Students Speak: Pre-Med Advice

Each year, I end up working both with high school students who plan to be pre-med and with med school applicants. That got me thinking: Why don't I just ask some of the Essaywise alumni for pre-med advice? Here is the unedited, unvarnished advice I received from my students.

Advice from a Stanford Sophomore

Like many college freshmen, I started out as a pre-med in the fall of my freshman year. I'm still pre-med, and I enjoyed taking my pre-med classes, but if there's one thing I regret and highly recommend that you do as a freshman, it is to take classes that seem personally interesting to you. At Stanford, for example, there are a few introductory classes that are well-taught and required as entry classes into different majors - CS 106A, Psych 1, Econ 1. I didn't take these classes as a freshman because I was concerned with doing well in my pre-med classes. Freshman year is really the year in which you should try out different subjects. Of course, if you're pre-med, it is natural to be concerned with your GPA, but the fact that you are already thinking so far ahead means that you are a good student and you can take the liberty to try out other classes and enjoy your freshman year! Who knows - maybe you like CS 106A or Econ 1 and you decide to switch to a CS or Econ major. It's better to try than to spend the rest of your college life wondering what other interests you may have.

In general, this concept of trying new things extends beyond just academics - try rock climbing, go on hikes, make new friends, join the orchestra, play frisbee. Work hard and play hard - and most importantly, savor and enjoy your freshman year!

Advice from a Recent WashU Graduate

My advice for incoming freshman interested in medical school is to start exploring the field early to see if it's right for you (physician shadowing is especially helpful), try to do well in the introductory science courses through getting extra help and studying hard (it makes life a lot easier later on), and take as many classes in fields outside of the sciences as possible. The reason why I mention the last one is because undergraduate is probably the last chance for those students entering medicine to take classes that can broaden perspectives and add a lot of variety to your education -- like a foreign language, history, anthropology, economics, etc. So many fields intersect with medicine, so a broad education is really important at the end of the day.

Advice from a Recent USC Graduate

A Guide to Surviving Pre-Medicine by ddrsoba

If you are reading this, then you have either demonstrated an interest, or have already decided on embarking in pre-medicine, colloquially known as premed, eventually reaching a career goal as a physician and beyond. There are a lot of things that can’t be fully explained in this blog, but I will cover as many points as I can, at least the ones I find critically important.

Finding the right undergraduate institution is probably the most important factor of having a solid premed career. I have seen many peers and students who immediately commit towards the highest ranked school without a second thought, only to meet with dire consequences. The brutal and honest truth is that any school you go to, you always will be graded on a curve. Most schools range from a B to C+ average, and it is NOT true that Harvard, Yale, or Stanford inflate premed grades. Especially the basic introductory science courses, each and every school and program’s job is to weed out the less fortunate students who have not the commitment and desire to slog through hours of studies. I understand that most of you are struggling in keeping up with the Joneses, of trying to reach the school of their dreams based solely on prestige. If you continue to be blinded by such mindset, then I can tell you with certainty that medicine is not right for you. Be prepared and accepting of uncertain fallbacks and failures.

The two most important metrics in applying to medical school are the GPA and MCAT. Grade point average is broken down into two components, the cumulative GPA (cGPA) and the BCPM gpa (sGPA). Both are critical. The BCPM gpa consists of all science classes, including the core pre-requisites needed for medical school (one year of biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of physics, one semester of calculus, one semester of statistics). The MCAT 2015 exam, a new, 7-hour sitting, consists of not only the basic sciences, but now includes statistics, sociology, and psychology. Plan to take these three classes into your pre-requisites prior to the MCAT. In the past, it would have not been necessary to take a prep course for the old test. Now, I recommend that it is prudent to take such courses in preparation for a relatively new formatted exam. As for GPA and MCAT goals, that will be up to your own personal goals. There are scores of websites that detail such information that I won’t get into.

