t apply.</p>
<p>Apply! (you never know…)</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted</p>
<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 680 Cr, 740 M, 730 W- 10 essay
[</em>] ACT: N/A
[<em>] SAT II: Completely forgot, but nothing impressive
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.85
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
[</em>] GCE A Levels: 5 A’s predicted
[<em>] GCE O Levels: 8 A’s, 1 B
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: 5 A level courses
[<em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):A lot of stuff
[</em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
- Debate (Founder of School’s debate club, two-time national team debater, participated at World Schools Debating Championships 2008, national inter-school and inter-university champion, ranked best debater nationally, overall debating-community badass. </p>
<p>2) Published researcher; research includes working with several organizations, including a Nobel-laureate.</p>
<p>3) Published Journalist.</p>
<p>[<em>] Job/Work Experience: Tutor to O Levels Students, remote Web Developer for a Virginia-based company.
[</em>] Summer Activities:
Working with rising debaters, writing, researching, hanging out with friends.
[<em>] Essays: Very direct and very me.
[</em>] Teacher Recommendation: One of them was excellent, I didn’t see the other.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: no clue
[</em>] Additional Rec: none
[<em>] State (if domestic applicant): Born Hawaiian
[</em>] Country (if international applicant): Living in South Asia
[<em>] School Type: Private
[</em>] Ethnicity: South Asian
[<em>] Gender: Male
[</em>] Income Bracket: $5000< (no, seriously)
[<em>] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): ORM hahaha
[</em>] Strengths: Good essays, good extracurriculars, imagination and projected energy.
[<em>] Weaknesses: SAT scores and (relatively) A/O Level performance
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Because I really wanted and deserved it =P.
[/ul]General Comments: I am EXTREMELY grateful for this and I just can’t wait! I’ll have to turn down Brandeis University now and I really like that school. But Stanford was always my NO.1</p>
<p>^See, you really do never know! I had a feeling you’d get in (moreso after the extended waitlist), if just because of that name.</p>
<p>hahaha thanks Senior! This is awesome! And congratulations to Harvard1009’s brother. So, you’re next huh? ;)</p>
<p>^^ what school district in NJ is your bro from? jw…like is it somerset, cherry hill, ocean, whatever?</p>
<p>LATE.</p>
<p>Decision: Rejected</p>
<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 1690 - 600 CR, 560 M, 530 W
[</em>] ACT: 29 - 29 E, 32 R, 28 M, 28 S, 8 Essay
[<em>] SAT II: 640 US History, 580 Math Level II
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/243
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): AP US History (3)
[<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: (Block Schedule)
1st Semester: Honors Physics, AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature & Composition, Honors Economics/Government
2nd Semester: AP Calculus AB, Sociology, AP English Literature & Composition, Intermediate Theatre
[li] Major Awards: Not dropping out is pretty big here.[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars:
Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 9th-12th (Male Co-Captain 10th, 12th, Head Recruiter 11th)
Varsity Tennis, 9th-10th, 12th (Captain 12th)
Varsity Cross Country, 10th-12th
Student Council, 9th-12th (Representative, President -12th)
Academic Team, 9th-12th, (Captain 11th-12th)
Junior Volunteers, 11th-12th
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: Tutoring junior high/middle school students, 12th Grade
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: 150+ doing assorted activities for church, hospital volunteering.
[</em>] Summer Activities: Junior volunteers, helping with my church’s vacation Bible school.
[<em>] Essays:
Common App: I wrote about the idea that little lessons never really end, but instead they follow you and influence how you live your life and connected it with my experience at FCA leadership camp.
Why Stanford: This essay probably had to be the worst one an adcom as ever laid eyes on. I had talked about how Stanford was a distinct community and it was where I wanted to be.
Roommate: I didn’t do anything too daring here. I just talked about some of the things I wanted to do outside of class, my obsession with high-fives and breakdancing although I’ve never done it myself.
Intellectual Vitality: I liked this one. Started out with my wonder of the evening sky and brought in how a lot of different branches of academia explain the world around us and perhaps these explanations could be linked together to form a composite picture.
[</em>] Teacher Recommendation: Really generic. It was one of those ‘copy+paste’ affairs although I was hoping they didn’t do that.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: I did not get to see this recommendation, although I’m hoping it was good since she was a sponsor for one of my ECs.
[</em>] Additional Rec: Cross country coach. It was pretty good.
[li] Interview: N/A.[/ul] </p>[/li]
<p>Other[ul]
[<em>] State: Tennessee
[</em>] Country: USA
[<em>] School Type: Public school, on the ‘target list’ for the NCLB program, not a very high graduation rate, even lower rate of students going to college.
[</em>] Ethnicity: Asian-American
[<em>] Gender: Male
[</em>] Income Bracket: < $50,000
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First-generation college student[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Reflection[ul]
[<em>] Strengths: Essays might have gotten me in the door.
[</em>] Weaknesses: Then they looked at my scores, ECs and read my Why Stanford essay and immediately threw me out. My lack of AP classes because of my school and lack of self-confidence to do self-study more than likely screwed me over. Perhaps I came across as one-dimensional to the adcoms, because I talked about FCA and church a lot.
[li] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: It’s kind of obvious. I was a good student in my hometown but I wasn’t competitive enough in the context of the applicant pool, probably the bottom echelon. My scores are far from solid and the inconsistency between my SAT and ACT scores probably got them doubting that I would do well at Stanford. Overall, I just wasn’t competitive for admission.[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>General Comments:
I had dreamed about going to Stanford for a while now, and hoped and prayed that perhaps they would pull for me. It was a pretty romantic concept of taking a guy whose parents never went to college (one parent not even graduating from high school) living in a blue-collar factory town, attending a small high school and putting him in one of the most rigorous universities in the nation, perhaps the world. Of course, with a concept like that, it was easy to become oblivious to the real chances of that happening. So yes, I was a bit devastated after reading that e-mail, especially after a rejection from Duke days earlier.</p>
<p>However, to everyone who has gotten a rejection, either from Stanford or another institution, remember this: you went for it. There are tons of people who are given opportunities but choose to ignore them, and even many more who want an opportunity but were never given one. Stanford isn’t the only opportunity-giving school out there. I ended up at Baylor, which is actually my first-ever dream school and the best fit for me, and I think I can excel there. Sure, Baylor doesn’t have as big of a ‘wow’ factor as Stanford does, but any school is a great school - it’s how you approach it.</p>
<p>And I am aware that this is way late in the game to actually say this. I was really embarrassed about my outcome and I was terrified to post here, but now that I’m more familiar with what I’m about to go into, I don’t have much of a reason to be embarrassed. Stanford said ‘no’ in a very nice letter. It’s okay. I’ve learned more about myself in this experience with college admissions than I have my whole career in high school.</p>
<p>What I’m hoping with this ramble is that a hopeful Stanford '14er, '15er or '16er and so on, will realize that just going through the process is worth commending. The outcome of it may or may not be what you wanted, but hey, you survived.</p>
<p>And of course, congratulations all you Stanford applicants and admits, I’m proud of all of you.</p>
<p>Now have the best four years of your life.</p>
<p>^ ardency, thank you for your thoughtful post. It’s inspiring to see how we all grow and mature during the college admissions process. And sometimes the end result may be surprising. However, I truly believe that those who actively apply and reach for their dreams will end up in the school that they’d best fit in.</p>
<p>Good luck at Baylor, ardency!</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted</p>