Stanford is laughable. Am I right?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Chance Me!</p>

<p>Caucasian Male</p>

<p>GPA: 3.7 UW</p>

<p>ACT: 33
Science = 36
Reading = 34
English = 32
Math = 29
Writing = 12 (out of twelve)</p>

<p>Classes:
I am in a special program (only 50 students in my district were admitted) where I take about 75% of my classes from the local state college (which will be a University of Utah satellite school by the time I graduate). I earn all my high school credit there (minus courses like P.E. and shop which are taken at the HS).</p>

<p>All classes are taken on campus, with college professors and by the same standard of college students. I will graduate with an Associates degree, plus some. Anyways:</p>

<p>College Courses Taken:

  • Biology
  • Advanced Biology + Lab
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Calculus
  • Trigonometry
  • Algebra
  • Some other Math course I don’t know how to classify haha.
  • English
  • English 2010 with Research Emphasis
  • Political Science
  • Art History
  • C++ Programming
  • World Civilizations
  • U.S. History
  • Computer Literacy 1200
  • Computer Literacy 2400
  • Library/Information Systems
  • Psychology
  • about 3 more undecided elective classes that are yet to be taken. </p>

<p>EC’s:</p>

<p>My EC’s feel pretty weak, especially compared to the kids on this board. But:</p>

<ul>
<li>20hr/wk part-time job. </li>
<li>10hr/wk Church activities, which I am a youth leader in.</li>
<li>Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout)</li>
<li>Garage rock band with my friends haha (not sure if that counts, but I guess it kind of would show diversity on my application? Maybe? I don’t know)</li>
<li>3-10hr/wk local Red Cross. Blood Donor Ambassador. </li>
</ul>

<p>I am a very strong writer. So hopefully my essays will add weight to my application.</p>

<p>Also, chance me at:</p>

<ul>
<li>NYU</li>
<li>UC Berkeley</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
</ul>

<p>Plus any other schools you would recommend would be great. </p>

<p>NOTE: I would be applying as Philosophy major, if that matters or makes a difference. </p>

<p>Thanks, CC!</p>

2

<p>Strong scores, slightly weak GPA and ECs. The college courses will be a plus. Do you have any honors/awards?</p>

<p>Berkeley OOS: slight reach - a reach, depending on your essays
NYU: match - safe match
Columbia: good shot</p>

3

<p>^
ditto</p>

<p>I hear some wacky things about Stanford. No one has an awesome chance with any of the top 10 schools…it’s just some people luck out…
They have to pick some people…So I would rule you out, but they are known to accept someone who barely made qualifications to someone who is perfect…Strong ECs and things like that will increase your chances.</p>

4

<p>Awards, no not really. </p>

<p>If an Eagle Scout is an award, then yes.</p>

<p>But because the program I am in is so small and so focused (not to mention I am in the the first class to try it out) there are no awards, class ranking, etc… We are kind of the guinea pigs. </p>

<p>I’m still a junior, so I could improve my EC’s (and possibly my GPA) a lot over the next year, I hope.</p>

5

<p>I’d say Columbia is possible, but the fact that they put so much weight into eccentric EC’s doesn’t really help you. Then again, their admissions department is known as being rather arbitrary, so who knows? Definitely apply.</p>

<p>As others have said, NYU is a low match and it’s hard to say anything definitive about UC Berkeley. </p>

<p>What SAT II’s are you taking/haven you taken?</p>

6

<p>I haven’t taken any SAT II’s, but I’ll probably take Math II, and World History.</p>

7

<p>I wouldn’t downgrade the Eagle Scout thing. A few years ago Caltech put out some statistics on which extracurriculars were most popular with those they accepted and “Boy Scouts” was 5th on their list (after stuff like volunteer service, piano, marching band, and symphony orchestra–and ahead of track and field, tennis, soccer, swimming and basketball).</p>

8

<p>Really? </p>

<p>Hmm, didn’t know that. Maybe its because a ton of people in my area get the Eagle I don’t really think to highly of it. Its a big thing around here. </p>

<p>Thanks for the input everybody. </p>

<p>Any more advice, suggestions, chances?</p>

9

<p>If I remember correctly UCBerkeley requires SAT II, at least that’s what is required for in-state but I assume it should be like that all across the board. I think Stanford… is a way reach since they are weird in there selections. Columbia and Berkeley may be reaches, though I’ve known some people who have done less and done worse than you and managed to get into UCBerkeley… though they were from my school which has a connection with UCs.</p>

10

<p>Does it really matter what SATII’s you take?</p>

11

<p>for berkeley, it doesn’t matter as long as both satII’s are in different subject areas.</p>

12

<p>If you write some good essays then you would have a good shot at Stanford. If you talk about the garage band in one of them i think it could make you look unique and stand out.</p>

13

<p>

</p>

<p>Yes. You need to have them in two different areas. If you take a math one, you must take math II (math I is not accepted). If you are applying for an engineering, it is advised that you take math II and a subject test related to your intended field of study (for example, chemical engineering: math II + chemistry subject tests).</p>