How To Get Into Stanford: Crafting A Successful Application

Stanford University is renowned for the key role that the school, its faculty, and alumni have played in the emergence and development of Silicon Valley—the hub for tech giants like Google, Yahoo!, Hewlett-Packard, Netflix, Instagram, and hundreds more tech start-ups. 

One of the top schools in the nation, Stanford ranks fourth among all U.S. colleges—ahead of most Ivies (except Princeton & Harvard). Though not an Ivy League University, Stanford is still a very select school, what we call “Ivy-adjacent.”

Given Stanford University’s legacy and ongoing commitment to supporting technological innovation and start-ups, you might expect that the way to stand out among the 50,000-plus applications that Stanford receives each year is to present like a next-generation tech CEO.

And, sure, that could be one way to do it. But understand that what Stanford considers “entrepreneurial" is more nuanced than that. It’s less about, say, having a business plan and more about a particular way of seeing the world around you. 

As a Crimson Strategist, Chung works one on one with students on their college application journey. Students who have worked with Crimson Education experts and strategists have been accepted to top colleges at a rate more than 4.5 times that of other applicants. While the general admission rate at Stanford is 4%, the Crimson rate is 12%!

In his career, Chung has reviewed more than 8,000 applications. So we asked him for exclusive insights on what Stanford University is looking for.

How hard is it to get into Stanford University?

There’s no doubt about it, getting into Stanford is extremely competitive. The University receives far more applications each year than it can accept.

To get into Stanford, high achievement in academics is a given. You will be expected to have taken challenging coursework, received high marks, and have one of the highest grade point averages among students in your school.

It is a challenge to get in, especially recently. “Stanford already had very low acceptance rates—and every year their acceptance rates get lower and lower,” says Chung.

Stanford’s Common data set shows that for the 2024-25 school year, the University received 57,326 applications and admitted 2,067 students—an overall acceptance rate of approximately 3.6%. Below is the updated breakdown by gender:

It’s not that Stanford is accepting far fewer students each year; it’s that the school has been receiving so many applications—especially since it went test-optional. 

The number of applications the school receives may taper off in coming years, as Stanford will be reinstating testing starting with applications in fall 2025. “If they reinstate testing as a requirement I think applications will normalize out a bit, just like they did at MIT a couple years ago,” says Chung.

Academic Requirements

As with most top colleges, Stanford looks for academic rigor in applications. But they will be taking a close look at how you rank among your peers at school. The admissions committee will be looking at what courses were available to you, how far you went to pursue knowledge in your area of interest, and how well you performed compared to other students in your school who had the same academic offerings and support as you.

Stanford University does not state required courses for admission, but at minimum the following will ensure that you are well-prepared.

That’s not to say there are no outliers. But exceptions have to be, well… exceptional.

If a student’s story is exceptional, they will need to demonstrate that in their extracurriculars and tell about it in their essays.

“Maybe they made a choice to give up something to then supercharge another area of their transcript,” explains Chung.

“And nowadays there are actually many ways beyond the transcript that are still academic elements that can feed into a student's academic review. It could be research and extracurriculars, for example, extra classes they’re taking for credit during the summer, or a host of other things. So all those are taken together to create an academic overview of a student—beyond just a transcript. But they still have to be strong overall, relative to their class.”

What GPA do you need for Stanford?

There is no grade point average (GPA) requirement at Stanford University. However, data from Stanford’s 2024–2025 Common Data Set shows that the vast majority of admitted students had GPAs at or near the top of their class.

In fact, 73.3% of enrolled first-year students reported a 4.0, and another 16.5% had GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99. Based on these numbers, we recommend aiming for at least a 4.0 or placing yourself among the top academic performers in your high school.

As former Stanford admissions officer Daniel Chung explains, “It’s all looked at in the context of a student's individual high school,” meaning Stanford wants to see that you stand out academically among your peers.

Below is a simplified version of the GPA breakdown for Stanford’s enrolled first-year class:

What SAT/ACT scores do you need for Stanford?

Stanford has been test-optional since the onset of the pandemic, but they plan to require standardized test scores again for applicants to the Class of 2030 and beyond. While this can be good news for those who test well, remember that your score is evaluated in the context of your high school and overall application profile.

According to the most recent data from Stanford’s Common Data Set, the 25th–75th percentile ranges for admitted students who submitted scores are:

• SAT Composite: 1510–1570
• ACT Composite: 34–35

To maximize your chances of standing out, aim for at least the 75th percentile—around 1570 on the SAT or 35 on the ACT.

Keep in mind that strong test scores alone won’t guarantee acceptance, but they can significantly strengthen an already competitive application.

Crimson Education strategists always advise taking standardized tests, even in test-optional situations. You will want to see how well you perform, then submit test scores if you do well. It can’t hurt and it might help. 

Standardized test scores can be especially helpful for international students or for anyone applying from a school with a curriculum that’s non-standard to the U.S. Because it can be one more thing that an admissions team can consider that assures them that you’re well prepared.

What should you write your Stanford Essays about?

When approaching Stanford’s essay prompts, students often wonder about picking the perfect topic. Chung, emphasizes that no topic is inherently better than another.

Instead, Stanford admissions officers are looking to see whether you've genuinely engaged with the subject and revealed something meaningful about yourself.

Chung explains, “I've seen probably every topic under the sun. Any topic is fine, but I like to think of it on a sliding scale: the more risky or controversial the topic, the higher the bar. If your topic is unfamiliar, you might end up spending half your essay just explaining it, leaving less room to actually reveal who you are.”

