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Stanford Requirements for Admission

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What are Stanford's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Stanford and build a strong application.

School location: Stanford, CA

This school is also known as: Stanford University

Admissions Rate: 3.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Stanford is 3.7% . For every 100 applicants, only 4 are admitted.

This means the school is extremely selective . Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation. If you don't meet their expectations, your chance of getting in is nearly zero.

After crossing this hurdle, you'll need to impress Stanford application readers through their other application requirements, including extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation. We'll cover more below.

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Stanford GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.95

The average GPA at Stanford is 3.95 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.95, Stanford requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.95, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Stanford hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Stanford will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Stanford SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1505

The average SAT score composite at Stanford is a 1505 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Stanford Extremely Competitive for SAT test scores.

Stanford SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1500, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1570. In other words, a 1500 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1570 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Stanford has the Score Choice policy of "All Scores."

This means that Stanford requires you to send all SAT scores you've ever taken to their office.

This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. For example, if you scored an 1300 on one test and a 1500 on another, they won't actually average the two tests.

More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Even better, some schools form a Superscore - that is, they take your highest section score across all your test dates and combine them.

Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that Stanford will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. But how many is too many?

From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit . The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. They'll just focus on your score.

If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. They'll question your study skills and ability to improve.

But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1570, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

Stanford ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Stanford likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 34

The average ACT score at Stanford is 34. This score makes Stanford Extremely Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 33, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35.

Even though Stanford likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 33 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 34 and above that a 33 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 35 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

However, in our research, we found that Stanford does in fact offer an ACT superscore policy . To quote their Admissions Office:

For the ACT, we will focus on the highest Composite and the highest Combined English/Writing scores from all test sittings. We will also consider individual subscores.

Superscoring is powerful to your testing strategy, and you need to make sure you plan your testing accordingly. Of all the scores that Stanford receives, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all ACT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 4 test scores:

Even though the highest ACT composite you scored on any one test date was 20, Stanford will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 20 to 32 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Stanford forms your Superscore, you can take the ACT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below a 35, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the ACT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the ACT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Stanford considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high SAT/ACT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in . If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1570 SAT or a 35 ACT . You should also have a 3.95 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

For a school as selective as Stanford, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.

But if you apply with a score below a 1570 SAT or a 35 ACT, you unfortunately start out with the odds against you and have a tiny chance of getting in. There are just too many students with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

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• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Stanford here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation 2
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $90
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests Optional
• Scores Due in Office January 15

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language
• Social Studies

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes January 5 April 1
• Yes November 1 December 15

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 450 Stanford, CA 94305
• Phone: (650) 723-2091
• Fax: (650) 723-6050
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Stanford, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Stanford.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Stanford. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Stanford, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Stanford, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Stanford is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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How to Write Stellar Stanford Essays: 3 Expert Tips

College Essays

Are you hoping to be one of the less than 4% of students admitted to Stanford this year? If so, you'll need to write some amazing essays as part of your application.

In this article, we'll outline the different types of essays you need to write for your Stanford University application and teach you how to write an essay that will help you stand out from the thousands of other applicants. We'll also go over the five short answer questions that are part of the Stanford supplement.

So let's get started!

What Are the Stanford Essays?

Stanford requires that you complete a total of four essays as a part of your application for admission.

You'll need to answer one  prompt provided by the Common Application or Coalition Application , depending on which one you use to submit your Stanford application through. You can find more information about the Common Application essays here , and more info about the Coalition essay prompts here .

You'll also need to respond to three Stanford-specific short essay questions .

The Stanford essay prompts offer you plenty of opportunities to show off your qualifications as an applicant and wow the admissions committee.

2022-2023 Stanford Essay Prompts

You'll need to respond to three Stanford Questions for your Stanford supplement essays. You'll submit the Stanford supplement essays online with your Coalition or Common app.

You need to respond to all three of the Stanford essay prompts for your application. Each one of the Stanford essays has a 100-word minimum and a 250-word maximum.

Here are the 2022-2023 Stanford essay prompts:

#1 : The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

#2 : Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better.

#3 : Tell us about something that is meaningful to you, and why?

Stanford Essays Analyzed

In this section, we'll be looking at each of the three Stanford supplement essays in depth. Remember, every applicant must answer every one of the Stanford essay prompts, so you don't get to choose which essay you would like to write. You have to answer all three of the Stanford essay prompts well in order for your application to stand out.

Let's take a look at each of the three Stanford short essay questions and see how to write something meaningful for each.

Stanford Essay Prompt 1

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100 word min, 250 word max)

This Stanford essay prompt is very broad. The structure of the prompt indicates that the committee is interested in learning about your curiosity inside and outside of the classroom, so don't feel like you have to limit the lessons you talk about to ones that occur at school.

The most important thing to remember here is to be specific. The committee doesn't want you to wax poetic about the virtues of remaining eternally curious; they want to see how a real-life example has affected you.

For instance, instead of talking about how a trip to a foreign country opened your eyes to different cultures, pick a specific moment from your visit that really hammered home the importance of curiosity. Go into detail about how that one experience affected you. Being specific is more powerful than speaking in generalized platitudes.

Similarly, you want to write about something that you're genuinely passionate and excited about. After all, it says so right in the prompt! Pick a topic that you truly love, such as a historical fiction book that you read that inspired you to learn about a new era in history or the science fiction movie that sparked curiosity about how time works in space.

Don't feel limited to your potential major. Stanford doesn't require that you pick and stick with a specific major for your application, so you don't have to write about a moment here that relates to your predicted course of study. In fact, picking a learning experience in a different field will better show that you're curious and open to new ideas.

Stanford Essay Prompt 2

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better. (100 word min, 250 word max) 

Stanford's roommate essay question is notorious. While the other two of the three Stanford essays may change from year-to-year, the Stanford roommate essay is always on the application.

First, remember that this essay is written to your future roommate, who will be one of your peers. You can adopt a more informal, fun tone with this essay, because the prompt indicates that it's going to someone who is your age.

The Stanford roommate essay is your opportunity to show a different side of your personality than the admissions committee will see on the rest of your application. This essay is your chance to show yourself as a well-rounded person who has a variety of different interests and talents.

Don't repeat information that the committee can find elsewhere on your application. Take the time to share fun, personal details about yourself.

For instance, do you make awesome, screen-accurate cosplays or have a collection of rock crystals from caving expeditions? Think about what you love to do in your spare time.

Be specific—the committee wants to get a real picture of you as a person. Don't just say that you love to play video games, say exactly which video games you love and why.

The roommate essay is also a great time to show off your community—the friends, family, teammates, etc. who make up your current life. You can talk about the deep bonds you have and how they have affected you. Showing your relationships to others gives the committee a better idea of how you will fit in on Stanford's campus.

All in all, the Stanford roommate essay is a great opportunity to have some fun and show off some different aspects of your personality. Let yourself shine!

Stanford Essay Prompt 3

Tell us about something that is meaningful to you, and why? (100 word min, 250 word max) 

While all three of the Stanford essay prompts are fairly broad, the third Stanford essay prompt is by far the broadest. You can write about anything that's meaningful to you here— the prompt doesn't specify that you have to talk about something academic or personal.

Sometimes, broad prompts can be more intimidating than prompts that have a very narrow focus. The trick here is to (again) pick something specific and stick to it.

Don't, for instance, say that world peace is meaningful to you because it won't sound sincere. You should talk about something that is uniquely important to you, not the other thousands of students that are applying to Stanford.

Pick something that is really meaningful to you. You could talk about your relationship with your grandmother and how she taught you how to cook or a specific musical album that reminds you of an important experience in your life. You might talk about a club or after-school activity that has broadened your horizons or an academic award you won after an extreme challenge.

Whatever topic you choose, your essay should feel sincere. Don't write what you think the committee wants to hear. They'll be more impressed by a meaningful experience that rings true than one that seems artificial or implausible.

Stanford Short Answer Questions Analyzed

Along with your essays, you'll also need to answer five short questions. You'll only have 50 words to answer each one...so you'll need to make it count!

Question 1: The Social Challenge Question

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?

There are two ways you can answer this question. First, you can choose a significant social challenge that matters to you. For instance, perhaps your parents are essential workers, and the COVID pandemic revealed the unfair labor practices that exist in the US to you. Labor issues are a major social issue both in the US and abroad, and because you're impacted by it, you'll be able to put together a very compelling and powerful answer.

The other approach you can take to this question is linking it to your academic interests. Perhaps you want to major in mechanical engineering. One huge social issue is access to clean drinking water. In your response, you can explain the issue and then talk about how it inspired you to become a mechanical engineer. Maybe you want to develop better water decontamination systems! That would be a great response to this question.

The big thing to remember is you need to include a why in your answer. Why do you think this challenge is significant? And how are you planning to help solve this problem? Make sure you include these answers in your response!

Question 2: The Summer Question

How did you spend your last two summers?

This is a pretty straightforward question. Make a list of everything you did the past two summers, then parse it down so that you're including the most important aspects. For example, say you volunteered at a summer camp for the past two summers, but you also helped your family with chores and volunteered with a political campaign. Our recommendation would be to leave the chores out and focus on the bigger, more notable aspects of your summer vacation.

But maybe you had to work over the summers. Or perhaps you weren't able to take on extracurriculars because your parents needed your help caring for your younger siblings. Don't worry: those are great answers here, too. Your response doesn't have to be flashy —you don't have to have spent two summers participating in scientific research!

The important thing is to include a why in your answer . Why did you spend your summer vacations this way? And what do your choices say about your values? For instance, if you helped care for your younger siblings, you can explain that family is important to you, and that's part of why you're driven to get a college education. Counselors are trying to get a sense of who you are and what you care about!

Question 3: The Historical Moment Question

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?

Think back to your history classes. Is there a historical moment you're fascinated with? This is a good time to share it with the admissions committee! Maybe you love legal history, so you would have loved to have attended Ruth Bader Ginsburg's swearing in ceremony. Or perhaps you're more interested in medicine, so you'd have loved to witness Wilhelm Röntgen discover x-rays.

Our best advice for answering this question is to be specific and original. Stay away from popular and obvious answers, like "the signing of the Declaration of Independence" or "Lincoln's Gettysburg address." Pick something more unique so that you stand out from other applicants. Once you've picked your historical moment, explain why you'd want to witness it!

Question 4: The Extracurriculars and Responsibilities Question

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.

The key word in this question is "one." The admissions counselors don't want to read a list of your responsibilities. They want you to talk about one of them and then explain why you participate and/or why it's important to you.

For this question, avoid discussing something that's already evident from the rest of your admissions packet. For instance, if you've already listed band as an extracurricular and talked about it in one of your essays, you don't really need to talk about it here. Give the admissions counselors new information about yourself that they wouldn't be able to learn from other parts of your application.

For instance, maybe you help your dad out with his lawn care business in the summers. That would be a great thing to discuss here, especially if you haven't had a chance to talk about this elsewhere in your application. You could use this opportunity to discuss how helping your family out is important to you, and you also appreciated getting to know the people in your community while cutting their grass.

Whatever activity you choose, be sure to do more than just explain what that activity entails . Go into detail about what it means to you. Why do you participate in that activity? How has it impacted you as a person? You'll have to keep it brief, but these kinds of personal details are what Stanford admissions counselors are looking for.

