Stanford University. It’s a school so prestigious that just its name may as well constitute a complete sentence. Yes, it is an Ivy League equivalent, but it stands alone as one of the best schools in the world. Located in Stanford, California with an undergraduate student body of a little over 7,000. Stanford stopped publishing their acceptance rate last year, so few people outside of the Office of Admission know precisely how many people get in. What we can say for certain, however, is that the acceptance rate is extraordinarily low. The last reported rate, for the class of 2020, was under 5%. There is no reason to believe it is higher now than it was then. Strap in, folks.
An acceptance rate under 5% is so low that joking that “nobody gets in” rings a little too true to be funny. People do get into Stanford. We know because students we’ve worked with are very happy there. But are you qualified to be one of them?
Great grades and scores aren’t enough. You need an “it” factor. You need to be able to spotlight something that you passionately pursue with a fire that Stanford would stoke, but that you’re not waiting for Stanford to ignite. You need to be the type of person who would be exceptional anywhere (and not just academically), not who is relying on Stanford to make you exceptional.
Short Questions
The Stanford supplement starts with five short prompts. All of the prompts present on the supplement this year were also on the supplement last year, but it is a pared-down list compared to 2019. Instead of 8 short questions, you only have 5 to deal with!
What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 words)
First things first, don’t write about the pandemic, and avoid writing about political division. A lot of people are going to write about the pandemic and the election, and you don’t want your supplement — even a short one — to blend into the masses of supplements about disease and disruption.
But even though we’ve ruled out two big things on everyone’s minds, there is still a ton that you can write about for this supplement. Focus on something that links to a primary or secondary area of interest, either related to your potential field of study or another passion, that will be present in your application either in another supplement, essay, or additional information section.
As you write, remember that 50 words isn’t “only fifty words” — it’s FIFTY WORDS! That’s a lot of space if you use it correctly, and you need to paint a picture (albeit briefly) that shows the reader that you didn’t simply pick your topic because you thought it would sound good, but because it truly matters to you.
How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words)
This is a supplement that tons of students mess up. It’s a simple question, so you may be asking “how?” Well, way too many students don’t answer the question. They only write about one summer because, they say, “there isn’t enough space” to write about two or “I didn’t do something interesting X summer.” Neither of those are good reasons. We are huge proponents of non-traditional essays and supplements at TKG, but we are even bigger advocates for answering the question. It is absolutely critical that you address this prompt straightforwardly and answer the question. Highlight one or two things for each summer, very quickly and concisely.
What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words)
We love this prompt because it challenges students to look outside of the stereotypical answers. What qualifies as stereotypical? Well, if you thought of it immediately after reading this question, it is almost certainly stereotypical.
So put your visions of an easy 50 words about a battle or a protest or a march aside and consider what it is that makes something “historical.” Yes, election days and big to-do’s are events, but what about the first time someone ever tasted ice cream? Or the first soccer game? Or the first time a slice of cheese was slapped on a hamburger? Those are historical and they are events, and they are a lot more fun to write about.
Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50 words)
Last year this prompt was 150 words, but now you only have 50! It’s shorter and sweeter, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be telling a story. We like to highlight jobs and family responsibilities wherever possible, but whatever you put here should be long term. Don’t write about volunteering at the soup kitchen if you’ve only done it once.
Focus on something you’ve committed a significant amount of time to, but that also won’t be highlighted elsewhere in your application. Once you’ve picked your focus, identify a moment that you can bring the reader into that highlights the best parts of your experience. Bring your passion to life, even if it’s just in 50 words.
Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (50 words)
Typically, we group these types of prompts in the “Why X school?” bucket — supplements that ask you, the applicant, to tell the readers why, precisely, you want to study at their school. The problem is that you have 50 words, so there isn’t room to follow our typical way of tackling “Why X school?” essays.
Given the space constraints, there are two routes available to you:
Keep with the academic focus, modifying the “why us?” format for an ultra-quick few sentences that include a major, a professor, and a class.
Take a totally different angle and focus on something extracurricular, on campus, or otherwise related to a secondary area of interest. For example, if you are planning on majoring in Biology but have starred in every theater production for the last three years, this could be a good place to feature that alongside spotlighting your knowledge of the theater community on the Stanford campus.
Whatever you do, though, don’t write about pretty trees, fancy classrooms, or nice kids — be specific!
Short Essays
Now you’re through the short supplement forest, you’re on to climb the essay mountain! WAHOO! In all seriousness, though, you’re facing down three 250-word essays that require a lot of focus and even more creativity.
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. (250 words)
By now, you should know that this prompt should be answered with a story — but what story? Well…
95% of responses to this prompt should be based outside of the formal four walls of a classroom. Could it be on a field trip? Sure. We guess so. But we’d really like you to think further outside of the box than that.
95% of responses to this prompt should also have taken place in the last three years (also known as in high school). We say 95% because there are a very small number of exceptions where the story could be grounded in an experience when you were younger, but you need to approach that angle cautiously as you’re aiming to spotlight who you are now, not the great challenges you faced and discoveries you made in the 4th grade.
Finally, 100% of responses to this prompt need to drip with passion and enthusiasm. Tell the reader a story that takes them into your passion alongside you.
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. (250 words)
While this prompt says to “write a note,” we prefer to read it as “write a letter.” That’s a formal letter, complete with a salutation. What is included in the letter, however, should be more relaxed. Focus on something fun that you can share with your imagined future roommate. Favorite foods, activities, and hobbies are winners, as are cultural traditions. And remember, ‘culture’ doesn’t just mean ethnicity. There are regional cultures with their own unique customs and foods that are tons of fun to write about. Maybe a student from Portland might order Voodoo Donuts once a month, or a student from the southwest may make a mean green chili.
Even more important than making their mouth water, though, is being vulnerable. You are embarking on a new experience that will, at times, be overwhelming. It’s ok to say you’ll be bringing your favorite stuffed animal, will be having a weekly Zoom call with your siblings, or will really really miss your dog. You’re a teenager. Be one.
Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (250 words)
Yes, this supplement does sound a lot like the first short essay. However, it is not the same. There is a huge difference between sharing something you are curious about and revealing something that is meaningful to you. Where your curiosity essay needed to ooze passion, this one needs to be completely imbued with earnestness.
Keep this simple, though, and pick something small. For example, don’t write about how you find community service meaningful. Write about a specific aspect of a specific organization that you have a long-term relationship with. If you foster kittens for a shelter 1) you are our hero and 2) you could write about a specific kitten or litter you’ve worked with, but don’t spend your entire piece writing about the shelter system more broadly.
Getting into Stanford is very hard. Extremely hard. Nearly impossibly hard. Grades and scores aren’t enough and wanting to go there isn’t a qualification for doing so. You need to ace these supplements, and that means giving them the time and energy they require. You’re not going to get this right on the first try. It’s going to take time.
If you could use some help navigating the mountain of supplements between you and pressing “submit” in November, send us an email. We help students make sense of the college process.