It is every student’s dream to study in a reputable and well-recognized institution such as Stanford University.
Though, the record has it that a very high percentage of students who put in for such schools end up staying back at home. This is a result of their inability to secure admission due to various criteria such as Stanford university acceptance rate, Low GPA, and so on.
It is an honor to bag a degree in a higher institution of high standards. This prompts students from all over the world to apply to Stanford University every year, with the hope that they will be given admission. As it could be very tough getting admitted to Stanford, it is essential for prospective students to know what to anticipate.
Thus, In this read, you’ll discover a step-by-step approach on how to gain admission to Stanford University. Also, the prerequisite for admission, and some useful hints at standing a better chance for admission.
Why Attend Stanford University?
Stanford University is situated in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley. It is home to cut-edge tech companies such as Yahoo, and Hewlett-Packard, among others, founded and led by Stanford alumni and faculty.
Students compete in 36 varsity sports at a Division 1 level. Stanford is noted for its entrepreneurship. It is also one of the most successful universities in attracting funding for startups.
Rated #6 in National Universities and Best College for veterans and #13 in Best undergraduate in teaching. Stanford, despite being a private institution boasts of a very affordable tuition fee of $56,169 while 53% of full-time undergraduates receive some financial aid.
How To Get Into Stanford: A Complete Step-by-step Guide
Stanford is enlisting a student group from around the world. The dealings among students with various backgrounds and experiences establish an active environment. Application for admission into Stanford for both resident and international students is the same. The following are the steps to take:
- Obtain a Coalition or Common Application
- Pay a $90 nonrefundable application fee or fee waiver request
- Submit your ACT or SAT scores
- Tender your School Report and counselor letter of recommendation
- Submit an official transcript(s) or academic results
- Attach Letters of recommendation from two teachers
- Send in your Midyear transcript (by February 15)
After filling out the Coalition Application and you’ve added Stanford to your list of universities, you will gain access to Stanford questions. These questions are additional ones as part of your application which you are to answer.
After submitting your application
- You will receive an acknowledgment email once your application has been processed. Double-check that your email address is valid to ensure you receive all correspondence.
- Check your Stanford portal regularly to track the receipt of all required materials.
- Add admission@stanford.edu to your email address book or safe senders list.
- If you attend high school in an Interview Area, an alumni volunteer may invite you by email to participate in an optional interview.
Writing An Essay
You will also select one of the Common or Coalition Application essay prompts and write on it. Stanford University has three particular short essay questions outlined on its website, and you are to answer all three.
Take your time to answer the essays and go through every detail. Starting in time will enable you to seek other people’s reviews on your essays and your application before submission. This will help you avoid making errors or leaving out critical details.
When you are satisfied with your application, you must submit it before the deadline. The degrees you are applying for will not fit in them until after your admission.
International Student Visa Application
International applicants will receive notification relating to the student visa application process if given admission to Stanford. See our article on how to acquire a student visa.
List Of Required Courses
Though, there is no particular list of required courses that you must put up with to apply for admission. Stanford University understands that the curricular preferences differ from one high school to another. However, It suggests that you take the following sequence of courses to adequately prepare for college:
- Four years of English with an emphasis on writing and literature
- Three or more years of history and social studies
- Four years of Math with an emphasis on fundamental mathematics
- Three or more years of laboratory science courses, including biology, chemistry, and physics
- Three or more years of the same foreign language
Stanford Admission Requirements
You will either take the ACT or the SAT to gain admission into Stanford. Though the school does not choose one test over the other.
Lots of students fail to adequately prepare for the ACT or SAT. This usually turns out to be a very big mistake as Stanford university’s acceptance rate makes the admission very competitive.
Preparation For SAT/ACT
Like other examinations, you should spend quality time in the preparation for these tests. You should start your preparation as early as when you’re still in high school. This could be by engaging in practice tests such as the PreACT and PSAT. Taking part in these Assessments during your freshman or sophomore year can help you in some ways such as:
- First, they will help you know your area of weakness and where you’re stronger. This will enable you to concentrate your preparation plan on strengthening those weak areas while cementing your strengths.
- The second advantage of partaking in these tests is that they will give you hints on the structure of the ACT and SAT, timing, and what might be your expectations.
- Finally, taking the practice tests can enable you to discern which test you’re doing better on. This can help you to determine whether you will sit for the ACT or the SAT as at when due.
Super Score Possibilities
Stanford University revealed that if you have sat for the tests several times, it super scores your SAT or ACT results. This means that the school takes the highest score you have obtained in each subtest from the different times that you have taken them. It then obtains a super score that poses you in the best light.
Thus, a very good reason for you to take the ACT or SAT several times, from your junior and on to your senior year if needed.
What is Stanford University Acceptance Rate For 2023?