Question 5: The Stanford Question

Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford.

Answering this question starts with research. What is one—again, just one —thing you can't wait to learn, experience, or participate in as a Stanford student? You'll need to spend some time on the Stanford website looking into the different opportunities available to students.

First things first: limit your answer to academics or academic-leaning extracurricular activities. Yes, Palo Alto is beautiful. And yes, Stanford has a fun football program. But admissions counselors want to see that you're going to be a thoughtful, involved member of the Stanford community. So while these things are true and fun, this question is your chance to explain how you're going to get involved on the Stanford campus ...and maybe even give back, too.

Also, the best answers to this question are going to be specific. Instead of saying that you can't wait to participate in clubs, pick one (like the Food and Agribusiness Club) and discuss why it's so exciting to you. The more specific you are, the more you'll show admissions counselors that you're super serious about being a Stanford student.

How to Write a Great Stanford Essay

Regardless of which Stanford essay prompt you're responding to, you should keep in mind the following tips for how to write a great Stanford essay.

#1: Use Your Own Voice

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed out person.

You should, then, make sure that the person you're presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don't try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Stanford wants you to be.

#2: Avoid Cliches and Overused Phrases

When writing your Stanford essays, try to avoid using cliches or overused quotes or phrases.

These include quotations that have been quoted to death and phrases or idioms that are overused in daily life. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Strive for originality.

Similarly, avoid using cliches , which take away from the strength and sincerity of your work.

#3: Check Your Work

It should almost go without saying, but you want to make sure your Stanford essays are the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your Stanford application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit.

It's a good idea to have someone else read your Stanford essays, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be.

What's Next?

If you want to be one of the 6% of students accepted to Stanford, you'll have to have a great GPA. Check out our guide on how to get good grades in high school for some tips and strategies!

Confused or intimidated about the college admissions process? Check out our complete guide on how to apply to college.

If you want to stand out from the crowd as an applicant, you'll need a solid resume of extracurricular activities . Learn more about your extracurricular options and why they matter.

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Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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The essays are a key aspect of your application and are designed to inspire thoughtful reflection.

Your essays help us understand what character traits have propelled you in your career and tell us how the Stanford MSx (Masters in Management) Program is integral to maximizing your impact in the world after receiving your full-time, one-year master’s degree in management.

Essay Questions

We request that you write two personal essays.

In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams. There is no “right answer” to these questions — the best answer is the one that is truest for you.

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Essay B: Why Stanford MSx, and why now?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford MSx experience will help you realize them. Why is this the right time for you to pursue your master’s degree at Stanford GSB?

Length and Format

Both essays combined may not exceed 1,000 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 350 words for Essay B. We often find effective essays written in far fewer words. Use a minimum of 12 point font size.

Career Aspirations Short Answer Question (required)

Because the Stanford MSx program is for mid-career managers, it is valuable to have clear career goals in mind when you begin. Tell us about any specific career goals you have, and how you believe the Stanford MSx Program, combined with your experience, education, or background, will help you achieve them.

Optional Short Answer Question

What do we mean by “optional”? We mean you have the opportunity to choose. If you feel that you’ve already described your contributions well in other areas of the application, congratulations, you’re done! If not, feel free to use this opportunity to tell us more.

In the Essays section of the application, we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. Using these optional spaces, perhaps you would like to expand upon a bullet item from your resume and tell us more about the “how” or “why” behind the “what.” Or maybe you have had an impact in a way that doesn’t fit neatly in another part of the application. You are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example).

Question: Think about a time in the past few years you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?

Qualities of Exceptional Essays

Exceptional essays are authentic: Write about what you are compelled to tell us, not what you believe the admission committee wants to hear. In addition, they:

• Indicate self-awareness and acknowledge areas for growth opportunities
• Express an understanding of your effect on others
• Demonstrate how you want to maximize your impact on the world
• Showcase your unique worldview and goals by being personal, specific, and honest
• Detail how you see the MSx Program helping you achieve your goals and how you will leverage your year at Stanford

Editing Your Essays

Begin work on the essays early to give yourself time to reflect, write, and edit.

Feel free to ask friends or family members for feedback, especially about whether the tone and voice sound like you. Your family and friends know you better than anyone. If they think the essays do not capture who you are, what you believe, and what you aspire to do, then surely we will be unable to recognize what is distinctive about you.

Feedback vs. Coaching

There is a big difference between “feedback” and “coaching.” You cross that line when any part of the application (excluding the letters of recommendation) ceases to be exclusively yours in either thought or word.

Appropriate feedback occurs when others review your completed application — perhaps once or twice — and apprise you of omissions, errors, or inaccuracies that you later correct or address. After editing is complete, your thoughts, voice, and style remain intact. Inappropriate coaching occurs when you allow others to craft any part of your application for you and, as a result, your application or self-presentation is not authentic.

It is improper and a violation of the terms of this application process to have another person or tool write your essays. Such behavior will result in denial of your application or revocation of your admission.

Additional Information (Optional)

If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in the Additional Information section of the application. Pertinent examples include:

• Extenuating circumstances affecting your candidacy, including academic, work, or test-taking experiences
• Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere
• Explanation of why you are not using a current supervisor as a recommender

This section should not be used as an additional essay.

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What are your chances of acceptance?

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Extracurriculars.

6 Tips for the Stanford Essays and Short Answers

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Vinay Bhaskara in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Stanford essay tips.

• Stanford Short Answer Tips
• Overall Writing Tips  

The Stanford application has two different types of essays this year. There are 3 long essays with a 250 word count limit and 5 short-answer essays with a 50 word count limit. 

Here are our expert tips for writing standout essays that will improve your chances of acceptance! Stick around until the end of the post for the most important tip.

With the different word counts in each prompt, you’ll want to approach writing each in different ways. 

1. Make your intro sentence strong.

The important thing to do with the 250-word essays is to make sure your introductory sentence is really strong. Unlike in longer essays or the common application essay, you can use a paragraph or two to build your points and captivate your audience. That isn’t the case here. In this essay, you can’t waste any time building a narrative. You have to come out in the beginning and grab your audience’s attention.

2. Maximize the word count.  

If your essay is 240 words or above, you’re good to go.. One or two extra words won’t drastically change your essay. But, if you have 25 or more words remaining, you could use that space to convey additional material. You could also enhance something you’ve already said, such as taking a couple of sentences and making them more “punchy” or fun to read.

Short Answer Tips

3. don’t sacrifice writing quality.  .

These essays are being assessed for writing quality the same way the longer essays are. The fact that they are so much shorter means they will be put under a microscope even more. 

4. Don’t waste time on detailed explanations.

If you can describe a concept or idea in shorter words, do that. Keep it concise and to the point. It is much more important to get your entire point across in a logical way than to focus on describing a detail that doesn’t fit into the larger picture of what you’re trying to say.

Overall Writing Tips

5. humanize yourself..

This is the most important tip. You want to show colleges that you are not just your college application; you’re not just a series of grades on a transcript or activities on a resume. Instead, you want to give the admissions committee almost a 3D picture of who you are as a person.

So from that perspective, try to have a mix of more fun and more serious answers. You don’t necessarily have to have everything super academic. For example, for the “historical event I want to witness” prompt, you don’t have to say “I want to go back to the signing of the Magna Carta.” If that genuinely interests you, that’s totally fine to say, but try to have some fun in your other responses. 

In fact, at a super-selective school like Stanford, they want you to have the grades and resume that say you’ve spent a lot of your waking life on the admissions process and academics, but they also don’t want to admit students who are trying too hard. It’s not exactly fair, but it’s unfortunately how selective admissions works.

6. Look at your essay with fresh eyes

Regardless of your writing process, the best way to approach editing your essay is with time. In between writing and editing your response, take a break. Whether it’s an hour, a day, or a week, looking at your materials with fresh eyes will be a huge benefit. You will find key points that are missing or areas that you can rewrite in a more concise or interesting way. 

Looking for more Stanford essay tips? Check out our full Stanford essay guide .

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

JD Application Process

Step by step to sls.

If you are applying for admission to Stanford Law’s JD program for Fall 2024, mark these three important dates on your calendar:

September 15, 2023  — When the application becomes available.

December 1, 2023 — The date your application must be received and deemed complete (last eligible LSAT test administration is November 2023) by SLS if you are applying for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program . We strongly suggest that applicants take the LSAT prior to the November test administration so that all application deadline requirements are met. If you opt to submit a GRE score in lieu of the LSAT, plan accordingly so that we receive your score from ETS by the stated deadline.

February 15, 2024, 11:59 PM PST — The deadline for submitting your application.

Explore these key steps in the application process — then get started.

Application Process at a Glance

The first step to admission to Stanford Law is a thoroughly completed application. It is your responsibility to make certain that all items arrive at the Office of Admissions. We will consider your application complete and proceed with an admissions review as soon as we receive all required documents. Unless stated otherwise, any updates to your application must be submitted via e-mail to the Office of Admissions at [email protected] .