With that in mind, I want to move onto major selection. While it is true that most premed will major in biology, it is perfectly to major in anything else and still be able to do premed. At a price. While it does add dimension to your overall application profile, keep in mind that most medical schools will still focus on the your performance in the core science pre-requisites, so while purposely taking an easy major may boost your overall GPA, it will not account for a poor performance in key science courses.

We then move onto extracurricular activities. Without a doubt, the first priority is getting clinical experience in BOTH volunteering and shadowing. Consistent levels of commitment over a long period of time are unspoken requirements at this point. I will tell you this; medical schools will be able to sniff out from a mile away whether or not you have truly committed to such an activity through secondary responses and interviews. As for research, while most students will engage in it, the same rule applies. What you get out of it and the work and time that you put in is of utmost importance. Publications, abstracts, presentations, leadership, and personal growth are all important factors when engaging in pre-medically related extracurricular activities. Nevertheless, it is always important to have 1 or 2 activities that are for personal enjoyment, and that do not have to be medically related. These can add a further dimension to your application, and once again, especially in interviews.

I know this may come as a shock to some, but I STRONGLY suggest that you seriously consider, if not decide, on taking a gap year between college and medical school. Just over 50% of medical school matriculates over the past 4 years have taken at least one or more gap year. Many options exist during that gap year, such as further clinical/lab research, job/work experience, intense volunteering/teaching, or even just traveling. Such experiences will not only strengthen and enrich, but also build a dynamic of maturity and growth that medical schools will see and appreciate.

Most importantly, I want you to understand that there is so much that college has to offer. You want to choose a school where you can excel, but also have a good time with your friends, peers, loved ones. The cliché, “best four years of your life” can come to fruition if you approach undergraduate life with a positive mindset. By having a tunnel vision of getting into a top medical school as your only goal and day-to-day living for the next for years, I can guarantee that you won’t be as fulfilled in comparison to having an open mind. I can tell you numerous stories of premed gunners whose only goal in college were to get into (insert top 20 medical school here), and ended up ostracizing themselves away from everybody. Don’t be that person. While pursing such lofty goal is admirable, keep in mind that in the big picture, getting into medical school is only one step in the long ladder towards being a physician. While grades are important, building meaningful relationships with faculty, colleagues, peers, trying new things, pursuing meaningful hobbies, are tantamount to a well-rounded and balanced college experience that will manifest itself come application time.

I hope this blog will help you in making the best future decisions. Remember, the journey is the destination. ddrsoba

Advice from a UCLA School of Medicine Student

Here are some pieces of advice that I would share!

- Don't worry necessarily about what you are going to major / minor in and don't feel pressured to major in biology or something else that is stereotypically "pre-med". It is certainly a good idea to plan out which core pre-med courses you will take and when you will take them, but other than that try to explore subjects you are truly passionate about. Core classes you should plan out are biology (one year with lab), general chemistry (one year with lab), physics (one year with lab), organic chemistry (one year with lab), calculus, statistics, one year of english, and biochemistry.

- Each medical school has a different set of required courses. Check with specific schools you think you may end up applying to (these will likely include your state schools) so that you can ensure you meet those requirements. For example some schools highly recommend a foreign language or specific statistics courses.

- Start shadowing physicians and getting clinical experience early! Going to medical school and becoming a doctor is a long and difficult path. Getting clinical experience early on with let you know if it is something you are truly passionate in pursuing. Medical schools will certainly be asking how you knew medicine would a good fit, and you can draw on experiences you have had in a clinical setting. Also, starting to shadow physicians early will allow you to develop mentor relationships with doctors who can be valuable resources for advice and letters of recommendation.

- GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS / ADVISORS. Go to office hours even if you do not have questions. The application for medical school requires 5-6 letters of recommendation and you want them to be from people that know you very well. Approximately two of these letters will be from science professors who often teach larger classes. Although professors may seem intimidating, they generally are really eager to get to know their students, so do not be afraid to meet with them outside of class.

