Stanford Advice?

Question

What can i do to improve my chances of applying to Stanford University? Please try to be specific.

Anyone else who got into an Ivy League school could help me too...

thanx

Answer 1

First of all, you need to know that Stanford is NOT an Ivy League university! The Ivy League is a specific athletic league made up of eight private universities in the Northeast (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Cornell, UPenn, Dartmouth), not a generic term for all respected universities.

Secondly, know that universities like this are so selective that you have to be strong in ALL areas to get in. None of this, "Well, my GPA isn't very good, but my extracurriculars should make up for it," or, "I didn't do any extracurriculars, but my grades are so good that it won't matter." You really have to be stellar in everything, because so are all of the other candidates they are considering. Make sure you are truthful - schools want authenticity (they want to know about you, not your college consultant's idea of what "works" with Stanford). For example, if you claim to be passionate about some activity, your references should know about it. If you claim to spend all of your time helping the poor, for example, it comes across as very odd if your references never mention that!

What may make the difference, then, is your essay. Make sure it is really a response to their prompt, rather than a rambling attempt to get across what you want them to know (there is nothing wrong with letting them know what you think they should know about you that makes you unique, IF it fits the prompt!). Also, make sure it is personal. Don't just tell them how great they are, or talk about some subject matter impersonally (if it is about a world issue, for example, why does it touch you?). And make sure you spell- and grammar check your essay. No, it isn't a doctoral dissertation, but if you can't even use the features on your computer...

Answer 2

Suggest you read the book A Is For Admission...very enlightening look at what the top schools look at/for.

Answer 3

all these people wrote something long and boring so I thought I would give you a simple answer:
You absolutely have to make yourself stand out. If there is anything you can think of that is different from other people that you did in your high school years, write it down. I'm not sure if they still make you write essays anymore, but if you have to make sure what you write about shows you are unique or interested in something different.
These are definetely mistakes I made when I applied to Ivy league schools. Although I still got into University of Oregon, where I currently go and a great school, I didn't make myself stand out. I graduated top of my class from a small prep school, was a varsity swimmer all four years, and had amazing extra curricular activities listed along with great community service projects. And it didn't seem to be enough. So, STAND OUT!
I wish you good luck in applying and have a good new year,
Deirdre.

Answer 4

Great question. You have to understand that to have a competitive chance at an Ivy League school, Stanford, Pomona, Georgetown, etc.., you need several important things.

1.) Firstly, you need good SAT Scores. Generally-speaking, anything above a 1400 (M & CR) or above a 29 on the ACT will give you a shot.
2.) Your GPA needs to impress (anything above a 3.7, unweighted at a public school and the most rigorous courses available to you)
3.) Teacher Recommendations! They are critical! You need to get a teacher who likes you and who has great command of the English language.
4.) Extra-Curriculars-probably one of the most important things on your application. Colleges want to see what you have done with your time. Play sports (preferably Varsity or JV), volunteer at a shelter, become president of your class. I knew a girl with low SAT scores and a low GPA, but who was president of gosh-darn every club in her school. She got into Yale.

If you are a already a senior, than there is not much more you can do because the deadline is tomorrow. If you are a junior, have fun with the college process...

Answer 5

Join the Taliban. It got a jihadist with at third grade education into Yale!

http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2006/03/13/educating_the_taliban_at_yale/

Answer 6

I assume you're a senior in high school.

There's very little you can do now. You can check over your essays, make sure they are good. AND, make sure you stay involved in school activities and keep your grades up, that may make the difference if you are wait listed.