<p>I’m a junior in high school (Soon to be a Senior). I go to a small school in Colorado, about 65 kids per grade. i have a 4.0 UW and something like a 4.28 weighted. I have taken the hardest classes available. 34 ACT 2070 SAT. Haven’t taken SAT IIs yet. I want to study engineering at Stanford or MIT. It seems like I don’t really have a “hook” though. I’m in NHS and volunteer (not an extreme amount though) I run track and cross country. I will be the drum major in band next year and I will hopefully get in to all-state band this year which I hope will help. I have a mowing business… not sure if this will help?
Also, I recently took AP US history and AP Lang tests. I’m estimating 4-5 on each and I will take 4 AP classes next year. I love engineering and problem solving but there aren’t a lot of things relating to that that I can think of for my application. My school doesn’t have a lot of opportunities for that kind of thing. So what are my chances?</p>
<p>I plan on retaking the ACT after LOTS of studying for a 35.
Should I only send my ACT? Should I send both or retake the SAT?
What are some things I can do between now and when I apply to help?
Should I go early action or regular?
I am going to take the math 2 SAT subject test but I’m not sure about the other one.
Thanks for reading this and helping my out. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I think you are in good shape. Keep in mind getting into schools like Stanford are always a shot in the dark. The hook you have is your lawn mowing business. Thats what you are going to want to focus on. Stanford is a school for creative minds, forward thinkers and proactive indivduals. They appreciate the entrepenuer spirit. So your business is going to be ‘golden’ for you. I would advise you to expand it. Try to get others to work for you. Try to make a community sevice project from it. Try creating a program through your local library where you teach other kids how to make something out of their ideas. Show them how they can give back to the community by utilizing their strengths and abilities. (Just some ideas and food for thought)</p>
<p>Your ACT score is very good, why wouldn’t you consider putting the time into the SAT score instead. Thats a bit low and I believe that Stanford requires that you report it.<br>
Also keep in mind that when you have questions like these you can call the schools and ask to speak with an admissions officer for guidance. Its always best to go directly to the source for your questions. Ask Stanford your ACT and SAT question. That way you have the right answers, not just ones that we CC’ers believe to be true.</p>
<p>Good luck…Remember where ever you go they will be lucky to have you.</p>
<p>Stanford (and every other school in the US) does not require the SAT AND the ACT. If you do well on both, fine. But if not, it really doesn’t matter as long as you do well on one. Just send your ACT and you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. I use the word “business” loosely. It’s not really an official business. I have six yards I mow and maintain and obviously I am in charge everything like keeping track of my work and billing and such. I think it is a good idea to make a community service project from it but I’m not sure how. I think I will retake the SAT I was just discouraged by my score because it translates to a 30 on the ACT. I just feel like I’m running out of time even though it’s only May!</p>
<p>There’s literally no point in retaking the SAT, unless you get above like 2300. 2300 would take a bunch of time, and your time is SO much better spent on ECs and subject tests and apps.</p>
<p>alwaysleah is absolutely right. I do not think you can get into Stanford if you spend that much time on test scores. Stanford is looking for world leaders and world changers, not good test takers. On the other hand, your EC seems week.</p>
<p>I tutor middle school students in math and I think I will be a mentor for middle school students next year. What I listed isn’t every single EC, I’m just having a hard time thinking of everything I have done in the past 3 years off the top of my head. But that is what I’m worried about. I haven’t done anything extraordinary and I only have 5.5 months to make an impression if I’m going to apply REA. Suggestions?</p>
<p>A laundry list of ECs will certainly not help you at all. My suggestion to you is, if you are an extraordinary applicant, you WILL have an extraordinary achievement that makes you extraordinary and separates you from the crowd. This is something that comes from the inside out, not the other way around.</p>
<p>But most people aren’t extraordinary, and all the top schools contain most of those kids. I’d say you shouldn’t be too worried. There can be only one Bill Gates and just like there can be only one first black president (and first gay one too according to Newsweek).</p>
<p>Fair enough. Also James Buchanan was actually gay. Probably. I was just looking at the class of 2016 REA decisions thread and I couldn’t believe some of the people that didn’t get in. I feel like I need one thing to focus on before I apply to avoid a laundry list, I just don’t know what. I am very passionate about math and music. Maybe I could start something in my high school to get high school band students to help middle school band students? Our high school is in the same building as our middle school by the way.</p>
<p>To answer your last reply frankly, no, I don’t think that can get you become an extraordinary applicant.</p>
<p>But here’s the deal, college is nothing more but a model agency. College doesn’t change who you are, you are who you are. A stupid person entering Harvard will still ends up stupid. A genius entering Penn Sate will also ends up being a genius. College doesn’t determine who you are, you determine who you are.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m kind of getting tunnel vision reading all this stuff. I know I can handle Stanford and I just want to learn as much as I can. I just hope I can convey that through my application. Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>Write an amazing essay that separates you from the rest of the applicants. At this point, like everyone else has already said, joining a bunch of clubs at this point will hurt you more than help you.</p>
<p>Yeah, that seems to be what I’m hearing a lot. I just wrote a rough (very rough) draft of my common app essay last night. We had to turn one in for my AP Lang class today. I assume there is an essay section of these forums? I would like some feedback when I have worked on it a little more. Thanks!</p>
<p>I think that your biggest chance to do something extraordinary is this summer. Don’t spend it working on essays or applications (although, I would suggest spending some of it looking for colleges you want to apply to). If you’re interested in STEM, I suggest sending as many emails as you can to as many STEM professors at local colleges asking if they would like help with their research in any way. You can also do the same for local engineering companies, email as many human resources directors as you can. It’s likely too late to apply for any summer programs, but if any of these emails actually turn up something worthwhile, it could be more valuable than any summer program. There are lots of extraordinary things you can do the summer that don’t require paying thousands of dollars for some pre-packaged camp that meant to look good on your resume but honestly won’t.</p>
<p>Do early action to Stanford. A 34 on your ACT is adequate; don’t send your SAT scores. If I were you, I would spend the time studying for a 35 and use it refining an EC. Academics aren’t enough.</p>