- Start documenting anecdotes from important activities in your college career early. Let's say you are shadowing a doctor and come across a really intriguing case and the doctor handles it in a way that really resounds with you - write it down! Or maybe you are doing research in lab and you run into some difficulties that you are able to work through. Or you could be on a sports team and you are able to help a teammate through a time of need. Specific anecdotes like these will be very helpful for when you are writing your applications for medical school because they will make your essays stronger and more personal.

- Many people think that in order to go to med school you have to do EVERYTHING. This is not true. It is better to find a few activities that you are really passionate about and stick with them for a couple years so that you can dedicate a lot of time to them and perhaps take on some leadership roles. Medical schools really want to see that you have a good deal of clinical exposure (physician shadowing, volunteering in a hospital / clinic), research or lab experience, and some sort of volunteer work. It will be more meaningful if you have a few experiences that you are incredibly passionate about than if you have 20 experiences that you did not dedicate much time to.

Final Thoughts

If you identify the issues, then you can address them. Here are the issues I see these students working through:

1. Selecting courses.
2. Selecting extracurricular activities.
3. Cultivating relationships with professors and mentors.
4. Defining the relation between success and prestige.

Jon

Thank you to my students for your insights. This was the easiest blog post I've written in a long time. You guys are great!

What You Need to Know about Chocolate Milk

"I got to have chocolate milk at lunch today!" my son told me the other day when I picked him up from summer camp. There is a certain triumphant excitement in a child's voice when he has successfully circumvented the draconian rules of home. "But I don't have it every day, just some days," he continued. My son, the reasonable. Do I still know you? I often wonder.

Remembrances of Chocolate Milk

When I was little, my mom used to let me make chocolate milk once in a while as a special treat. Maybe one of the best parts of being a parent is getting to chance to create special moments, even small ones.

I remember being about ten, playing Lunada Bay Little League. All the other kids in the dugout were eating sunflower seeds, hot dogs, or, of course, Big League Chew. What's more appropriate for kids than gum shredded to resemble chewing tobacco? Answer me that. My dad had gotten off work early and was able to come see the game. But when I asked him if he could buy me a hot dog to eat in the dugout, he said, "No." Reasonable, but I was disappointed.

Then, the next inning as I stood in center field, the ball came off the bat with a plink. My body fully extended, I managed a diving catch. I stood up, grass stains on my uniform, and tossed the ball back to the infield. There I see my dad, sitting in the bleachers behind home plate. He leaps up, raises his arms, and turns to the parent next to him: "That's it, I'm going to buy him a hot dog!" That is the best hot dog I ever had. Being a parent is the chance to give those special moments.

I could never quite predict those special chocolate milk moments my mom would give me. How did my mom choose which days were chocolate milk days? Based on whether I was having a bad day? Based on whether she was having a bad day? Or just because? On those days, I was allowed to pour my milk into the glass, add a couple big squeezes of Hershey's chocolate syrup, mix it all up with a spoon, and enjoy possibility. Possibility that lurking among the ordinary, the routine, and the mandatory are moments of contentment.

Chocolate Milk and the College Application

As I help families through the Common Application or the UC application or whatever it is, I'm always asking myself, "What's my role?" It turns out that the answer has a lot to do with chocolate milk. I'm convinced a college application is like chocolate milk. A student's GPA, SAT scores, AP classes, and hook are like the nutrients of the milk, and a student's essays and recommendation letters are like the flavor of the chocolate. A good application has both milk and chocolate. To make these good applications happen, there are two questions I like to discuss with families.

Question #1: How Nutritious Is the Milk?

The first question is, "How nutritious is the milk?" In terms of college applications, the nutrients that count are GPA, SAT, ACT, the number of AP classes, and, just as importantly, the hook. [For more discussion of the hook, please see my post How to Apply to Stanford.] We must examine the nutritional label with clear eyes, with vision unclouded by optimism, hope, or love. When we are realistic about the nutrients on the label, then we can develop a college list that maximizes a student's choices.