• Application for Admission.  You must complete the entire application form and submit it electronically through LSAC.
• Application Fee. Your nonrefundable application fee of $85 must be submitted by credit card through LSAC. If you are unable to pay the fee, please review the 2024 SLS Application Fee Waiver Instructions , complete the Fall 2024 SLS Application Fee Waiver Form , and submit it to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible so that we may process your fee waiver request. You must submit your fee waiver request prior to submitting your SLS electronic application. Allow 5-7 business days for a decision and factor in this timing to ensure you adhere to the application deadline. Please note that our fee waiver criteria and process are distinct from that of LSAC.  
• Resume.  Stanford requires a one-to-two page resume describing your academic, extracurricular and professional activities. The resume must be submitted electronically with your electronic application. Please do not include a photo. If you have already submitted your resume and have included a photo, note that we have redacted that photo. No further action is required on your part and that original submission will not impact our review process.
• Personal Statement. Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution to Stanford Law School. The personal statement must be submitted electronically with your electronic application. Your statement should be approximately two pages in length.
• Optional Essay . At Stanford Law School, we value the ability to communicate constructively across differences – even when the stakes are high or the differences significant. Please discuss a time when you encountered a viewpoint that contrasted with your own and explain how you responded. Would you do anything different if the same thing happened today? Your essay should be approximately one to two pages in length.
• Optional Short Essays. From a list of four essay questions, you may provide up to two responses of 100 to 250 words each.
• Two Letters of Recommendation.  Stanford requires that at least two and no more than four letters of recommendation be sent directly through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service . Letters sent directly to the Office of Admissions will not be accepted. Recommenders should be instructors who have personal knowledge of your academic work, preferably those who have known you in a seminar, small class, tutorial program or the like. If you have been out of school for a significant period you may substitute one letter from an employer or business associate. Sometimes these applicants find it difficult to obtain even one academic recommendation; in that case, you may submit two nonacademic letters. Please advise recommenders that should you choose to apply for a joint degree and/or other programs at Stanford University, the letters of recommendation may be forwarded to that program for review.
• Right of Access to Recommendations. Federal law provides a student, after enrollment, with a right of access to, among other things, letters of recommendation in the student’s file (if maintained). This right may be waived, but such a waiver may not be required as a condition for admission to, receipt of financial aid from, or receipt of any other services or benefits from Stanford Law School. Please indicate your choice by checking the appropriate box on the LSAC Letter of Recommendation form before giving them to your recommenders.
• Standardized Tests. All applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. If you have one or more valid LSAT scores, they must be reported as part of your application. If you also take the GRE, you may submit all valid GRE scores, but you may also choose to submit only LSAT scores. The only circumstance where you may apply without providing us with an LSAT score is if you have only taken the GRE. If you are admitted to the Law School with a GRE and, after admission, take the LSAT, the Admissions Committee will consider this new LSAT score and will re-evaluate our offer of admission. LSAT. If you choose to apply with the LSAT, you must take the LSAT no later than January 2024. This deadline is based on the time needed by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) to get your scores to us by our application deadline of February 15, 2024. LSAC will report scores directly to us. If you do not indicate the January 2024 test date on the application but plan to take that test at a later date, you should notify the Office of Admissions in order for the score to be considered. Scores received on tests taken prior to June 2018 will not be considered valid. Note that all applicants using the LSAT are required to submit at least one writing sample. This sample can either be taken at the time of the LSAT examination or at a later date. If taken at a later date, note that it may take several weeks for LSAC to process and report your writing sample so plan accordingly keeping our February deadline in mind. GRE . If you choose to apply with the GRE, you should take the exam no later than February 1, 2024. This deadline is based on the time needed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to get scores to us by our application deadline of February 15, 2024.  You must arrange with ETS to have all valid GRE scores sent directly to us. Log into your ETS account and select Stanford Law School as a recipient of GRE results using the school code 4993 . Scores received on tests taken prior to June 2018 will not be considered valid.
• Credential Assembly Service Report.  Transcripts from each college or university you have attended should be forwarded to LSAC, which will prepare and transmit a Law School Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report to Stanford Law School. To register for the CAS service, please visit LSAC . The report furnished to the school will include copies of all transcripts sent to LSAC. If you have received academic credit for coursework taken abroad while enrolled as a full-time student, and if grades for that period of study are not clearly indicated on your home transcript, you must send that foreign study transcript directly to LSAC or to Stanford Law School. All non-US/Canadian transcripts listed during registration for the Credential Assembly Service are forwarded to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), where they will be authenticated and evaluated, except in cases where it is clearly marked on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the CAS registration fee. The data is assembled into a credential evaluation document that contains AACRAO’s summary, copies of the transcripts and translations (where applicable), and will be sent to the Office of Admissions. Any updated transcripts must be sent directly to LSAC. Please note that should you choose to apply for a joint degree and/or other programs at Stanford University, the CAS report may be forwarded to that program for review.

When the documents described above have all been received, your application is considered complete. However, until the application has been finally acted upon (and until the first day of attendance, if you are accepted and enroll), you are obligated to advise the school of any changes in the information previously furnished. In particular, you should promptly report to the school any additional grades received and any other facts that would have required a different answer to the questions asked in the application. Such changes may be reported informally by e-mail to the Office of Admissions; if official verification is required, you will be so advised. You must have received, or expect to receive by the Summer of 2024, a bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) from an approved college. All offers of admission are conditional upon graduation.

Reapplication Procedure

If you wish to reapply for admission you must submit the following:

• New application
• Application fee
• Updated resume
• Updated personal statement
• New letter of recommendation to LSAC utilizing the Letter of Recommendation and Evaluation Service
• Updated transcripts showing conferral of degree
• New LSAT scores through LSAC if available

Please note that recommendations already on file need not be duplicated. Applications for the Fall of 2021, 2022, and 2023 have been retained.

Application Status Check

To keep you apprised of your application status, we provide an online status page. To view the status of your application, please click on the link below to access our password-protected online status page. Please note that bookmarking may make it difficult to access the page.

CHECK YOUR STATUS ONLINE

The Admissions Committee does not grant interviews as part of the admissions process. However, we encourage you to visit the school and arrange to meet with a member of the admissions staff.

Notification of Acceptance

Stanford Law uses a rolling admissions process, acting upon applications throughout the admissions season as they are completed. However, some applications are held until the committee has reviewed the entire applicant pool. This second review generally occurs in April, at which time the class will be filled. (A small number of applications will be held for possible use in filling vacancies that may occur during the summer.)

The Office of Admissions will make every effort to send applicants a first response (accept, deny or wait list) by April 30.

To secure a place in the entering class, applicants accepted for admission must pay a deposit.

If you are offered admission, Stanford reserves the right to withdraw that offer of admission (even after enrolled attendance) if: 1) you show a significant drop in academic performance or fail to graduate from your current program; 2) there has been a misrepresentation in or a violation of any of the terms of the Stanford Law School (SLS) application process; 3) we learn that you have engaged in behavior prior to the first day of enrolled SLS attendance that indicates a serious lack of judgment or integrity; or 4) you reserve a place in our entering class and make an enrollment commitment or make a deposit at another law school. Stanford further reserves the right to require you to provide additional information and/or authorization for the release of information about any such matter.

Acceptance Deferral Policy

Stanford Law School grants a limited number of requests for one-year deferrals. Any admitted applicant granted and accepting deferred admission is required (1) to submit a nonrefundable deposit that will be applied to tuition; and (2) to sign a statement that deferred status is not also held at another law school, that all prior applications to other law schools have been withdrawn, and that new applications will not be made to other law schools. Persons admitted from the wait list are ineligible for deferment.

Additional Matters

International Student Visas

In order to register as students, Stanford University requires all those who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. registered permanent residents to obtain and maintain an appropriate visa status for their stay in the United States. For more information, please visit the Bechtel International Center website .

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Undocumented Applicants

Inclusion and nondiscrimination are core values held by the University and this extends to all members of our community regardless of citizenship or nationality. Therefore, SLS remains firmly committed to the principle that citizenship is not a condition for admission to any of our programs. Individuals who have been granted DACA status at the time of application are eligible to apply and matriculate at SLS. In addition, individuals who have met all other admission requirements and are otherwise undocumented are permitted to apply and matriculate at SLS.

Stanford has actively supported the DREAM Act legislation since its introduction in 2001, which would enable undocumented students to continue their education and apply for U.S. citizenship. Stanford also supports DACA, which has allowed some undocumented individuals who entered the United States as children to remain in the country without fear of deportation. Stanford is among the more than 600 colleges and universities that have signed a letter in support of DACA.

https://immigration.stanford.edu/

Nondiscrimination Policy

Stanford University admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or marital status to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the University. Consistent with its obligations under the law, in the administration of the University’s programs and activities, Stanford prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law; Stanford also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence. This policy applies to Stanford programs and activities both on and off-campus, including overseas programs.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding this nondiscrimination policy: Stanford’s Director of the Diversity and Access Office, Krista Martinelli, Kingscote Gardens, 419 Lagunita Drive, Suite 130, Stanford, CA 94305-8550; (650) 723-0755 (voice), (650) 723-1791 (fax),  [email protected]  (email). Stanford’s Title IX Coordinator, Stephen Chen, has been designated to handle inquiries regarding sexual harassment and sexual violence: Kingscote Gardens (2nd floor), 419 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, (650) 497-4955 (voice), (650) 497-9257 (fax),  [email protected]  (email).  Individuals may also file complaints directly with the Office for Civil Rights, within the United States Department of Education, by following the information on this website:   https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html

Last revised September 13, 2023 .  For the most recent policy, please visit the  Diversity and Access Office .

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Stanford University complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. Stanford’s policies and statistics under this act are posted on the Department of Public Safety website at  https://police.stanford.edu/security-report.html . A paper copy can be obtained by calling the Stanford Department of Public Safety at (650) 723-9633 or by sending an email to [email protected].

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Stanford Essays 2023-24

Stanford supplemental essays .

The Stanford essays form a critical part of the application process. Like at many top schools around the country, when you apply to Stanford, you’ll complete school-specific Stanford essay prompts in addition to the Common App essay. If you’re wondering how to get into Stanford, strong Stanford supplemental essays are a good place to start. 

In this article, we’ll discuss each of the Stanford supplemental essays in detail, including the Stanford roommate essay and other Stanford essays. Additionally, we’ll review the requirements for each of the Stanford essay prompts. We’ll also provide resources with Stanford essay examples that you can use when writing your own Stanford essays. Finally, we’ll offer more tips on how to get into Stanford, including application deadlines, dates, and timelines.

Stanford Essays: Quick Facts

Stanford university supplemental essays quick facts.

• Stanford Acceptance Rate: The acceptance rate for Stanford admissions is only 4% according to U.S. News . 
• Understanding the Stanford Essay Requirements: The Stanford requirements include three Stanford supplemental essays. Each of the Stanford essays must be between 100 and 250 words.
• Applying to Stanford: Students must complete the Common Application and the Stanford requirements before the Stanford application deadline. Make sure you submit your Stanford supplemental essays along with all other application materials when applying .
• Restrictive Early Action Deadline: November 1
• Standard Application Deadline: January 5
• Top Stanford Essays Tip: Because you have to complete three Stanford essays, make sure you give yourself enough time to work on each of them. Even though each of the essays is only at most 250 words, shorter essays can take longer to revise and perfect.

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website. 

Does Stanford have supplemental essays?

Yes, students must complete three Stanford supplemental essays. Students must submit their Stanford supplemental essays in addition to the Common App essay and the other Stanford requirements. These Stanford essays help the admissions team get to know their applicants better and evaluate whether they will be a good fit for the school.

How many essays does Stanford require?

Students must submit responses to three Stanford essay prompts as part of their application. In addition to these Stanford supplemental essays, there are also several additional short answer prompts that students must complete. 

These responses are limited to 50 words maximum, so they are not quite long enough to be considered full Stanford essays. However, they are still an important part of your application, so plan to spend as much time on those responses as your responses to the Stanford essay prompts. You can find a list of these additional prompts along with tips and Stanford essays examples in our guide here .

Do Stanford essays change?

The Stanford essay prompts do sometimes change from year to year. One of their more well-known prompts, the Stanford roommate essay, has been part of the application for a while and likely won’t change. However, in the 2021-2022 school year , one of the Stanford essay prompts asked students to talk about a topic that was meaningful to them. Now, that question has been changed to ask students: what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University?

Even though the Stanford supplemental essays may change, the purpose behind the Stanford essays remains the same. The admissions team uses the Stanford supplemental essays to get to know students on a deeper and more personal level. While grades and extracurricular activities are also important, the Stanford essays allow students to share parts of their life and experiences that the admissions office would not otherwise know. So, in each of your Stanford essays, highlight why you would be a perfect fit for Stanford!

What are the Stanford essay prompts?

The Stanford supplemental essays consist of three different Stanford essay prompts. Each prompt must be answered with an essay of between 100 and 250 words. The Stanford essay prompts for 2023-2024 are as follows and can also be found on the Stanford admissions website:

Stanford University Essay Prompts

1. the stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning., 2. virtually all of stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better., 3. please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to stanford university..

Before you start writing your Stanford essays, we recommend taking the time to read each of the Stanford essay prompts carefully. This will help you know exactly what each prompt asks so you can craft a strong response. 

Below, we’ll break down each prompt individually and show you how you can write standout Stanford essays for each prompt. For additional tips and Stanford essay examples, check out our Stanford essays guide .

Stanford Essays #1

The first of the Stanford essay prompts is fairly straightforward. This prompt asks you to describe a time or experience that sparked a passion for learning. The possibilities for answering this prompt vary widely. However, the key to any great essay is specificity and focus. Remember that you only have a maximum of 250 words to write your Stanford supplemental essays, so you need to choose which of your passions to focus on. 

