Tags: Stanford

Institution: Stanford University

Study: Major in symbolic systems

High School Experience

Pretty fun, pretty stressful and jarring at points, well-rounded though. Took many life-changing classes, met many amazing people and few not so amazing ones, but I mostly liked going to school and taking most of my classes. If I didn't like one thing about Bellarmine, it was the lack of diversity, not only because it's an all boys school. Mostly a class thing.

Course choices

AP/IBs

AP Computer Science: 5

AP English Language: 5

AP Physics 1: 4

AP Physics C: 4

AP Calc BC: unknown

GPA

4.5 weighted

Standardized Testing

ACT: 35; 33 math, 36 english, 36 science, 35 reading)

SAT Math 2: 800

SAT physics: 800

Extracurriculars

Frisbee intermittently, robotics (no leadership) for 2 seasons (2 years), science teaching service club I co-founded for all 4 years, then a mix of various other random clubs like speedcubing I rarely attended.

Recommendations

I honestly had great relationships with most of my teachers, but I didn't have anyone contact the school directly on my behalf as I know of. I think I was among the standout students in a few classes in my latter years in high school. My precalc honors and elap teachers wrote my letters of recommendation.

Essays

I feel like I'm not only strong academically, but I have real (maybe more personal) interests outside of school which can be interpreted as real hooks.

Strengths

If I had to narrow it down to one it would be the powerful impacts of interacting with others, through how I've turned music production into a social interest to connect with friends and family, as well as my teaching club and role as a TA for 3 summers at my school's CS program, finally with my immersion in the south of France last summer. That's what my essays were generally about.

Advice

Literally don't try to be anyone but yourself. Don't compete with your friends, enjoy high school while you can, don't let yourself slip either but take time to discover your real interests. Don't be afraid to push back against your parents if they're guiding you somewhere you don't want to be. Ask yourself WHY, really, WHY you want something and if you can't come up with an answer I'd think again. Never let anybody or anything define you or get to your feelings because negative energy is a waste of time.

Circumstances

Both my parents have worked at Stanford as professors for over 10 years.

Why?

Close to home and my parents, as well as being beautiful and filled with smart people I hope to learn from, and academically diverse and rigorous.

#Stanford