If there's one tendency I've observed in parents, it's the tendency to over-estimate how good their student's numbers are. That over-estimation leads them to push for more reach schools than is prudent, say 5 instead of 2. If you want to save yourself the money of hiring a college consultant to help with the college list, I have one very simple piece of advice: find good target and safety schools. Everyone can name 10 reach or dream schools, but those are only 2-3 schools on the list. You still need 8-9 target and safety schools. Instead of saying, "I don't have to worry about that because I'm getting into my dream school," take time to find good target and safety schools.

Question #2: How Chocolatey Is the Milk?

The second question is, "How chocolatey is the milk?" Colleges want their nutrients, but they want flavor, too. We all know students are more than just numbers. They are, like, actual people with actual personalities, you know? Flavor comes through in an application in two big ways: the essays, which you control 100%, and the letters of recommendation, which you do not. Sure, you can create a "cheat sheet" for your letter writers to make sure they remember any memorable moments, if they really love you, then you won't have to!

You still control how the essays reveal your personality, though. Probably 90% of the time you spend on college applications will be on the essays. Yet, hard though it may be to accept, the effect the essays have on the final admission result often doesn't measure up to the amount of time you've spent on the essays. What I mean is that no amount of chocolate syrup can make up for a lack of nutrients. It's not as if a great essay will add 100 points to your SAT score. That said, the essay can be a tiebreaker or tip factor if it comes down to you and some other candidate with similar numbers. How often that happens is anyone's guess.

But really, the reason to do a good job on each college application, including the essay, is just because "how you do anything is how you do everything." You do them to the best of your ability because you're not the type of person who would accept any lesser approach.

Free Chocolate Milk

You don't have to pay for chocolate milk. Every year, millions of high school students apply to college without paying someone like me. Guess what? They're all doing just fine! If you're going to take on the challenge by yourself, here are some tips for the road:

1. Read my Where to Apply to College post to understand what a "balanced list" is.
2. Use the Essaywise College Map to find 8-9 target and safety schools.
3. Check out the Essaywise Story Tool and click "Shuffle" to get some quick essay topic ideas.

Jon

Jon Perkins holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He helps students with their college, law school, and medical school applications.

Are You a Quetzal?

A quetzal, resting in splendor.

Subject: Quetzal!!!

For a long time, my mom and dad wanted to see a quetzal. When they finally saw one in Costa Rica, my mom sent me an email with the subject line "Quetzal!!!" and the above picture attached. As you can see, the quetzal is a great bird -- not just a very good bird like an...I don't know. I'm not a birdwatcher. I have no examples of very good birds. All I know about birds is that the ones outside my window chirp when the sky starts to lighten around 5:30 a.m., and then I wake up, and then they stop, and then I am still awake.

The Quetzal Problem

On some level, we all like to think of ourselves as quetzals: great, rare, special. This is the quetzal problem. To succeed with college applications, you can't just assume you're a quetzal. You have to think of the college's perspective. You have to ask an uncomfortable question: From the college's perspective, am I a great student or "only" a very good student?

This is rarely a fun question. When I discuss this with families, I usually end up doing gentle reality checks for very good students who think they are great students. But it must be done. If you're a very good student who mistakenly thinks you're a great student, you're going to limit your college options. Instead of applying to just 1 or 2 ultra-selective schools (the purple stars on the Essaywise College Map), you'll apply to 4 or 5.

That means you won't have given enough time and energy to researching and applying to your target and safety schools. If you take this road, you might be setting yourself up for a disappointing spring: rejected by the ultra-selective schools and accepted by a few target and safety schools you didn't spend much time thinking about and, now, don't really want to attend. So no, asking the "very good or great" question isn't fun, but yes, you still have to ask it.

Very Good or Great?

