Expert: Susie Watts - 1/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Susie. I saw some of your other answers and knew you could help me. Anyways, I am extremely set on attending Stanford University since I began 8th grade. I maintained a 4.0 freshman year, while playing Varsity Tennis. That was in a private school in Hawaii. My dad got promoted in his job and we moved to Phoenix. The move threw off my momentum and I started the first semester of my sophomore year terribly. I am now averaging a (C) in Algebra II Honors, a (B) in Biology Honors, an (A) in Eng II Honors, and an (A-) in foreign language. To me, this is terrible, considering my ideal school is Stanford. I am still playing Varsity tennis every spring by the way. I am now ending the first semester of my sophomore year, which is terrible. I know and plan to do much better second semester, but do you think I still have a chance to be accepted into Stanford. Plz help me! What should my high school career be like? What classes and extra activities should I take? What kind of grades is the absolute minimum? Please help me get a good understanding of my chances of being accepted, and what I can do to increase those chances. Thanks VERY MUCH! :D P.S. We are not rich, so if I were to go, I would need a partial scholarship.

ANSWER: Schools, even Stanford, can overlook a semester of grades if there is a good reason why they happened.  That will be up to you to explain on your application.  For now, you need to make the best grades possible for the remaining of your high school career.  You should also get involved in an activity or two where you can show some commitment and leadership by your senior year.  Keep up the tennis also.
A visit to Stanford either your junior or senior year is important because schools want to know you are interested in them.  When you apply your senior year, your application needs to be your best effort.  You will also need a great essay, outstanding recommendations, and the best test scores you can make on either the SAT or ACT.
Stanford turns down all but about 11% of its applicants, so you need to make sure you have a least a few other colleges that you would like and where you have a better chance of getting in.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the encouragement and info! Really appreciate it. I forgot to mention that I also play the guitar. Does playing an instrument help in applying for colleges. I just figured that the more well-rounded, the better. Should I join the school band or just continue playing and mention it on an application?

Answer
Continue playing the guitar, but do something unique with it.  Colleges like Stanford are looking for unusual qualities that a student can bring to their school.  They aren't looking for well-rounded students as much as what particular students can bring to the school that will make a class diverse.