Start by identifying a formative moment when you developed a love for learning about your chosen subject. Then, build from that to show your intellectual curiosity. For instance, this could be a school field trip to a planetarium that inspired an ongoing love of space. The best essays begin by immediately pulling their readers into a story rather than restating the prompt or giving a general introduction.

Keep it authentic

Some students make the mistake of trying to look perfect and writing Stanford essay examples that they believe readers want to see. Being authentic and showing off your unique personality is much more important. In fact, your readers will appreciate getting to know the real you. 

This prompt asks about more than just a single defining moment. It is about why this moment was meaningful and how that moment inspired you to keep learning and growing. So, don’t be afraid to show off how much you love your topic.

Stanford Essays #2

Prompt #2 is the famous Stanford roommate essay. While the other Stanford essays share common elements with other essay prompts, the Stanford roommate essay is in a category of its own. In the Stanford roommate essay, students write a letter introducing themselves to their future roommate. This essay can take many forms, from a standard letter beginning with “Dear Roomie,” to a list of important characteristics, and even a “day in the life” snapshot where the writer describes what a typical Stanford day might look like for them.

Whichever format you choose for your Stanford roommate essay, remember that your audience for this essay is not just your hypothetical future roommate, but also the Stanford admissions team. So, like your other Stanford essays, your Stanford roommate essay should highlight what makes you unique. 

Approaching the Stanford roommate essay

Think about what quirks, characteristics, or personality traits you want to reveal about yourself. Then, come up with anecdotes or stories that showcase those characteristics. Instead of simply saying to your reader, “I am an avid crossword puzzle solver,” you can convey the same information in a more interesting way by saying “You’ll probably wake up most mornings and hear me mumbling random words to myself while hunched over a newspaper. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll be more social once I finish my daily crossword!”

The Stanford roommate essay can seem intimidating at first, but it can also be a fun way to show off who you are. If you have trouble coming up with ideas, don’t be afraid to ask family members or friends for help. They may be able to identify parts of your personality that would make great subjects for your Stanford roommate essay. 

Stanford Essays #3

After the Stanford roommate essay, the final prompt for the Stanford supplemental essays asks you to describe why you would make a “distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.” In other words, this essay asks you to tell the admissions team how you would contribute to life at Stanford. Although this question is more straightforward than the Stanford roommate essay, you should still think carefully about your response. 

As with the other Stanford essays, there is no single right answer for how you would contribute to the Stanford community. Like other top colleges, Stanford hopes to create a diverse community of students. So, write about what excites you and let your passion for those subjects shine through. Just remember that you only have 250 words to answer the Stanford essays. So, it helps to pick out two or three key ways you would get involved at Stanford.

Getting specific

The Stanford supplemental essays are also a great place to show off the research you have done about Stanford. Your Stanford supplemental essays should indicate both why you are a good fit for Stanford and why Stanford would be the perfect fit for your interests. The more specific details you include from either an in-person or virtual visit , the stronger your essay will be. Including the names of specific professors, internships, clubs, or study abroad programs is great, but make sure to provide context and specificity. Talk about why that aspect of life at Stanford stood out to you and how it connects back to your academic and career goals.

As with your other Stanford supplemental essays, make sure not to simply repeat your extracurriculars list from earlier in your application. If you do mention these activities, talk about how you would continue to pursue that interest at Stanford. Check out lists of student organizations and/or programs and see what lines up with your passions. For example, if you have an interest in journalism, you might talk about writing articles for the Stanford Daily or contributing to the many other student-run publications on campus. The more detailed you can get about what kind of Stanford student you would be, the better.

What is Stanford looking for in essays?

The Stanford supplemental essays serve several purposes. First and foremost, the Stanford supplemental essays help your application readers learn who you are in a more holistic way. The Stanford essays let you introduce yourself to the admissions team and give them a complete picture of who you are. So, your Stanford essays should highlight your life and experiences. 

The second purpose of the Stanford supplemental essays is to assess your writing abilities. No matter your major, you will write papers of some kind while at Stanford. So, Stanford wants to see that you have strong written communication skills. This does not mean that you need to fill your Stanford essays with impressive vocabulary words. Rather, Stanford simply wants to see clear, well-written prose that shows evidence of revision and thoughtfulness. So, make sure you check your Stanford supplemental essays for spelling and grammar before you submit them.

To learn more about Stanford check out this video from Stanford Admissions below:

Where can I find Stanford essays that worked?

One of the most effective things you can do to write better Stanford essays is to look at Stanford essays examples from admitted students. These essays can teach you what kinds of essays get students accepted to the most competitive schools in the country. It is important to note, however, that you should never copy someone else’s essay. Instead, think of these Stanford essays examples as a source of inspiration for your own writing. 

While there are books of Stanford supplemental essays available for you to purchase, there are plenty of free resources out there to help you with the Stanford supplemental essays. At CollegeAdvisor.com, we have a series of essay guides with tips for many different kinds of essays, including the Stanford supplemental essays. You can find the tips for the Stanford essays including full examples here and additional guidance for the Stanford supplemental essays here . You can also check out our full series about how to get into Stanford through the college page , which has all the info you need to ace your application.

Stanford Essays Examples

What is the application deadline for Stanford?

Like at other schools, students can choose between multiple Stanford application deadlines. If you know that Stanford is your first choice school, you can apply through the Restrictive Early Action pool. This pathway allows you to apply to other colleges as well as Stanford as long as those other applications are through a Regular Decision pathway (not Early Action or Decision). 

If admitted through REA, you are not required to attend Stanford and you have until May 1st to accept or decline your offer of admission. The Stanford application deadline for Restrictive Early Action is November 1st.

Students who do not wish to apply to Stanford through the Restrictive Early Action pathway can instead apply to Stanford through the Regular Decision pathway. Students who choose this route may apply to other schools with no restrictions from Stanford. The Regular Decision application deadline is January 5th, and students receive decisions from Stanford in early April. There are separate timelines and application deadlines for financial aid, which you can find on the school’s website .

Five tips for writing outstanding Stanford essays!

1. start early.

Because there are so many Stanford supplemental essays and short answer questions, it helps to get started on them as early as possible. Especially if you apply through the Restrictive Early Action pathway, you should give yourself enough time to write each of the Stanford essays. You likely won’t submit your first draft of the Stanford essays, so leave plenty of time to redraft and edit. This will also give you time to put the other Stanford essays tips we’ve discussed into practice!

2. Brainstorm ideas before writing

The Stanford supplemental essays, in particular the Stanford roommate essay, require a lot of personal reflection. Because of this, we recommend that you think critically about your passions, interests, and most important personal traits. That way, you can outline what you want your Stanford essays to say about you and choose subjects that highlight those aspects of your personality. The Stanford essays are not long enough to capture every one of your unique life experiences and qualities. So, choosing a few key details will help streamline your essays.

3. Show, don’t tell

This guideline can help you strengthen not only your Stanford essays, but also your writing in general. Try to use examples from your life to highlight your key traits rather than stating them outright. For example, if you want to show that you have exceptional leadership skills and a passion for gardening, you could describe how you created a horticulture club at your school and transformed an old courtyard into a plant sanctuary. These stories help your reader see the kind of person you are. Moreover, they provide perspective into the kind of student you would be at Stanford.

4. It’s all in the details 

Make sure your Stanford essays include vivid, specific details. The more descriptive and specific your language, the better your message will come across. So, keep your Stanford essays focused. Don’t try to include too much information—instead, center each essay on a single, compelling narrative. Then, use as much descriptive language as possible!  

5. Ask for help

The Stanford essays, and particularly the Stanford roommate essay, are not easy to complete. Moreover, writing any college essay is very different from writing a paper for class. So, find someone you trust to help you revise and edit your essays. Additionally, for prompts like the Stanford roommate essay, a second reader can provide useful insights. They also may catch mistakes or see improvements that you would not have otherwise considered. Just make sure that no one writes the Stanford essays for you! Admissions officers are trained to look for essays written by parents or siblings. Additionally, the strongest Stanford essays will capture your authentic voice. 

If you’re looking for help writing your Stanford supplemental essays, our advisors can help. We’ll provide one-on-one guidance to help you make the most of your Stanford essays. Click here to schedule a meeting with our team and learn more about how to make your Stanford essays count.

This essay guide was written by senior advisor, Alex Baggott-Rowe . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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April 25, 2024

How to Get Into Stanford University

We wouldn’t blame you for being interested in Stanford University , which ranks #3 among national universities in the  2024 US News & World Report annual college ranking . In 2014, Slate dubbed Stanford “the Harvard of the 21st century,” and for good reason! This private research university boasts one of the largest endowments in higher education (which most recently weighed in at $36.5 billion), a formidable range of world-renowned graduate schools and research facilities, and an entrepreneurial culture that has produced some of the biggest names in the tech industry.

What Is Stanford University?

Stanford is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Stanford, California. According to the  2023-24 Common Data Set , Stanford’s undergraduate student body consists of 3,789 men and 4,052 women, for a total of 7,841 full-time undergraduates. 37% percent of these students come from within California, while 14% are international.

Stanford University Admissions Requirements

Getting into Stanford is not a matter of simply meeting certain grade point and testing requirements, as many students with perfect or near-perfect scores face rejection each year. Still, it’s helpful to understand the baseline requirements necessary to be considered a competitive applicant.

Stanford GPA Requirements

Stanford admissions counselors evaluate a student’s academic record in the “context” of their high school experience. No two high schools calculate a student’s GPA in the same way, so it would be disingenuous to claim that Stanford has a minimum GPA cutoff. However, students interested in Stanford should take the most rigorous coursework available to them.

Applications are reviewed through a holistic process. As  Stanford Undergraduate Admissions puts it: “In a holistic review, we seek to understand how you, as a whole person, would grow, contribute and thrive at Stanford, and how Stanford would, in turn, be changed by you.”

Does Stanford Look at Class Rank?

75.2% of students enrolled in the Class of 2027 had a 4.0 GPA, and 15.5% had a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. 96.2% of enrollees were in the top tenth of their high school graduating class, while 99.5% were in the top quarter. The average GPA for an enrollee in the Class of 2027 was 3.9.

Stanford SAT/ACT Score Requirements

Stanford is  test-optional . However, after Dartmouth College , Yale University , Brown University , Harvard University , and Cornell University eliminated their test-optional policies, we at  Ivy Coach  have reason to believe Stanford will reinstate testing requirements soon.

Amongst members of the Stanford Class of 2027, 47% submitted SAT scores and 22% submitted ACT scores. 31% did not submit scores under Stanford’s test-optional policy.

Does Stanford Superscore Students’ SAT or ACT scores?

A  superscore  combines the highest section scores from each individual test sitting for admissions evaluation. Stanford only superscores the SAT, evaluating the highest scores reported for the Reading and Writing and Math sections. They do  not  superscore the ACT.

Submitting multiple test administrations shows Stanford that you had to work harder than many to achieve your scores when admissions officers much prefer students for whom great scores come naturally. Students should submit more than one SAT score report only for the purposes of superscoring.

What High School Courses Does Stanford Require?

