<p>I agree. Refrain from hearsay and uninformed comments from outsiders who do not work in the admissions office. I was always a poor fan of “chances,” since an applicant would never really know. Stanford, as well as other schools of similar caliber, has a history (relatively short, rather) of admitting students from a wide range of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds who deviate from the average quantitative assumed “standards.” If they want you, they’ll take you. If not, you’ll be perfectly fine elsewhere. Write compelling and passionate essays and hope that you distinguish yourself from other applicants with comparable credentials. Don’t kill yourself, kid.</p>