Stanford is an iconic California private research university. Located in Stanford, CA, the school is only a couple of CalTrain stops away from the heart of Silicon Valley. It isn’t surprising that Stanford has an extremely popular Engineering program. While Stanford doesn’t make students apply directly into the engineering school (they just ask about academic interests on the application), if you hope to get into Stanford, you need to be a highly competitive applicant. Last year, their acceptance rate was only 3.6%, making them one of the hardest schools to get into in the country. You need to be a top candidate, especially when interested in popular STEM majors, but how? We have a couple of steps you need to take to make sure you are the kind of candidate Stanford is looking for.
Get the Grades
Last year, 73.3% of accepted (and enrolled) students had a 4.0 unweighted GPA. You need a 4.0 or extremely close to it to even be considered for Stanford. We know perfection is a lot to ask for, but you really need it when it comes to grades. However, a 4.0 is only the start; your transcript should also be filled with challenging courses. You need to take as many Honors, IB, AP, Accelerated, and/or Dual Enrollment classes as possible while still maintaining a high GPA. For engineers, taking the most challenging math and science classes available to you is the bare minimum.
Stanford was test optional for the last few application cycles; however, starting in the fall of 2025, you won’t only need great grades, you will also need to submit outstanding scores. Last year, only around 69% of applicants submitted scores, so take these with a grain of salt. However, the 50th percentile was 1,540 on the SAT or 35 on the ACT. You should be submitting similar or, really ideally, better scores.
Build a Niche
Stanford is looking for students who are already seriously invested in their academic interests. Having a history of involvement and exploration in a specific academic area is what we like to call an academic niche. The more specific, the better. Engineering is a big field, and a hopeful biomedical engineer is far different from a computer scientist. Your resume needs to be clear and tailored to your specific academic pursuit. Being an expert in your niche will impress Stanford; however, you will need to take a couple of steps to establish yourself.
Courses and Reading
The first step you need to take is simply learning as much as you can about what you hope to study. Exploring your academic interests outside of class is essential; we suggest starting by reading books. We know it sounds simple, but you would be surprised how many students don’t read books outside of class. You don’t need to be an English major to read, and there are a lot of great books about STEM subjects. Make yourself a reading list. Trust us, it will make you so much better at talking and writing about your interests. You can also supplement your lists with podcasts, scientific journals, or anything else that helps you explore your field, but it should 100% also have books on it.
Another great resource is online classes. Many universities offer pre-taped (often free) courses through third parties like Coursera. These can be a great way to learn more about your interests and explore topics you hope to pursue further in college. Push yourself further by looking for University summer programs or community college courses. Building a history of taking classes outside of school is an excellent start for Stanford.
School Extracurriculars
You need to be involved in your school community. However, this should be strategic. Your application should tell a story, and joining random clubs muddles this. When looking for in-school clubs, you should prioritize ones that help build your niche. Depending on precisely what you want to study in the field of engineering, popular clubs include robotics teams, science Olympiads, mathletes, STEM tutoring clubs, solar car teams, computer science societies, etc.. If your school doesn’t offer STEM-based clubs, consider starting your own.
However, just signing up isn’t enough. You need to commit to your extracurriculars. Be ready to spend time and effort on them. Ideally, you should also take on leadership roles in these extracurriculars. Trust us, Stanford won’t be impressed with a one-hour commitment to the robotics club as a member. A 6-hour a week commitment as a Co-Captain looks a lot better. Ask yourself, “Is there a way I can do even more?”
Out of School Extracurriculars
While school clubs are great, you will need more to be competitive at Stanford. We love it if students tutor STEM subjects or volunteer at a repair cafe all year round, but your summers need to especially be impressive. Having a strategic summer is essential. We routinely work with even freshmen to make sure their summers are helping build a dynamic resume. There are many excellent opportunities out there for hopeful engineers; however, Stanford-level applicants will likely have research, internships, and academic summer programs as part of their summers.
Just like your in-school activities, your summer extracurriculars should connect to your niche. Summer classes should expand your engineering knowledge. Internships should be at tech-related companies, science museums, manufacturing shops, etc. Summer jobs can be at science camps or tech-related roles. Research can be with local professors or personal projects, but it should connect to your interests. Remember, your activities tell a story; your summers should build on that story directly. Making a truly strategic summer plan isn’t easy. If you need help, reach out. We have you covered.
Build Something Cool
Engineering requires hands-on skills from computer programming to soldering. You can show that you have these skills by building something cool. We have worked with students who have built computers, drones, apps, solar energy systems, and much more. Challenge yourself to use your skills or even better, take on a project that requires you to learn some more. The sky is the limit here. Building something you would be proud to tell Stanford about.
Apply Early
While Stanford has a Restrictive Early Action application option, annoyingly, they do not release an early action acceptance rate. However, we still recommend applying early if Stanford is your top choice and you are a qualified candidate. It shows the school that you are serious, and with a school as competitive as Stanford, you need to set yourself apart anyway you can. You need a plan when it comes to applying to college, and a strategic early action plan is part of that.
Stanford is an incredibly competitive school. You need to make sure you are crafting an application that meets their high standards. This can’t happen overnight. You need to be working towards this goal for all four years of high school. Whether you are a rising freshman or a rising senior, we can help you with all things college (Stanford and beyond!)
Reach out today!