Before we get to answering this question, let me lay out my assumptions:

• You have no "hook." If you don't know what a hook is, please take a minute to read my How to Apply to Stanford post. If you do have a hook, then good news -- even if you're a "very good" student, you might have a reasonable shot at those ultra-selective schools.
• Yes, you're smart. I mean, we all know an SAT score of 2300 is better than a score of 2100, but what's the difference, really? One is 99th percentile, and one is 96th percentile (Source). Both students can do the work at an ultra-selective school.
• But if you have no hook, small differences in numbers matter. This is just my intuition. Put yourself in the admission officer's shoes. Suppose you're filling one slot with an applicant who has no hook. If you're choosing between two candidates with similar quality letters of rec, essays, and activities, why would you choose the kid with lower numbers? I don't think you would.

To help you assess yourself honestly, I present you with this nifty infographic. I don't claim it's scientific, but it does reflect my own experience in working with both "very good" and "great" students.

Now What?

It might turn out that you're not a quetzal after all. That's fine. Maybe a little disappointing, but it's better to figure out you're "only" very good now than later, after you've submitted your applications to a bunch of ultra-selective schools. If you're a very good student, yes, take your shot at 1 or 2 ultra-selective schools, but load up your list with some schools with acceptance rates in the 15-30% range, too.

Quetzals are not the only birds in the jungle. You don't have to be a quetzal to take flight.

Good luck writing!

Jon

I have a B.A. in English from Stanford and a J.D. from Harvard. I hate seeing stupid mistakes. I hope that by writing my thoughts down, I can help you make good decisions that give you more options.

Where to Apply to College: Essaywise College Map

Essaywise College Search Map

Problem #1: Information Flood

flood

Most college search websites you that there are THOUSANDS of colleges out there. This is true, just not helpful. You start to scroll through page 1 of search results (showing 50 of 329!) and quickly realize that one college you've never heard of sounds pretty much like some other college you've never heard of. Maybe it's just safer to stick to the schools you've heard of? But you don't want to miss out on those "hidden gems" rumored to be out there. What if you're missing out on the perfect school? Panic!

So, yeah, with input from my mom (thanks, Mom!), I made this Google map to kind of help out with that anxiety. This map does not have thousands of colleges. It has about 140. It includes schools that kids from places like Palos Verdes, Palo Alto, San Marino, Arcadia, and Westlake Village actually apply to and attend. OK, and it might have a few that aren't super popular but still merit a second look. Otherwise, they wouldn't be hidden gems, right?

The idea here is that if you start with a universe of 140 schools instead of 4,000 schools, you'll feel much calmer about putting together your list. If you just can't wait to check out the schools, click this link to the Essaywise College Map, or click the map image above.

Problem #2: Optimism Extreme

rainbow

Now let's talk about that putting together your list process for a minute. You need to be ruthlessly honest with yourself. As I mentioned in my Don't Apply to Stanford post, being a great person doesn't always make you a great applicant. Colleges have idiosyncratic views of "greatness" (aka hooks, like being a legacy) so it's not a knock on you if an ultra-selective college decides you don't measure up. Who cares? That doesn't determine or diminish your character.

Look, you're in control of this process. You decide where to apply. The challenge for many parents and students is coming up with a balanced list of schools. A balanced list is a list with a mix of high-probability (safety), medium-probability (target), low-probability (reach) schools, and for some students, depressingly-low-probability (dream) schools.

Oh, sure. Everyone can do the dream and reach schools. Stanford! Harvard! Yale! Princeton! Caltech! UChicago! Northwestern! And so on. That's no problem. But in my experience, applicants consistently struggle to identify good target and safety schools. They are too focused on the reach! The dream! Safety? Target? No, thank you. Away with you, dream-slayer. Be gone.