Stanford Undergraduate Admission recommends the following  high school curriculum :

• “ English: four years, with significant emphasis on writing and literature.
• Mathematics: four years of rigorous mathematics incorporating a solid grounding in fundamental skills (algebra, geometry, trigonometry). We also welcome additional mathematical preparation, including calculus and statistics.
• History/Social Studies: three or more years, with courses that include the writing of essays.
• Science: three or more years of science (some examples include biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, human anatomy, and environmental science).
• World Language: three or more years of the same world language.”

Of course, it would be unwise to take only three years of science or history classes. Students interested in highly selective colleges across America, Stanford or otherwise, should excel in their core subjects for all four years of high school (and when it comes to foreign language, it is ideal to begin in eighth grade).

What Extracurriculars Does Stanford Look For in Applicants?

Stanford admissions officers prize students who demonstrate an “ exceptional depth ” of commitment to a singular pursuit, as opposed to students who are  well-rounded . This depth could take many forms, from prize-winning illustration to extensive economics research, but we at Ivy Coach caution against portraying an applicant as a jack-of-all-trades. 

An incoming class at an elite university should be dynamic, diverse, and unpredictable. The last thing admissions officers are looking for is homogeneity. Sure, a competitive Stanford applicant has excelled in all areas academically, but they have kept busy pursuing a unique passion, which shines through on the application. The student who has dipped their toes in a variety of pursuits without specializing, and who is admitted on the basis of this well-roundedness, is a myth.

Stanford University Application Requirements

Stanford applicants must complete The Common Application , the Stanford supplement, a counselor recommendation, and two teacher recommendations.

Let’s focus on each individual component and discuss how students should complete them to give them the best shot of admission.

Who to Ask For Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to Stanford should ask two teachers — ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects — in addition to their school counselor for letters of recommendation.

Does Stanford Require an Alumni Interview?

No, any interviews conducted with Stanford alumni are  optional . Students will only be given the option to interview with a Stanford alum if they live in a designated interview area. Whether a student accepts a proposed interview or not is not a reflection of the strength or weakness of a student’s application. Across all highly selective colleges, the interview component of any given application is one of the least important aspects.

What are Stanford’s Supplemental Essay Topics?

Essays, on the other hand, are one of the most important aspects of a competitive college application. In addition to The Common Application Personal Statement, Stanford applicants have to complete the Stanford supplemental essay questions , a.k.a. “The Stanford Questions.” 

The Stanford Questions  are as follows:

Stanford University Short Answer Questions

There is a 50-word limit for each of the five short answers.

• What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?
• How did you spend your last two summers?
• What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?
• Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.
• List five things that are important to you.

Stanford University Short Essay Questions

There is a 100-word minimum and a 250-word maximum for each of the three essays.

• The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
• Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.
• Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.” 

Stanford University Application Deadlines

Stanford’s two admissions rounds are Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision.

Restrictive Early Action applications to Stanford are non-binding and due on November 1st of each year (unless a student applies with the Optional Arts Portfolio, which pushes the deadline up to October 15th). Regular Decision applications to Stanford are due on January 5th of each year (and on December 5th with the Optional Arts Portfolio).

Stanford University Acceptance Rate and Statistics

So how competitive is the admissions process to The Farm? 53,733 students applied for admission to the Class of 2027, and 3.91% were accepted.

How Much Does Stanford University Cost?

In the academic year 2023-24, the  full cost of attendance  for undergraduates at Stanford was $92,892, including their projected costs for personal expenses and allowances.

• Tuition: $61,731
• Housing and Food: $21,315.
• Student Fees Allowance: $2,400
• Books and Supplies Allowance: $825
• Personal Expenses Allowance: $3,225

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Stanford

Over the past five years, 78% of Ivy Coach ’s package clients have earned admission in Stanford’s Early Action round.

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s assistance with your child’s case for admission to Stanford, directly with Ivy Coach’s  Jose Magaña , a former Stanford admissions officer, fill out our  complimentary consultation form , and we’ll be in touch.

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Application requirements for step.

The Stanford Teacher Education (STEP) application process gives you the opportunity to display your full range of experience, education, and enthusiasm for teaching. We carefully review and consider every application. 

Applicants apply either to Elementary STEP or to Secondary STEP in one of the five subject areas for secondary certification: English, history/social science, math, science, or world languages.

The application for the 2025-2026 academic cycle will open around mid September 2024. The deadline to submit applications will be January 8, 2025 . 

Application Process and Elements

For the 2026 cohort, select “Summer 2024-2025” as the start term. Choose a specialization or subject area within STEP. Choose “Elementary Education” or “Teaching of . . .” to select a secondary subject area.

The application submission is conducted entirely online through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please complete and submit the online application.

Applicants for the STEP class of 2026 will start the program during summer quarter of 2025, which is part of Stanford’s 2024-2025 school year.

A non-refundable application fee of $125 is required with submission of the application. Please visit the graduate fee waiver page  for information on fee waiver eligibility and process.

Respond to the prompt below about your educational experience, interest in teaching, and views on the role of education.

Your essay should cover each of the points below in about 750-1,250 words, single spaced, with a maximum of three pages in length. Submit your essay electronically with the online application by uploading it in the personal statement section.

• Describe your educational background, your experience working with youth, and what draws you to becoming a teacher. Describe how your strengths, skills, interests, and experiences will contribute to the STEP community.
• For STEP Secondary (single-subject program), specify your interest in teaching a particular subject matter area. For STEP Elementary (multiple-subject program), specify your interest in teaching at the elementary level.
• As a program, we are committed to teaching for equity and justice. Explain what teaching for equity means to you and why you are drawn to joining a community of educators who share that commitment.

There is an option in the application to write a diversity statement. STEP strongly encourages applicants to submit the diversity statement in addition to the STEP essay.

Required of all applicants and should be uploaded following the essay. 

Submit three letters of recommendation

The online application prompts you to identify and provide email addresses for three recommenders. Instructors, supervisors, and colleagues who have observed your work with youth are often good choices for recommenders. 

You should notify recommenders that they will receive an email prompting them to submit their recommendations online. Letters of recommendation should speak to your commitment to the profession, character, work ethic, academic ability, and general fit for the STEP program. 

Stanford GSE cannot accept mailed, emailed, or faxed recommendations.

Upload an unofficial or official transcript.

Submit a transcript for every institution you have attended for at least one year. Upload each official or unofficial transcript as a PDF document. Transcripts that are mailed, emailed, or faxed will not be accepted.

Transcripts from foreign institutions : If your institution provides a transcript in a language other than English, you must also submit a translation either provided by the institution or a certified translator. 

Admitted students will be required to submit official transcripts by mail. If you studied abroad and your coursework and grades are reflected on the transcript from your home institution, you do not need to submit original transcripts from the study abroad institution.

Fill out the STEP supplemental form (required) included in the online application. If you are interested in receiving a STEP fellowship, complete the fellowship section on the supplemental form.

Option 1:   California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET)

The CSET is the primary way to verify your subject knowledge. CSET Multiple Subject exams are offered as a computer based test, year round, Monday through Saturday in California and across the country.

Admitted students must pass a minimum of two CSET Multiple Subject subtests to begin the program in June. Therefore, STEP Elementary applicants should plan on taking at least two subsets of the CSET test no later than March 31, 2025. Advanced registration is required. 

We strongly encourage applicants to take the CSET before applying to STEP. Applications will be reviewed if candidates have not taken the exams or have not received their results by the application deadline. If you have previously passed any of the exams, include a score report with your application.

Admitted students must ultimately pass all subtests by January of their program year. 

CSET Stanford reporting code: 582

Please visit California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET) page for information on test date locations, registering for the exam and test preparation materials.

Option 2: Coursework

 Applicants might be able to meet this requirement via coursework. For more information, go this link . 

Subject Matter Competence – STEP secondary

STEP Single Subject Candidates** must demonstrate subject matter competence in one of the following two ways:

Option 1: California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET)

The CSET is the primary way to verify your subject knowledge. CSET exams are offered as a computer based test, year round, Monday through Saturday in California and across the country

Admitted students must pass a minimum of two CSET subtests in their intended teaching subject to begin the program in June. Therefore, STEP Secondary applicants should plan on taking at least two subsets of the CSET test no later than March 31, 2025. Advanced registration is required. 

Option 2: Subject Matter Program

Certain California institutions have been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) to offer subject matter programs (essentially, specialized majors) that meet state requirements for subject matter competence, in lieu of the approved exams. This program verifies you have completed the coursework (undergraduate or graduate level) that the university feels is critical to a solid subject matter understanding. If you are completing/have completed one of these approved subject matter programs, contact the teacher education department at your institution for an evaluation of your coursework.

Option 3: Coursework

Applicants might be able to meet this requirement via coursework. For more information, go to this link .

Qualifications for STEP admission parallel those of other GSE graduate programs, with an additional focus on preparation for and commitment to the teaching profession. Review criteria include the following:

• academic merit and preparation for a GSE master’s program
• for STEP Secondary candidates, a depth of content knowledge in their chosen subject area
• prior experiences, with a focus on meaningful experiences with youth
• contributions to diversity and community broadly defined
• connection to the STEP  mission

Still have questions on application requirements? Check out our FAQ. 

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Gradate Application Writing Sample Requirements

Department of comparative literature.

Please provide an example of your scholarly writing, normally a seminar paper, approximately 5000 words, in English. Choose an essay that reflects your best literary-critical or analytic work. It should not be a sample of creative writing. Although not required, you may additionally provide a short example of your writing in a language other than English.

Department of French and Italian

Please submit 2 samples of 20 pages each, one in English and the other in French or Italian, demonstrating the applicant's skills at literary analysis of French or Italian texts. While these academic research papers best demonstrate applicants' skills at the tasks we stress in this program, if students would like to add a (short) writing sample using literary critical skills in another genre, they are welcome to do so.

Department of German Studies

Submit a critical or analytic sample of scholarly writing, approximately 5000 words, in either German or English. Choose a sample that reflects your best scholarly work. The writing sample should not be a sample of creative writing. The writing sample and letters of recommendation should indicate your preparedness for conducting scholarship in German Studies, and why your interests in German Studies would be best served in a program such as ours.

Department of Iberian and Latin American Cultures

Please submit 2 samples of 20 pages each, one in English and the other in Spanish, demonstrating the applicant's skills as a literary critic.

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

Please submit a sample of about 20 pages in English, demonstrating the applicant's skills at literary analysis of Slavic texts. If students would like to submit an additional short writing sample in Russian or another relevant language, they should feel free to do so. While research papers best demonstrate applicants' skills at the tasks we stress in this program, if students would like to add a (short) writing sample using literary critical skills in another genre, they are welcome to do so.

How to Get Into Stanford: Creating a Winning Application

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/23/24

Thinking about applying to Stanford? Let’s explore everything you need to know to get into Stanford University.

Stanford University is one of the world’s leading teaching and research institutions, located in Stanford, California. Occupying over 8,000 acres, Stanford is one of the largest campuses in the United States. The university was founded in 1891 by Leland and Jane Stanford in memory of their child, Leland Stanford Jr.

In the past century, the university has grown and flourished into seven successful schools. Three of these schools consist of 40 academic departments at undergraduate levels. The other four schools are centered around graduate programs regarding law, education, business, and medicine.

Stanford Acceptance Rate

Stanford University’s 2023 acceptance rate is 3.68% . A total of 56,378 prospective students applied to attend Stanford, and 2,075 applicants were admitted. 