Controversial topics can be impactful—but there's a risk of alienating readers. Rather than seeking out provocative subjects, Chung advises students to:

• Trust your instincts: Your first ideas often reflect genuine, personal insights.
• Prioritize authenticity: Focus on topics you genuinely care about rather than trying to impress.
• Showcase self-awareness: Stanford values students who reflect deeply and thoughtfully on their experiences.

Remember, Stanford isn't evaluating your essay topic itself—they’re assessing how you bring yourself authentically and thoughtfully to your writing.

What extracurriculars help you get into Stanford?

When considering extracurricular activities, Stanford looks beyond achievements and accolades—they want a sense of who you truly are. Chung emphasizes the importance of personality and potential, not just accomplishments:

"At Stanford, committees often advocate for students based on who they are as people rather than solely on their accomplishments. Stanford particularly values potential—that unrealized gain in someone's life, beyond what they've already done as a 17-year-old."

Stanford appreciates students who genuinely explore their interests—even if it means occasionally failing. Chung explains, “Students who try things, maybe fail at them, but genuinely put in their best effort—these are the profiles commonly seen among successful Stanford admits.”

Extracurriculars don't need to be traditionally impressive, like startups or inventions—although those can certainly help. Unique personal initiatives also stand out. Chung recalls a memorable example:

Key Tips for Stanford Extracurriculars:

• Prioritize authenticity and showcase your true personality.
• Highlight your ability to take risks, even if that means experiencing setbacks.
• Remember, non-traditional, creative activities can be just as impactful as conventional achievements.

Ultimately, Stanford admissions officers want to understand who you are, not just what you've done—so let your personality and potential guide your extracurricular choices.

Stanford University’s Application Deadlines

Stanford University’s Early Action deadline is typically around November 1st, and applicants will hear back by mid-December.

The Regular Decision deadline is around January 5th. Those applicants will be notified by early April and have until May 1st to either accept or decline.

How to increase your chances of getting into Stanford University?

Coursework, grades, and GPA are all important, but they’re not the only things that the Stanford admissions team is looking for. They will also be looking at your extracurriculars and your essays, to determine if you’re a good fit.

1. Apply Early

One proven way to increase your chances of being accepted at Stanford is through applying Early Action, where the acceptance rate is generally higher than regular decision.

But it's not without risks. “You can only do it at one U.S. school, so it's quite restrictive. But it can increase your chances 2-4 times of potentially getting in,” says Chung.

2. Emphasize your personality and fit

Your essays are a key opportunity to tell your story and to show what a good fit you are for Stanford. So take the time to craft your story and reveal the real you.

Write authentically and from the heart. And don’t mistake controversy for authenticity.

“The more risky or controversial or unique the topic, the higher the bar,” Chung says. “You're going to spend half your essay just explaining what it is. We're trying to get to know the students, so you want to leave room for that.”

Chung advises starting to keep a “potential topics” list early on, adding to it as ideas occur to you, then giving your earliest ideas very strong consideration when it comes time to start writing. “Oftentimes that first group of topics is really well-aligned with their instincts,” he says.

Even the smallest write-ins on your application are important.

“Just because a section only allows you one to two sentences doesn't mean you should neglect it,” cautions Chung. “It could actually be an amazing opportunity to show off your skill with writing or even your personality.”

3. Demonstrate impact

Another way to put your best self forward is to describe the impact that you’ve had on your community. This is a common bit of advice when it comes to college applications. Just don’t confuse being influential with being impactful.

Many students show “impactfulness” by volunteering on a research or academic project—especially something fun and personality-driven. And that can be one way to do it. Just be sure that your plan is well-focused so that in the end you are able to clearly describe a process, challenges, and outcomes.

“There needs to be some level of focus,” says Chung, “a critical mass of time needed to develop something at a high level in order to influence people, work through problems, figure things out, come up with new solutions. I think students who try and do too much can end up losing in the process.”

He suggests first doing a self assessment that will help you think critically about what drives you and makes you happy. Hone in on one or more activities around that, and make it your main focus.

4. Show entrepreneurial spirit

You likely have expectations about the entrepreneurial environment of Stanford, given the school’s location and legacy. And innovation can certainly be a personal differentiator! But be careful not to translate entrepreneurship as competitiveness in order to show you’re a good fit. That’s not what the school is looking for.

“Most of the students applying are of course very very well-qualified and self-assured,” says Chung. “Maybe they're just not the right personality fit. So, for example, they're more competitive—which, there's nothing wrong with that; some students are driven that way—instead of collaborative, which is much more a hallmark of the Stanford culture.”

Again, you don’t have to start a business to show impact or to demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit. “Certainly traditional stuff like start-ups and inventions are in the mix,” says Chung, “although none of these are required.“

5. Emphasize collaborative over competitive

There are many creative ways to show your impact on a community. That community can even be your school or peers. Chung recalls a student who started an “Is It Cake?” Club. Members of the club would watch the Netflix show “Is It Cake together. Then they’d bring a couple dozen cupcakes to share each Friday, as a way to create a less stressful environment at their very stressful, academically competitive high school.

“We loved seeing that little element of their personality shine through,” says Chung, “because that was very different from what was normally done at that particular high school, where everybody said ‘if you're watching TV you're wasting your time—you have to be studying studying studying.’”

Final Thoughts

Navigating Stanford's admissions can be challenging—but you don't have to do it alone. Crimson Education has helped students get accepted to Stanford at a rate more than 3x the average applicant. Connect with a Crimson Strategist today to receive personalized guidance on your extracurriculars, essays, academics, and more.

Book your free consultation to start your Stanford success story now!

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Join our free webinars on US university applications
• Free eBooks and guides to help with the college application process
• Stanford University Profile
• How to get into Ivy League Schools
• How to answer Stanford’s Supplemental Essay Prompts