I know you're a special snowflake the sheer awesomeness of which has never before blessed this earth. And yet, on the off chance you land far afield, unnoticed by a dream or reach school, then what? Then you're left with your safety schools and your target schools. The other day, my mom shared one of her tips for making sure everyone is paying enough attention to the bottom of the list, the target and the safety schools. Look at just your safety schools. Ask yourself if you would be happy if those were the only schools you got into. Repeat for target schools. If your answer is "No," then you got that optimism overload problem thing in spades, in oodles, or in whichever measure of bounty you prefer.

How to Build a Balanced List

cookiemonster

Oh, snap. This is where the blog post gets boring. I mean, I know you don't like how-to guides, and I don't blame you, but it must be done. Swiftly. Avast!

1. Explore the Essaywise College Map. Colleges are color coded into four groups: (1) colleges for B/B+ students, (2) colleges for A- students, (3) colleges for A students, and (4) ultra-selective colleges. Zoom in, move across the map, and click on a location to get links to more info.
2. Make a "big list" of about 30 schools. You're not stuck with this, so include whatever catches your eye. Try to include 3 schools you've never heard of or know very little about. Hidden gems.
3. Label each school as dream, reach, target or likely. If you're like many of my students - top 10% "average smart kid" with no hook - then here's a hint. Any school with a purple star on the college map is a dream school. Period. End of discussion. Beyond that, you're going to have to look at where your ACT / SAT stacks up against the percentiles for admitted students. Above 75th percentile = safety; 25th-75th percentile=target; below 25th percentile=reach. What about GPA? You tell me - what about it? GPA alone is not that useful in figuring out your chances. Each school seems to have its own formula, and most schools are measuring your GPA against your classmates. Not just GPA, but also how challenging your course load is. Yes, a 4.6 weighted GPA sounds great, but if 20% of your school has above a 4.5, and if you've taken easier AP classes, then that 4.6 isn't going to count for as much as you hope. Because ACT / SAT is standardized, it's an easier starting point for categorizing schools.
4. Balance the list. If you're an average smart kid, guess what? 1-2-4-3. That's just how I count. 1 dream, 2 reach, 4 target, 3 safety. Think of it this way. You expect to get rejected from your dream and reach schools. You expect to get accepted at 1-3 target schools. You expect to get accepted at 3 safety schools. At the end of it all, you should have about 4-6 choices. Real respectable.

That's as fast as I could do it. If there's one thing I would add -- and there is -- it's that none of this is difficult. We're not trying for the third time to finish reading Lord Jim (I will try a fourth time this summer, will keep you posted, you can't wait for an update). The concept is easy. Research schools. Make a list of ones you like. Label each one as dream, reach, target, or safety. Make a balanced list of 1 dream, 2 reach, 4 target, and 3 safety. The enemies are wishful thinking (If I got in to my dream school, it would be amazing.) and aggressive self-esteem (I DESERVE to go to these schools, and anyone who tells me otherwise is a scoundrel.).

As a human, you're more than your ACT or SAT score, but as an applicant, your ACT or SAT score is an inseparable part of your identity. Accept that, and be ruthlessly honest with yourself. It's not easy. But it's easier than deluding yourself now and racking up the rejections in the spring.

On that somber note, I'm reluctant to end with my usual cheery farewell of "Good luck!" No matter. Good luck!

Jon

Jon Perkins holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He helps students with their college, law school, and medical school applications.

How to Apply to Stanford

Everyone wants to know, so here’s my best advice about how to apply to Stanford: Don’t.

I love Stanford.  I had four great years there.  But I applied in a different era: pre-millenium.  The acceptance rate was 13%.  Now it’s 5%.  As my mom likes to point out, I was in that 8% that wouldn’t make it today.  She’s right.  (Love you, Mom!)