Stanford Yield Rate

Of the 2,075 admitted applicants,1,736 matriculated for a yield rate of 83.66%. Stanford University has one of the highest rates among universities, indicating that most accepted students choose to enroll. 

How Hard Is It to Get Into Stanford?

Stanford has one of the lowest college admissions rates in the country at just 3.68%. However, this doesn’t mean it is impossible to be admitted to the institution. Stanford emphasizes academic preparation as a vital part of its selection process . 

Stanford wants students who are thoughtful, engaged, and likely to make an impact at their institution. This is why it's so selective. Gaining acceptance to Stanford requires diligence, taking steps to find opportunities and resources, and working closely with school counselors.

Take our interactive quiz below to find out how likely you are to get into Stanford .

What Is Stanford University Looking for? 

While it’s always in your best interest to portray yourself as authentically as possible, tailoring your college application to include traits Stanford seeks can help you take your application to the next level. Try showcasing these traits in your application to better your chances of getting accepted to Stanford! 

Accomplishments Outside the Classroom 

Although demonstrating academic excellence is crucial to your success, Stanford is also interested in your activities outside the classroom . These activities can include: 

• Community service
• Part-time jobs
• Internships
• Extracurricular activities
• Volunteer positions 

Being an active participant outside the classroom shows you’ve likely developed crucial skills that will serve you at Stanford and beyond, such as problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. Ensure your application documents show the breadth of your passions and activities! 

Students With the Ability to Take Charge 

Stanford highly values students who show the initiative to become leaders. Part of Stanford’s mission is “preparing students for lives of active citizenship.” 

If you’re a self-starter who creates your own opportunities, pursues experiences to hone your leadership skills, and is involved in the community, Stanford is looking for students like you! Try to share leadership experiences in your activities list and personal statement. 

Intellectual Curiosity 

While striving for academic excellence is a great first step, Stanford seeks students with a voracious appetite for learning and discovery. Stanford states that it has a culture of “interdisciplinary collaboration that drives discovery and innovation vital to our world.” 

Consider times you’ve gone above and beyond to research a topic you were interested in or thought of innovative solutions to solve problems. Ensure your zest for learning and discovery is almost tangible in your application documents! 

Stellar Personal Traits 

Stanford seeks students with strong moral compasses who will consider the ethical implications of innovation and advancement, whether it’s a new medical procedure or government policy. 

There are many traits you can demonstrate in your Stanford application; empathy, honesty, and diligence can take you a long way. Remember, Stanford wants to be sure that the students they admit will positively contribute to the incoming class and campus. 

Diverse Perspectives and Lived Experiences 

Stanford desires to “ enroll a class of diverse backgrounds and experiences, talents, academic interests, and ways of viewing the world.” No matter what your background is, it’s worth sharing with the admissions committee! 

Use your personal statement and supplemental essays to delve into your identity, background, upbringing, and perspectives. A diverse class means more opportunities to discover and discuss new perspectives and ways of seeing the world; show Stanford what you can contribute!

When Does the Stanford Application Open? 

Stanford’s 2024 application will open sometime in mid-September . However, it’s crucial to ensure you meet Stanford’s requirements before you begin working on your application. We’ll review them in more detail below.

Stanford Requirements

To get into Stanford University, students should aim for high SAT scores around 1550 or ACT scores around 35. Top applicants typically also have 3.96 GPAs. To stand out further, take rigorous AP or IB courses and show off your writing skills with compelling essays!  

Here’s a complete list of Stanford’s entrance requirements.

Stanford GPA Requirements

While academic excellence is crucial for admission to Stanford, Stanford’s GPA requirements are similar to other prestigious Ivy League colleges. Thanks to its holistic approach, there is no minimum GPA or test score needed to be granted admission to Stanford .

There is also no specific number of AP or honors courses required to be admitted to Stanford. This, however, does not mean that your grades and test scores are not important. Through your high school transcript, Stanford will evaluate your academic records and assess your college readiness . 

In fact, in 2023, Stanford’s average GPA is 3.96 , meaning that you will likely need to be top of your class to be admitted into Stanford.

Stanford SAT and ACT Requirements

Different factors go into determining what qualifies as a good SAT score . The same is true for what makes a good ACT score . And while there isn’t a minimum required SAT or ACT score to be admitted , Stanford’s average SAT score is typically between 1500-1550, while its average ACT score is between 33-35. 

Stanford has extended its test-optional policy for the 2023-2024 admission cycle. Students can decide whether to take and submit their SAT or ACT scores for the admissions committee to review. 

We understand that preparing for the SAT and the ACT can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be. Check out our comprehensive guides on successfully acing the SAT or the ACT . By utilizing external tools like our guides, you are setting yourself up for success. 

Academic Preparation

Although Stanford doesn’t follow any numerical formula in the admissions process, nor does it have a required curriculum or set of high school courses, a solid high school transcript can tell admissions officers a lot about who you are as a student, peer, intellect, and individual. 

Stanford has provided a recommended high school curriculum for those students who are curious about what their admission team may consider a standout transcript. The recommended curriculum is as follows: 

• “ English : Four years, with significant emphasis on writing and literature.
• Mathematics : Four years, with significant emphasis on fundamental mathematical skills such as algebra, trigonometry, and plane, solid, and analytic geometry.
• History/Social Studies : Three years or more.
• Science : Three years or more of laboratory science, including biology, chemistry, and physics.
• Foreign Language : Three or more years of the same foreign language .”

The purpose of this recommendation is to set potential students up for success at Stanford since the university believes that students who can excel in this kind of intensive curriculum will be well-suited for Stanford’s rigorous undergraduate curriculum. 

Stanford Essays

Essays are a vital part of any college application. Aside from transcripts, test scores, academic and extracurricular achievements, and personal information, this is your best chance to show admissions officers who you are and why you are a good fit in Stanford’s student community. 

It is for this reason that it’s vital you know how to write a strong admissions essay . 

Applicants are given free rein to discuss what drives them and what has shaped them into who they are. This is great insight for admissions officers, so this space should be taken seriously and reviewed carefully before submission. 

Stanford Essay Prompts 

In addition to the personal essay, students will be asked to answer short-form questions . Applicants must adhere to a 100-word minimum and a 250-word maximum for each prompt. 

With every Stanford University Regular Decision and Restrictive Early Action application, applicants are required to complete short personal essays on the following three topics:

1. “The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.

3. Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.” 

If you are a student applying as a transfer , in addition to the first prompt listed above, you will be asked to answer a second and third prompt as a part of your essay question. For the first part, you will choose between one of the two prompts (below) that you’d like to write about:

1. “Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.”

2. “Stanford’s community is an essential part of the undergraduate experience. How do you define community and what contributions have you made to yours?” 

Additionally, you must answer one final prompt: 

“Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why.” 

If you are, indeed, looking to transfer colleges, check out our helpful article detailing all you need to know about writing a strong college transfer essay .

Each essay question allows applicants to explain why they would be a good fit for Stanford and what they could contribute to the community. It is extremely important for applicants to make sure they are communicating exactly what they want admissions officers to know when considering their applications. 

How to Write the Stanford Essays

Essays are arguably one of—if not the—most important aspects of Stanford’s application process. This is the only time that admissions officers get to hear your voice and get to know who you are. 

Your essays are where you can highlight your strengths, discuss your weaknesses, express your goals, share your passions, and consider your potential as a future Stanford undergraduate. 

This is the perfect opportunity to show admissions officers why you deserve to be a part of Stanford’s next incoming class. It is crucial that you prepare for these essays because they can make your application captivating and interesting. Consider the following while working on your Stanford application.

Practice, Practice, Practice

As silly as it may sound to “practice” writing an essay, it is necessary during the application process. There is a strict word limit that must be followed: for the Stanford questions, no more than 50 words, and for the short essays, no less than 100 words but no more than 250 words. 

Use tight, concise language to efficiently get your point across without wasting essay space on filler words or unnecessary phrasing. Answering the question to the best of your ability is what’s important. 

Make an Outline for Each Question

While outlines are typically used to structure long papers, they can be very useful when it comes to writing short essays. With an outline, you can map out your ideas and pinpoint what subjects you feel are most important and necessary to include. 

Having structure in your essays will also make it easier for admissions officers to follow and understand. As long as you are clear, concise, and direct about what you want to cover, your points and ideas will be easy to decipher and discuss.

Take Your Time

Even though your personal essays are required to be relatively short, it’s important to take time to think about your answers and what they will communicate to the admissions committee. Ask yourself, “What are the most important things that Stanford admissions officers need to know about me?” 

After, make a list of the things you are sure you want to include in your essay responses. If you are unsure whether or not something should be included, don’t hesitate to ask your school counselor or an admissions consultant for their opinion - they help students every day with college applications! 

Proofread Your Essays

It’s in your best interest to have a second set of eyes proofread your essays prior to your final submission. Whether that be a counselor, teacher, or admissions consultant, it is always a good idea to get a different perspective from your own. 

Proofreading your essays also gives you the opportunity to strengthen, change, or reword your essay response. Plus, having someone edit your work will help you get an idea of how admissions officers will potentially perceive your answers.

Stanford Interview

During the freshman application process, Stanford offers an optional interview to some—but not all—applicants. This is an opportunity for Regular Decision and Restrictive Early Action applicants to sit down with a Stanford alum and engage in a meaningful conversation. 

These optional interviews are informal to encourage genuine and unique conversation. Because of this, there is no set list of questions . 

If you are a potential student and did not get contacted for an interview, do not panic! Your application is still considered complete, and you will not be negatively affected by not being offered an interview. There are simply not enough Stanford alumni in each interview area to interview all applicants. 

Declining an interview will not negatively affect your application status, and you do not have to justify declining. This is, however, a fantastic opportunity to speak with Stanford alumni, make a great impression, and learn about Stanford.

How to Apply to Stanford

When applying to Stanford, you must first decide whether you are completing a Coalition Application or a Common Application . Though different, both applications are great options; both help potential students navigate their college application journey. Truly, there is no right or wrong choice!

After deciding the avenue through which you will apply, next you should familiarize yourself with Stanford’s list of application requirements , which includes: 

• A $90 nonrefundable application fee
• Potential students are also welcome to fill out a fee waiver request if they are deemed fit
• ACT and SAT scores (if you decide to take them)
• School report form 
• Official transcripts
• Counselor’s letter of recommendation
• Letters of recommendation from two teachers
• Midyear transcript 

Potential students may also submit an optional art portfolio to highlight any extraordinary talents regarding the arts. This, however, must be submitted by an earlier deadline.

If you are feeling a little lost or intimidated by the application process, consult with your school counselor! They are there to help and will be able to keep you on track.

Stanford Application Deadlines

One quality Stanford looks for in their future students is being organized; therefore, it is paramount that you know t he deadlines for each part of your application . 

That being said, Stanford application deadlines do vary depending on the type of application, like, for example, Restrictive Early Action application or Standard Decision application. 

See the table below for a quick breakdown of Stanford’s application types and their different deadlines:

Transfer applicants follow different deadlines. This is why it is important to know what kind of application you are submitting so you are sure that you are adhering to the correct deadlines regarding your application.

How to Improve Your Chances of Admission to Stanford University

You may still be wondering how to get into Stanford, and while being granted admission is no easy feat, it is not impossible. Here are some tips that can help you to get accepted to Stanford. 

