Unique ways to get into Stanford?

[californialover]

<p>What are some unique ways to ensure a spot at Stanford University? I am not talking about good grades, or typical extracurriculars, I mean stand out things. Thanks so much! </p>

[gravitas2]

<p>…outside of being a recruited TOP scholar-athlete (usually nationally ranked) for a particular position in a particular sport that Stanford is trying to shore up…if you are looking for the magic formula to ensure a spot at Stanford (“unique ways” as you say)…there is none…</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/index.html”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/evaluate.html”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/evaluate.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

Extracurricular Activities
Learning about your extracurricular activities and nonacademic interests helps us to discover your potential contributions to the Stanford community. Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in which one participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. We want to see the impact you have had on that club, in your school, or in the larger community, and we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.</p>

<p>In some cases, exceptional abilities in athletics may influence our decision if the applicant is otherwise well qualified, but such abilities never, by themselves, ensure admission to Stanford.

</p>

<p>…the best advice I can give you is the following…students that pursue their “unique” interest (that you truly love and are passionate about) to the greatest depth and highest achievements outside of the classroom (international>national>state)…the better your chances of standing out to the admissions committee…
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[californialover]

<p>Thank you :)</p>

[gravitas2]

<p>Here is a clear distinctive example of “ensuring a spot” to Stanford (win an Olympic Gold medal at age 15 and be a 4-time world champion)…Katie Ledecky </p>

<p><a href=“EPN - The Emergency, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (EPN)”>EPN - The Emergency, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (EPN);

<p><a href=“Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky commits to Stanford”>http://www.stanforddaily.com/2014/05/20/olympic-gold-medalist-katie-ledecky-commits-to-stanford/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“CBS News - Breaking news, 24/7 live streaming news & top stories”>CBS News - Breaking news, 24/7 live streaming news & top stories;

[T26E4]

<p>If you have to ask, then you’re too late.</p>

[gravitas2]

<p>Here is another example of getting an even earlier spot “reserved” for class of 2020…
Andrea Lee (high school sophomore) who is the world’s #1 ranked junior golfer has already verbally committed to Stanford…
<a href=“Andrea Lee hopes to follow in Alison Lee’s footsteps | Golfweek”>http://www.golfweek.com/news/2014/may/16/junior-golf-girls-andrea-lee-alison-lee-footsteps-/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>…you will notice…that not one top world class musician, computer science whiz, the next Picasso, or the next John Steinbeck will be “recruited early” to Stanford or its academic peers…</p>

[fluffy2017]

<p>

Andrea Lee (high school sophomore) who is the world’s #1 ranked junior golfer has already verbally committed to Stanford

</p>

<p>This is one of the reasons you want to take your SATs early in Sophomore year.</p>

<p>Not sure that academic stars are not recruited early. I know of one who was strongly encouraged by a department head to attend way before he applied. That is not a binding commitment as in sports but it is a clear wink-wink, nod-nod.</p>

[gravitas2]

<p>@fluffy2017. The only elite schools that I know of that potentially “recruits” non-athlete stars are the top music conservatories like Juilliard and Curtis…where they do the “clear wink-wink, nod-nod” for the top musicians they WANT in their studios…</p>

<p>…but, then we are not talking about elite ACADEMIC institutions… </p>

[VSGPeanut101]

<p>Oh come on… Stanford is not coming knocking on doors even if one is able to score a 2400 in Sophomore year. Don’t put your energy toward taking standardized tests early. Instead, set out to accomplish the most you can in your most talented academic or EC area (music, sport, science, etc.) and contact with appropriate academic area might yield a helpful contact - or not. </p>

[whyeight]

<p>I know a couple people who had no trouble getting into Stanford. One published his first paper on computer science and was getting letters addressing him as Dr. while he was still in high school.I think that he only had about a 3.8 GPA. The other was doing original research on number theory when she was eleven, and published her first paper when she was thirteen. She was home schooled so they did not worry about her grades</p>

<p>I am sure that if you get very good grades, and publish serious academic work while you are in high school, you will have no trouble getting into Stanford or any other school for that matter</p>

[GMTplus7]

<p>Here’s an an example of how a middling academic achieving student got into Stanford</p>

<p><a href=“WSJ.com - For Groton Grads, Academics Aren't Only Keys to Ivy Schools”>http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/Polk_Groton_Grads.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

One striking anomaly: Of nine Groton students listed as applicants to Stanford that year, Margaret Bass was the only one admitted. Ms. Bass’s grades placed her 40th in her Groton class, according to the Groton document. She had an SAT score of 1220, lower than those of seven of the eight other Stanford applicants. By contrast, almost 90% of Stanford freshmen rank in the top 10% of their high school class, while 75% have SAT scores of 1360 or better.But Ms. Bass had an edge: Her father, Texas tycoon Robert Bass, was chairman of Stanford’s board and had given $25 million to the university in 1992.

</p>

[fallenchemist]

<p>@GMTplus7 - Yep, that will do it every time. Heck, for a guy with his kind of money I bet he has given Stanford a lot more than that over the years. That was just 1992.</p>

[Cal8876]

<p>@fallen - He certainly has and has given a ton to Duke and Yale too…!!!</p>

[gravitas2]

<p>@fallenchemist and @GMTplus7. Robert Bass’s (who recently started his fifth term as a trustee) two children both graduated from Stanford…and they have just approved the construction of the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Biology Research Building ;)</p>

<p><a href=“You've requested a page that no longer exists | Stanford News”>You've requested a page that no longer exists | Stanford News;

<p><a href=“You've requested a page that no longer exists | Stanford News”>You've requested a page that no longer exists | Stanford News;

[fallenchemist]

<p>Yep, the rich get richer. I am happy for my D, who is starting grad school there in September, although not in science. But Stanford is obviously very deep in resources.</p>