Hooked vs. Unhooked

Before you even think about applying to Stanford, you have to know what a hook is.  A hook is a quality colleges think makes you special.  (That is not the same as a quality that actually makes you special!)  Here are the common hooks:

• Legacy: one of your parents attended the school where you’re applying
• Recruited athlete: coach wants you on the team and will speak up for you
• Under-represented minority: you’re African American, Latino, or Native American
• Development candidate: your family has donated $$$ to the school
• Unique aptitude: you have already shown amazing talent or ability at the state / national level

If you’re like most applicants, however, you’re well-rounded, smart, and dedicated, but you don’t have a hook.  That’s the student I was, too.  I had lots of AP and honors classes and nearly a 4.0.  I had a 720 Math and 800 on Critical Reading.  I ran cross country and played soccer.  I volunteered at a hospital and at church.  Sound familiar?  Being a well-rounded smart kid might have been enough to get into Stanford back in 1997, but it’s rarely enough anymore.

1 in 35 (aka The Long Odds)

How rarely is it enough?  Let’s run through some numbers.  Let’s say Stanford gets 40,000 applicants and accepts 2,000.  Let’s say 1,000 of the accepted students -- 50% -- have a “hook.”

Here’s why I think 50% is a reasonable guess.  At Harvard, 12% of incoming students are legacies (See Freshman Survey Part I), and 11% are recruited athletes (See Freshman Survey Part II).  Also, 11% are African American, and 12% are Latino (See Freshman Survey Part I).  That gets us to about 46% of the class.  Though there is some double-counting of students with multiple hooks (for example, a student who is both a legacy and recruited athlete), once you allow for all the other kids with “unique aptitude” hooks, it’s not far-fetched to say that 50% of admitted students have hooks.  I doubt it’s a stretch to say that the profiles of admitted students at Stanford mirror those of students at Harvard.

But what does it matter if 50% of applicants have hooks?  Let’s say the acceptance rate for these hooked applicants is 20%. Yes, I am just guessing, but the admission rate for legacies at some elite schools has been clocked at 30%, so 20% seems like a conservative number to use (See Legacy Kids Have an Admission Advantage).

If we assume a 20% acceptance rate for hooked applicants, that means there are 5,000 of these hooked applicants in the pool.  With 40,000 total applicants, that means there are 35,000 unhooked applicants in a pool.  My superb subtraction skills tell me that if there are 2,000 total acceptances and if 1,000 of those go to kids with hooks, that leaves 1,000 slots for kids without hooks.  That’s 1,000 slots for 35,000 unhooked kids.  Hmm.  1,000 out of 35,000.

Let me put this another way.  If you don’t have a hook, the odds of getting into Stanford are 34:1.  In other words, if you don’t have a hook, your odds of getting in are about the same as rolling a pair of dice and coming up with double sixes.  Not impossible, but not encouraging.

3 Suggestions

I’m not trying to be a killer of dreams.  But I want to challenge you to think carefully about where to apply.  The better information you have, the better decisions you can make.  Here are some suggestions I share with my ambitious students:

1. Don’t automatically apply to Stanford.  Being a great student from California is not a good enough reason to apply.  If you’re a great student with a hook, or at least a quirk that might capture an admission officer’s imagination, then please do apply.  But don’t do it just because that’s what smart kids from California supposedly do.
2. Apply to excellent alternatives.  If you’re a great student without a hook, consider great alternatives like Cornell, Berkeley, UCLA, USC, and Michigan.  These schools admit high-achieving, well-rounded students.  If I were applying today, I would probably be going to one of these schools.
3. Apply to Stanford after you finish your other applications.  Unlike the Harvard and Yale applications, the Stanford application takes a long time to do well because it requires so many extra essays.  But if you must apply, then wait to apply until you’ve completed applications to schools where you have a better chance.  That way, you definitely spend enough energy on realistic options.

If you don’t have a hook, be wise about how  you allocate your energy.  It’s not a given that you must apply Stanford. You only have so many arrows in your quiver.  Why not save more of them for targets that are in range?  If you don’t, you might go hungry.

Good luck writing!

Jon

Jon Perkins holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He helps students with their college, law school, and medical school applications.