For the class of 2023, Stanford recorded a total of 47451 undergraduate applications. It conducted matriculation exercises for just 1706 out of 2071 admitted to the university. These figures imply that Stanford University’s acceptance rate for the class of 2023 was just 4.4%.
The illustration above shows the hard it is to get accepted at Stanford. You will have to start preparing as early as possible. Also, work to develop your talents if you want to become a student at Stanford University.
Stanford records that the admitted freshmen class of 2023 had the following scores at the 25th and 75th percentiles of the SAT and ACT respectively:
Stanford SAT Requirement
- Math – 720 at the 25th percentile
- EBRW – 700 at the 25th percentile
- Math – 800 at the 75th percentile
- EBRW – 770 at the 75th percentile
The 25th percentile SAT score of admitted students is the addition of Math and EBRW which is as high as 1420 on the SAT. This implies that a large number (75%) of Stanford students got above these scores.
Meanwhile, the 75th percentile for Stanford is currently 1570 from the addition of the Math and EBRW on the SAT. If you score above these, you can assume that your test grades are enough since the SAT (Math + EBRW) score for Stanford has a total possible score of 1,600.
Stanford Average ACT
- ACT Composite – 32 at the 25th percentile
- ACT Composite – 35 at the 75th percentile
The ACT spans from 1 to 36. The recorded statistics for the entering class of 2023 indicate that you must strive to score as high as possible on the ACT or SAT.
What GPA Do You Need To Get Into Stanford?
You need a nearly perfect grade to get into Stanford. Stanford reveals that 58% of the class of 2020 applicants had GPAs of 4.0 and above with an admission rate of 6%. This serves as a hint on the type of GPA you should struggle for in high school.
And the students with a 4.0 GPA or above constitute 75% of the admitted class of entering freshmen. In terms of high school rank, 78% of those applicants were top 10% in their classes with a 5% acceptance rate. Thus, most of the applicants to Stanford University have at least a 4.0 GPA.
Engage A Tutor
From the foregoing, it is discovered that the Stanford university acceptance rate compared to the number of applicants per year is very low. Hence, if you are struggling at the beginning of a class, it is advisable to seek help as soon as possible.
Engaging a tutor can go a long way to help you to acquire a better understanding of the course and develop an interest that you didn’t have before. In as much as you are ready to put in the work, a coach might assist you in earning an A. See the effective study skills every student should adopt
Engage In Extra-curricular Activities
As previously stated, getting top grades is not sufficient. Many applicants not admitted were among the top 10% of their classes with 4 .0 GPAs and higher. Therefore, you will have to be exceptionally good in one area to get the attention of the admissions officers.
There should be a willingness to seek excellence beyond the four walls of the classroom. Such activities could be partaking in research, competitions, and other extracurricular activities that are accessible to you in high school. Performing this can help you to enlarge your horizon academically and also improve your capabilities so that you can shine.
Competition Helps
Competition is one of the best and completely natural grounds to be ranked in. Now, certainly, the more prominent and notable the competition, the better. The most well-known, difficult, and participant-heavy competitions are the most prestigious.
You should be among the top 1000 of one of the most prestigious competitions than the top 100 in one with lower prestige. This means that you should endeavor to go for the most prestigious competition. This would help portray you in a better light.
Conclusion
As difficult as it is for students to gain admission to Stanford due to the University Acceptance rate. it is a feat to be among the freshmen admitted. This can be possible following the guide given above. which entails having at least a 4.0 GPA, scoring 1420 and above on your SAT, and having an average of 32 out of 36 on your ACT.
FAQs on Stanford Acceptance Rate
Can I gain admission into Stanford if my GPA is not up to 4.0?
Stanford deems GPA, class rank, and the rigor of coursework “very vital” when making admissions decisions. Thus, Stanford applicants need to possess extraordinary grades as admission into the institutions is very competitive. Therefore, it is advisable to look for other schools that will easily consider your GPA for admission.
Are there scholarship opportunities or financial aids at Stanford Uiniversity?
Stanford fulfills the full financial demand of every accepted undergraduate who qualifies for aid. Tuition is taken care of for undergraduates whose family incomes fall under $150,000. Tuition, room, and board are catered for undergraduates from families with incomes below $75,000.
Does Stanford require an interview?
Some applicants to Stanford will be called interviewed though not all.
What does Stanford look for in students?
- Academic excellence: its primary standard for assessing applicants is their academic histories.
- Intellectual vitality: The university also hopes to find students who prove intellectual vigor in all aspects of their lives.
- Extracurricular activities/non-academic interests: it is also interested in your dealings outside of the classroom through your extracurricular involvements and your other quests.
- Context: it examines all parts of your application such as your background, educational opportunities, and so on.
Do I have to apply to a specific degree program or school when I apply to Stanford?
When applying to Stanford, you are applying to the university as a whole. You are not applying to a specific course or school and you are not expected to know what you would like to major in. But, you can put in your intended degree if you know.
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