General Tips 

In order to start potential students on the right track for their future application process to Stanford, the institution recommends for all candidates to:

• Take advantage of the opportunities and resources available in high school
• Work hard and achieve at a high level in a full complement of academic subjects throughout high school, including during the final year
• Consult early on with a secondary school counselor

Remember to start the process early to have plenty of time to prepare! 

Find Extracurriculars You Are Passionate About in High School

While strong academics are an essential component of your application, Stanford admissions officers also want to see what you are like outside of school and as a person. Familiarize yourself with some of the more impressive extracurricular activities that Ivy League colleges are looking for.

Whether it is a club, organization, sport, charity, family responsibility, or a job, if it has helped shape you as a person, it is a great way for admissions officers to learn about you outside of academics. This can help them gauge whether or not you would be a good fit at Stanford. 

Do Your Research and Practice Writing for Your Admissions Essays

Since the word count in Stanford’s admissions essays can be limiting, it is a good idea to write and rewrite your essays several times. This way, you will be able to not only reflect on what you want to write about but edit your work so that your writing is concise and effective.

Thinking about your admissions essays as an incredible opportunity to show admissions officers what drives you, what you are passionate about, what you would like to accomplish, and how you would contribute to Stanford’s institution and community. 

Take Advantage of the Optional Interview

During the freshman application process, an optional interview may be offered to applicants if your high school is located in an interview area. The optional interview is an opportunity for applicants to have a conversation with a Stanford alumnus. 

It gives potential students the opportunity to learn more about Stanford and enables admissions officers to learn more about potential students. 

Acquire Your Letters of Recommendation Early

When asking for letters of recommendation , spend some time thinking about what teachers or faculty members had a significant impact on you during high school. 

Then, go about asking for letters of recommendation early to give your recommenders plenty of time to chat with you about what you are looking for in a letter. If possible, try to find a Stanford alum to provide you with a letter of recommendation; this is an excellent addition to your application!

Seek External Help

Applying to a school as prestigious as Stanford can be overwhelming! To maximize your chances, consider connecting with a professional consultant to help you make sense of the application process. Click here to find out more about our services!

Is Stanford Right for You? 

If you have an unabridged passion for learning and expanding your intellectual horizons, you could be a great candidate for applying to Stanford. Stanford values a passion for learning in its potential students. 

This is why Stanford’s Admission Office utilizes a fully holistic approach when reviewing students’ applications. Although academic success is a large criterion in the application process, Stanford values students with a passion for learning and those who will significantly impact Stanford’s campus and community. 

Get A Free Consultation

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• Stanford Biosciences

Criteria and Application Requirements

Eligibility.

The Stanford Summer Research Program is an umbrella program that hosts visiting undergraduate students who are funded through various sources, including the Amgen Scholars Program, the Stanford Genetics Department, and the Stanford Medicine Dean’s Office. All applicants apply via the same online application . Admitted applicants are notified of their funding source in the admission letter they receive. Eligibility requirements for each funding source is listed below.

All admitted scholars fully participate in the Stanford Summer Research Program, and are expected to meet all program requirements, regardless of their funding source.

Amgen Scholars Program Eligibility: UPDATE – The Amgen Scholars Program funding is only available for 2020 SSRP deferred participants, and is not accepting applicants for 2021. Other funding sources will be used for accepting students in the 2021 SSRP cohort. 

• U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents;
• Undergraduate students enrolled in accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories; and
• Sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors (who are returning in the fall after SSRP to continue undergraduate studies).
• Students who, by reason of their culture, class, race, ethnicity, disability, background, work and life experiences, and/or skills and interests would bring diversity (broadly defined) to graduate study in the biomedical and biological sciences.
• A cumulative grade point average of  3.2  or above; and
• An interest in pursuing a PhD (or, in exceptional cases, those interested in the MD/PhD will also be considered)

Genetics Department Funding Eligibility:

• Undergraduate students enrolled in accredited two-year or four-year colleges or universities in the United States, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories; and
• Freshman, sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors (who are returning in the fall after SSRP to continue undergraduate studies).
• Students who, by reason of their culture, class, race, ethnicity, disability, background, work and life experiences, and/or skills and interests would bring diversity (broadly defined) to graduate study in genetics.
• A cumulative grade point average of  3.0  or above; and
• An interest in pursuing a PhD (or, in exceptional cases, those interested in the MD/PhD will also be considered) in genetics.

Stanford Medicine Dean’s Office Funding Eligibility:

• U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents or DACA eligible students;
• Sophomores (with at least four quarters or three semesters of college experience), juniors, or non-graduating seniors (who are returning in the fall after SSRP to continue undergraduate studies).

The Stanford Summer Research Program especially encourages applications from African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, students who come from low income families, those who are first generation college students, and others whose backgrounds and experiences would bring diversity to the field.

High school students are ineligible for SSRP; to see a list of summer programs at Stanford for high school students,  click here .

Students interested in summer internships at Stanford in the social sciences, humanities, and engineering may want to explore opportunities offered by the Leadership Alliance.  Please click here for more information .

Students who have already completed their undergraduate work are ineligible for the SSRP . To obtain a summer internship at Stanford, we advise you to contact faculty with whom you may be interested in working. Many faculty hire students to help in their laboratories over the summer. You are welcome to explore our  faculty research directory and our  Biosciences Home Programs .

Please also visit our  FAQ section  for additional information regarding eligibility.

Application Requirements and Placement

Online applications to the Stanford Summer Research Program will be accepted until the  February 1st application deadline .

A completed online application includes the following documents that you will upload to the application:

• Essay Responses
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• Unofficial College Transcripts
• A Resume/CV

All documents must be included in the online application and submitted for an application to be considered complete. Students will be notified about the status of their applications in March.

With over two hundred faculty in the basic sciences, Stanford offers a wide range of  research opportunities . To help place students in labs that best match their interest, students are asked to list their top research area interests in the online application.

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High School Mentorship in Academic Health Care Administration

Each time you go to the doctor’s office, you interact with an assortment of different people: a receptionist, a nurse, a doctor, maybe even a radiologist or pharmacist. But did you know that there are teams of professionals making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes?

You Don’t Have to be a Physician to Make an Impact in Health Care

Health Care Administrators manage the operations at academic medical centers, insurance companies, senior care facilities, and outpatient clinics. Our mentorship program invites high school students to explore the different career opportunities in health care and medical research administration at Stanford Medicine including:

• Human Resources Team
• Faculty Affairs Team
• Fiscal Affairs Team
• Lecture & Event Planning Team
• Communications Team
• Faculty Administrative Support Team
• Clinical Research Coordinators Team
• Surgery Coordinators Team
• Education Program Coordinators Team
• Lab Managers Team
• Clinical Outcomes Team
• Department Leadership Team

Whether you excel at writing, finance, or graphic design, you’ll be introduced to a function that suits your skill set all while learning how to engage professionally with people of all backgrounds and experiences.

At the conclusion of the program, mentees will work together on teams to prepare a presentation for all mentors and team leads and take a final exam. Stanford will present each mentee with a certificate of completion and an $800 payment.  

In today’s ever-changing healthcare landscape, the need for skilled professionals who can navigate the complex intersections of healthcare policy, research, education, operations, and patient care has never been more critical.

Are you committed to leading change and innovation in today's complex health system? Apply here!

This program is 100% virtual. *If the mentee does not have a laptop, we will work with them to obtain a loaner laptop from a public library.

Application Requirements

• A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Completion of the online application
• Current high school transcript
• A one-page essay describing why they are interested in academic healthcare administration
• One letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or guidance counselor (no family members)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to participate in the program?

No, there is no fee to participate.

Do I need to participate all 4 weeks of the program?

Yes, and you must attend all sessions during the four weeks.

How many hours a day is the program?

Program hours are typically three hours each day, Monday through Thursday.

Important Dates

Begin Accepting Applications: March 25, 2024

Application Deadline: April 22, 2024

Program Dates June 17 - July 15, 2024 (Final Presentation Day: July 15, 2024)

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mary Hawn

Program Administrators: Lisa Forneris & Yvette Caro

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Gateways for...

First-year applicants.

• Standardized Testing

Standardized testing is one of the application requirements that can highlight academic preparedness.

At Stanford, we review applications holistically, meaning every component of the application is valuable to us as we get to know each student. There are no minimum test scores required to be admitted to Stanford, and there is no score that guarantees admission.

Testing Requirements

ACT or SAT scores are not required for first-year and transfer students applying in the 2024–2025 application cycle for the Fall 2025 entry term.

Applications without ACT or SAT scores will not be at a disadvantage. In previous test-optional cycles, we admitted students who submitted ACT or SAT scores, and we admitted students who did not.

Beginning with the 2025–2026 application cycle, Stanford will reinstate its standardized testing requirement. ACT or SAT scores will be required for first-year and transfer students submitting applications for the Fall 2026 entry term.

Reporting Test Scores

If you choose to submit ACT/SAT test scores as part of your application, we recommend that you simply self-report your highest scores in the testing section of the application. You can also have official scores sent to Stanford, but this is not required for us to review your application. We will review applications using either self-reported or official scores. If you would like to have official scores sent, please use the following codes: 

SAT PROFILE/TOEFL Code number: 4704

• ACT Code number: 0434

If you are offered admission and choose to enroll, official scores will be required. In order for test scores to be considered official, they must be sent directly from the College Board or the ACT.

Stanford reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if an applicant's self-reported test scores do not align with those in the official score report.

Frequently Asked Questions

If i have already taken the act or sat, do i have to report my scores.

If you feel that your scores are a positive reflection of your academic preparedness, then you are welcome to self-report them.

Your application will not be at a disadvantage if you do not report your scores.

How do I update my decision to submit or not submit my ACT or SAT scores?

In your application, you will have the opportunity to let us know whether you have submitted or will be submitting ACT or SAT scores.

If you would like to change your response, please log into your Stanford portal for instructions on how to make this change.

The deadline to change your response about submitting or not submitting ACT or SAT test scores is November 11 (REA), January 15 (RD), and April 1 (Transfer).

However, please know we review application files when they are complete, and we cannot guarantee that we will review your application with the change if it is made after the application deadlines: November 1 (REA), January 5 (RD), or March 15 (Transfer).

What are the deadlines for testing?

Last Acceptable ACT Test Date:

September (Restrictive Early Action) | December (Regular Decision)

Last Acceptable SAT Test Date:

October (Restrictive Early Action) | December (Regular Decision)

We recommend students take the ACT or SAT well in advance of application deadlines. It is unlikely that scores from tests taken after the deadlines will arrive in time for review. We cannot delay the review of an application in anticipation of scores that will arrive after the deadline nor can we guarantee that late scores will be reviewed.

What should I do if my test results arrive after I submit my application?

If you indicated in your application that you intend to submit ACT or SAT scores and your most recent test results arrive after you submit your application, you can self-report these scores by logging in to your Stanford portal and filling out the Self-Report Test Scores form.

Does Stanford superscore test results?

We want you to have the best test representation possible, so we will review your results according to the following rubric:

For the ACT, we will review all subscores and focus on the highest Composite from all sittings.

For the SAT, we will superscore, focusing on the highest individual Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math scores from all test sittings.

