Stanford University needs no introduction. As one of America’s most elite schools, its name precedes it. Located in the aptly named Stanford, California, the university is a NorCal favorite with exceptional academics, a sprawling suburban campus, and a reputation for innovation. Stanford is among the most competitive schools in America. Hopeful students need to have an airtight application and a great plan. If you are serious about Stanford, part of that plan will most likely include applying through their Restrictive Early Action option.
What is REA?
Restrictive Early Action, usually shortened to REA, is a non-binding admissions round. While the name suggests it is an early action program, it differs slightly from the more traditional EA. If you are applying to Stanford REA, you cannot apply to any other private university or college early. You can apply to public schools, but Stanford needs to be the only private school you apply to before the regular decision/ED2 rounds. EA can be a powerful tool in crafting a strategic application plan, and we don’t love that REA effectively takes it off the table. This is a pretty big disadvantage and why we greatly prefer when schools have an ED option instead of a REA.
Otherwise, REA functions like many other early application plans, you need to apply by November 1st, and you will know by mid-December if you have been accepted or not. No matter their decision, you are free to apply to other schools during the RD round.
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Why Should I Apply REA?
Last year, Stanford’s overall acceptance rate was just 3.6%. Applying REA shows that Stanford is your top school and you are serious about applying. You need to use REA to your advantage. There is also a benefit when it comes to timing. If you get in during REA, you don’t have to stress out about admissions in the springtime, which is valuable.
All this comes with one big caveat, you should only apply during REA if you are a Stanford-level candidate. With a sub-4% acceptance rate, there is no way to sneak into Stanford. REA can help your odds, but only if you are an exemplary applicant. But how do you know if you are a Stanford-level applicant? Let’s break it down.
What Can You Do?
Stanford is looking for excellence. Becoming a top candidate doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of work and commitment to be the kind of candidate that Stanford is looking for. We often work with students starting their freshman year to ensure they are the kind of applicant that Stanford is looking for. This isn’t something you can decide to become in your junior year. Whether you have been working with a counselor or not, you must excel in several key categories.
Grades
This may seem obvious, but it bears repeating: You will need excellent grades to get into Stanford. Last year, 73.3% of students who were accepted to Stanford had a 4.0 unweighted GPA, and 97.8% of admits were in the top 10% of their graduating class. If you don’t have perfect grades, Stanford might not be the school for you. It is a lot to ask for perfection, but it's necessary when looking at Stanford. Stanford wants applicants who take on difficult classes and still have a 4.0. It is an essential part of their admissions process.
Scores
For the 2025-2026 application cycle, Stanford is getting rid of its test-optional policy. This means that to apply to Stanford, you need to submit SAT or ACT scores going forward, and they need to be great. Last year, around 69% of admitted students submitted scores. The 50th percentile of students either received a 1540 on the SAT or a 35 on the ACT. Your scores need to be similar, if not higher, if you want to be a competitive candidate.
Extracurriculars
To have a great extracurricular resume, generally being involved in activities isn’t enough. Your resume needs to tell a story. When a student comes to us (especially those we start working with during their freshman or sophomore year), the first thing we do is strategize a road map for their extracurricular pursuits. It is essential to craft a narrative that will impress a school like Stanford, and this story needs to center on what you hope to study in college.
It should be obvious what you want to study by looking at your activities. For example, if you plan to study political science, you can’t just take AP history and call it a day. Your resume should include volunteering on a campaign, interning for your congressperson, being the president of your school’s ranked Model UN team, a summer program at a university in Poli Sci, doing research with a professor and having it published, and/or working at your city hall. You need a history of leadership, commitment, and academic curiosity outside of class to be the kind of student who gets into Stanford. The earlier you can start on a strategic extracurricular plan, the better.
Essays
While crafting a great resume takes years of perseverance and hard work, you can only really start working on your essays during the summer after junior year. Every year, we help students craft creative and stand-out Common App essays and impressive supplemental essays.
Stanford has a long application and usually asks for multiple supplemental essays. This can feel like a lot to take on, but we like to think of it as an opportunity to stand out through your writing. Stanford challenges students with insightful questions that not only test their writing skills, but also how they think and their personality.
Many of the questions they tend to ask are short, which actually makes them more challenging. It might be hard to communicate “What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?” in 50 words, but they are trying to see if you can rise to the challenge of writing impactfully and succinctly.
You must also show your academic curiosity and love of learning in your essays without feeling one-note. You need to convey different facets of your personality while still telling a streamlined and interesting story. If done right, this supplement comes together to paint a flattering and insightful picture that is more than the sum of its parts. Writing like this takes time, skills, and editing. If you are worried about your writing skills, we highly suggest working with a counselor; this is a hard supplement to get right. However, if done correctly, it can help your application stand out from a crowded field.
Apply Early
If you are a qualified applicant, applying to REA shows that Stanford is your top school and that you are committed to attending. If you are still unsure, reach out; we can help you make the right decision about applying REA.
Work With Us
Getting into Stanford is challenging, but working with a dedicated counselor greatly improves your odds. We get students into Stanford every year, and the earlier students start working with us, the better their outcomes. You can’t become a Stanford-level candidate overnight. We often work with students for years to make sure they are what Stanford is looking for; however, whether you are looking for strategic planning, essay help, or last-minute advice, we can help you to be the strongest candidate you can be. Navigating admissions at top schools is extremely difficult; let us help with our proven methods and experienced team of admissions counselors.
Stanford is a dream school to many for a reason. While it is one of the hardest schools in the nation to get into, you can do it as long as you have a strategy and are ready to put in the work. Applying REA can help, but it is part of a bigger picture. It is never too early to start becoming a Stanford-level candidate!
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