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Writer's pictureIvy League Editor

How I got into Stanford (Interview 10)

Stats

  • SAT: 1570 (790 Math, 780 Reading)

  • ACT: 35 (35 English, 35 Math, 35 Reading, 36 Science)

  • GPA: 3.95

  • Rank in Class: 7

  • Size of Class: 411

  • AP's Taken: Chemistry, Physics Mechanics, Physics Electricity and Magnetism, AB Calculus, BC Calculus, Environmental Science, American History, European History Computer Science, English Language and Composition, English Literature, Chinese Language


Extracurriculars

  • I ran Varsity winter and spring track my freshman and sophomore years but stopped after my sophomore year because it was taking up too much of my time.

  • I was my class historian and participated in STEM club, Science Olympiad, Chess Club and Engineering Club


Short Personal Story

"I had already applied to Carnegie Melon for Computer Science and decided that I might as well try my chance at Stanford.


I didn't really anticipate getting in, because, no one gets into Stanford, but I decided that I might as well roll the dice.


I didn't even bother checking the email the day it came out because I knew it would be a rejection, so I didn't even bother reading it. It wasn't until a couple days later when my girlfriend asked if I got in or not when I decided to check and saw that, HOLY CRUD I GOT IN!! I remember that I started shaking and crying and my girlfriend was jumping and screaming super excitedly for me. It was pretty awesome.


I'd always found computer science absolutely fascinating and have always wanted to work at google or apple or something and help design something that could really have an impact of people's lives and by getting into Stanford that made everything so much more likely. As a kid I'd been obsessed with the story of the founding of Google and how these two guys from Stanford changed the way searching for websites was done and not only did that, but went beyond that to develop phones, cars, and other products for people. That just blew my mind and I really wanted to be a part of that culture."


Useful Advice

"I think my edge was that I really knew what I wanted to do and focused in on that almost exclusively. While I wasn't really that 'well rounded' I feel like I was well rounded enough and also was really focused on one or two things and did those really well.


My advice to anyone applying to Stanford would be to have them focus on one or two things about themselves that they are really really good at, and could bring tremendous value to the school if they were to attend.


I was insanely good at Computer Science, participating in National tournaments and hackathons and stuff and I think that was my edge. Even though I didn't really play that many sports and my SAT scores weren't perfect, I could find my place on campus because of my geekiness and love for computer science.


I'd tell any prospective students to focus on one or two things about them that they are really good at and sell the admissions officers on those one or two things."


Stanford Undergraduate Class of 2023


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