For the SAT, you may have taken a sitting with the essay and a separate sitting without the essay. We will superscore your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math scores across these two versions of the exam.

Are SAT Subject Tests and AP exams required?

No; the College Board discontinued SAT Subject Tests in June 2021. If you took a subject test prior to this time, you are welcome to self-report your results in your application. If you have taken a subject test more than once, you may report your highest score.

Similarly, if you have taken Advanced Placement exams, you are welcome to self-report your scores in the application.

Since the ACT or SAT writing/essay section is optional for Stanford, is it necessary for me to report my writing/essay score?

Though we do not require the writing/essay section of the ACT or SAT, if you took the exam with writing/essay, we request that you be honest and transparent and report your score as required by the application and as a section integral to the sitting of the exam you took. You challenged yourself by taking the writing/essay section, and we will recognize and honor this effort, while our consideration will be of your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math scores.

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• Made by History

How the College Application Essay Became So Important

S chool is out and summer is here. Yet future high school seniors and their families are likely already thinking about applying to college — a process that can be as labor-intensive and time-consuming as it is confusing. Students submit SAT scores, grades, references, personal essays, and more, often without a clear sense of what counts most.

The challenges facing college applicants today aren’t new. For over a century, Americans seeking higher education have had to navigate complicated admissions requirements including exams and grades as well as qualitative metrics of assessment, such as references, interviews, and essays.

Collecting so much academic and personal information has given colleges and universities greater control over the kinds of students they admit. In the first half of the 20th century, this information was mainly used to bar some applicants based on race, gender, and religion. Since the social movements of the 1960s and 70s, however, it has been used to do nearly the opposite by expanding access to previously excluded groups. In this process, personal essays have been especially valuable for the unique insights they can offer into applicants’ backgrounds and perspectives. In the context of today’s narrowing national diversity agenda, they are key to promoting inclusion in American higher education.

In the late 19th century, college admission standards were relatively low in America, even at the “Big Three” private universities, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. In an era when few Americans had more than an eighth-grade education, and even fewer could afford the cost of higher education, there was little competition for admission. Applicants needed only to pass subject matter exams, tests that were rudimentary and could be taken repeatedly until passed. Even those who failed their entrance exams might be admitted if they had elite standing and could pay tuition.

Read More: How to Talk About Race on College Applications, According to Admissions Experts

By the turn of the 20th century, however, demand for higher education was growing. Colleges worked intentionally to admit a broader range of students, dropping archaic requirements like knowledge of Latin and Greek that had previously barred all but the most privileged high school students from applying. More and more qualified applicants competed for fewer available spots, which meant that colleges and universities could be more selective. 

But with more applicants passing exams and earning entry to higher education, private universities became increasingly concerned about the demographics of their student bodies. By the 1910s, as immigration increased, and more public high schools were better preparing students of all backgrounds to meet private entrance requirements, rising numbers of Jewish students were landing spots at the historically Protestant and upper-class universities. With antisemitism on the rise, many private colleges adopted new metrics of admission that could be used to limit the number of “undesirable” students, especially Jewish ones. 

It was at this juncture that selective colleges introduced the application essay to assess students for the amorphous category of "fit." Applications in general became much more involved and intrusive. 

For instance, beginning in 1919, Columbia required prospective students to complete an eight-page form, submit a photo, list their mother’s maiden name, and provide information about their religious background. Even standardized tests could be used to screen students by cultural background. Early entrance exams were heavily biased toward American customs and colloquialisms, putting first-generation immigrants at a disadvantage.

In the wake of World War II, the passage of the GI Bill created a surge in demand for higher education across the country. Between 1950 and 1970, enrollment in colleges and universities in the U.S. nearly quadrupled. 

Although public and private universities expanded in response, they still came under new pressures to bolster selective criteria that would allow them to limit the growth of their student bodies. To ensure spots for students long considered the natural recipients of higher education — especially white, middle-class, Protestant men — private colleges continued to use quotas and other forms of preference such as legacy status to effectively limit the numbers of Jewish students, people of color, and women admitted. Meanwhile, admissions were far from need blind; applying for a scholarship could damage your chance of acceptance.

Public universities like the University of California, Berkeley charted a different course. In the post-war period, the UC system admitted all students who met basic requirements — graduation from an accredited high school along with a principal's recommendation, acceptance by exam, or completion of an Associate’s degree. But public universities now also faced more demand than they could accommodate. Indeed, the 1960s California Master Plan for Higher Education acknowledged that state universities, too, might well have to introduce a selective process for choosing applicants in the face of expanded access across much wider class, geographic, and ethnic backgrounds. 

By the 1960s, a selective application process became common across major private and public universities. But the social movements of the 1960s and 70s forced private universities to drop their formal practices of discrimination and changed the use of personal essays and other qualitative metrics of evaluation in the process. 

For the first time, in the 1960s, admissions officers at historically white and Protestant universities acknowledged that applicants’ academic profiles were deeply shaped by the opportunities — educational, economic, and cultural — available to them, and that these in turn were shaped by students’ race, ethnicity, and sex. 

While special considerations about background had once been used to systematically exclude minorities, in the 1960s they were invoked for the first time to do the opposite, albeit with some striking limitations. 

By looking at applicants from a comprehensive standpoint, which included these markers of identity, even the most selective private universities made major strides in achieving racial diversity in this period. They also dropped quotas and began to admit women on an equal basis with men. Class diversity, however, was another matter — to this day private universities continue to be comparatively socio-economically homogenous despite meaningful shifts in other areas. 

Since the 1970s, the admissions system has only grown increasingly competitive, with more students than ever before applying to college. That forced universities to choose between strong applicants while building their own brands and competitive profiles. This competitive environment has turned the college application essay into a particularly important vehicle in the admissions process for learning about students’ backgrounds and human qualities.

Read More: How the End of Affirmative Action Could Affect the College Admissions Process

In 1975, a small group of mostly East Coast colleges came together to form the Common App — today used by more than 1,000 universities. The Common App led the way in formulating what we now think of as the personal statement, aimed at understanding the inner world of each student.

For more than 50 years now, universities both private and public have evaluated essays for a range of qualities including leadership capacity, creativity, service to the community, and ability to overcome hardship, as part of their admissions decisions. The kinds of questions universities ask, the qualities they seek, and the responses they receive have changed many times and have been shaped by the cultural trends of our times. 

In 2021 for example, following the spread of a global pandemic, the Common App introduced a question about gratitude for the first time. And while the prompts remained unchanged following the 2023 Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. (SFFA) v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina , which formally excluded race as a factor in admissions, universities began to read them for the role of race, ethnicity, and other identities in students’ profiles. In these and many other ways, the essay has only gained value as a way for students to explain the important ways their experiences and identities have shaped their academic profiles.

Still, there have been calls to eliminate the college essay from admissions requirements from both the right and the left, as either frivolously inclusive, or potentially exclusionary. Now, at a time when there are major political constraints on supporting diversity and inclusion at the national level, personal essays give admissions committees important flexibility. They also allow colleges to evaluate students for underrated but essential intellectual and personal qualities hard to observe elsewhere, including the capacity for growth, self-reflection, and awareness of the world around them. 

The history of modern admissions shows how institutions of higher education have sought to engineer their classes, often reinforcing harmful racial, class, and gender hierarchies. There is little objectivity in the metric of “fit” that has shaped American admissions practices. But the Civil Rights era has had a powerful and long-lasting legacy in broadening access through an assessment of applicants that is attentive to identity. However flawed the system, the essay offers something no other metric can: an account of a student’s lived experience, in their own words.

Sarah Stoller is a writer and historian. She also tutors college essay writing.

Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here . Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors .

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Write to Sarah Stoller / Made by History at [email protected]

5 Books About The College Application Process To Read This Summer

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Cornell University

In the increasingly competitive landscape of top college admissions, strategy and preparation are critical for crafting a standout application. The process of planning high school coursework, selecting extracurriculars, writing essays, and navigating financial aid can be overwhelming and stressful and even take a toll on the relationship between students and their parents. However, with the right resources, families can recover the joy and excitement that comes with entering this new phase of a student’s journey.

Whether a student is preparing to start their freshman or senior year in the fall, summer is an optimal time for students and their families to educate themselves about the college admissions process. If you’re lounging poolside or passing time on a flight, bring along the following books for engaging and instructive perspectives on the college admissions process:

1. The Truth about College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together , Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark

In The Truth about College Admission , Brennan Barnard, a college counselor, and Rick Clark, the director of undergraduate admissions at Georgia Tech, provide a refreshing and honest look at the college application process. The book emphasizes maintaining family harmony and reducing stress while navigating the complexities of college admissions. With a focus on fostering open communication and realistic expectations, Barnard and Clark offer invaluable insights for both students and their families. For those who are hungry for more information, the authors also host a podcast of the same name, bringing together expert guests to share their insights on the college admissions process.

2. The Exceptional Applicant: For College Admission, You Don't Have to Be Perfect, You Just Have to Be Original , Deborah Bedor

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Deborah Bedor’s The Exceptional Applicant is a strategic guide aimed at high-achieving students aspiring to join the ranks at Ivy League and other top universities. A seasoned college admissions consultant, Bedor offers targeted insights to help students in every stage of the process develop an admissions strategy and craft an original and compelling profile—the book covers everything from selecting extracurricular activities to writing compelling essays and preparing for interviews. Bedor's insights are particularly valuable for students seeking to articulate their unique voice and perspective in an increasingly competitive admissions landscape.

3. Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions , Jeffrey Selingo

In Who Gets In and Why , journalist Jeffrey Selingo takes readers behind the college admissions curtain at Emory University, Davidson College, and the University of Washington to reveal insights into the secrets and nuances of the admissions process. Through meticulous reporting and interviews with admissions officers, Selingo reveals the strategies and decisions that admissions committees use to shape each incoming class. The book provides a nuanced understanding of what colleges are looking for in applicants and offers practical advice for students aiming to stand out. Selingo’s articulation of admissions officers’ processes makes this book an eye-opening read for students and parents embarking upon the college admissions process.

4. On Writing the College Application Essay: The Key to Acceptance at the College of Your Choice , Harry Bauld

Harry Bauld’s On Writing the College Application Essay is a classic guide that has helped countless students craft essays that stand out in the decades since its original publication in 1987. A former admissions officer at Brown and Columbia, Bauld provides an insider’s perspective on what makes an essay memorable. The book offers practical tips on brainstorming, writing, and revising essays, as well as avoiding common pitfalls. Bauld’s lighthearted and engaging style makes this a must-read for any student facing the daunting task of writing their college application essays this summer.

5. Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania , Frank Bruni

For families seeking an alternative to the frenzied culture of college admissions preparation, The New York Times columnist Frank Bruni offers a more nuanced approach to the process, challenging the conventional wisdom that a person's future success is determined by the prestige of the college they attend. In Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be , Bruni argues that the obsession with elite institutions is misplaced and that students can achieve success and fulfillment at a wide range of schools. The New York Times states of Bruni’s book: “He doesn’t deny the networking value of attending a prestigious college — especially for those with the dubious dream of working on Wall Street — but he knows that this value is overstated, that the exhilaration of winning the prize is often a prelude to exhaustion, and that on every elite college campus the mental-health services are overstretched.” This thought-provoking book provides a much-needed perspective to free students and parents caught up in the “mania” of college admissions—or to save them from getting caught up in it in the first place.

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