How to Write the Stanford University Essays

Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall into a trap when answering this question. The first trap is picking an incredibly vast, yet vague issue that sounds a lot like a “Miss America” response (such as world hunger, terrorism, etc.). Another trap is being too nearsighted and writing about an issue that is troubling in your own community but doesn’t resonate with others. It’s important to find the middle ground—talk about an issue that is important to you and tell the reader something about your worldview while demonstrating maturity. Remember you are not asked to talk about a solution, so focus on the issue and why it’s particularly challenging.

The hardest part is narrowing down the most significant challenge from the many options you have. Once you feel as though you’ve come up with a thought-provoking answer, you have a chance—albeit a short one—to express your opinion and defend it.

You may be worried that if you choose to talk about systemic racism in the United States, you’ll seem naive for ignoring the catastrophic effects of climate change. However, this is not the case. Stanford is aware that you don’t have the space to acknowledge other challenges in just 50 words, so the best thing is to accept your limitations and use them to your advantage. This means you don’t need to include any qualifiers like “Society suffers from issues such as … yet I find … to be the single greatest challenge we face.” Take a stance and stick by it. Rather than viewing you as callous towards alternatives, the admissions committee will appreciate your alignment with the specificity and focus they requested.

If you feel that your response is polarizing, keep in mind that that is not necessarily a bad thing. Societal issues are polarizing topics, and even your readers will likely disagree about the single greatest challenge the world faces today. That does not mean that you have free reign to be offensive or off-putting, but don’t be afraid to speak your mind about a meaningful cause that is important to you. Remember that Stanford welcomes and supports a diverse range of opinions, so lean into your experiences, values, and idiosyncrasies, especially if they’re relevant to you on a deeper level. However, it’s likely other applicants will write about a similar challenge, so try to stand out!

America faces the dilemma of achieving equity within a capitalist economic framework. Striking the delicate balance between economic growth and a fair distribution of resources is one of our era’s great dilemmas; achieving an equitable future that is prosperous and sustainable becomes more complex as climate change becomes more severe.

This is a chance for you to elaborate on extracurriculars and give insight into how you spend your time outside of the classroom. The best answers don’t detail entire summers or provide program descriptions. Instead, they feature the few most memorable things an applicant did while away from school. If you had a less structured summer, you should talk about a trip, a friendship, a skill, etc., that has had an impact on who you are.

Last summer, I completed a Duke biomedical engineering program focused on human-centered design. I learned CAD and how to prototype and evaluate concepts using HCD principles. The prior summer, I trained for a marathon, shadowed a Stryker device representative at surgery centers, and studied Spanish at a community college.

Avoid cliches such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence or the moon landing at all costs. The most important element of a standout answer to this prompt is uniqueness. Tell the reader about a time period or event they may not be familiar with and explain why you find it fascinating. This is a chance to show the reader your personality and passions, not that you did your homework. Therefore, it’s best if the event is related to one of your academic interests!

I wish I had witnessed the first successful heart transplant performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in 1967. This historic moment revolutionized medicine by ushering in a new era of organ transplantation, advancing the possibilities of life saving surgeries, and underscoring the potential of medicine to reshape human health and longevity.

One of the greatest advantages of these supplemental essays is that they provide the opportunity to add context and character to the brief entries you listed on the Activities List—or to share something that didn’t make the list. Since you can only choose one activity, however, be decisive and intentional about what you choose to highlight. Select something that adds depth and dynamism to your application and shows admissions committees more of who you are outside of the classroom.

This is a space to talk about a meaningful experience you’ve had or a community you’ve cherished being a part of. It can be the place to elaborate on the part-time job you’ve had throughout high school (any job counts, even if it’s flipping burgers or tutoring kids in your neighborhood). However, feel to get personal and talk about roles and responsibilities you’ve had within your family. Remember, there is space for only 50 words, so be brief but thorough!

During junior fall, I designed a robot that could delicately toss and catch an egg in the same receptacle. This was an intensive challenge that required creativity, precision, and persistence. Successfully completing the project has given me the confidence and inspiration to pursue a career in biomedical design.

Listing these 5 things will grant Stanford a peek into your world and what you cherish, so make your selections by considering the story these things will collectively tell about you. Try your best to be unique with your choices and select items or intangible things that reveal exciting, surprising, unexpected and authentic dimensions of who you are.

This prompt is an opportunity to not only share something about yourself through the things you value, but also to showcase your creativity in your response. The format of this prompt is atypical and open-ended, which provides students with the freedom to interpret the question in their own way. Your response could include something as concrete as a family heirloom you cherish or as abstract as a quality you value in the people you surround yourself with.

My design notebook
An antique telescope gifted by my grandfather
Meditation
Family dinner time
Immersing myself in nature’s beauty

In most cases, students write about an idea or experience that is closely related to their intended field of study. This can work, but it’s not the only way to go about answering this question. In fact, many successful students write about experiences or ideas from one subject that have influenced their thinking or views on another. An interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary or otherwise multifaceted focus can be a winning strategy to demonstrate the nuance of your interests and mindset.

The key here is to demonstrate that you would be a good fit on campus by showing that you see the value in the pursuit of knowledge for knowledge’s sake. Think about what you enjoy learning not because you want to earn a degree or get into a certain profession, but because you simply cannot get enough of the information. Intellectual vitality is an important characteristic at Stanford, so make sure that you underscore your curiosity and authentic drive to discover more about the world around you. Finally, keep in mind that the topic itself is not as important as showing what you have done with the information or idea you discuss.

I can’t help but be filled with excitement and uncertainty when I think about extending the human lifespan through medical progress—a fascination that spans both classical and contemporary history.

In the 20th century, antibiotics revolutionized healthcare, significantly increasing average lifespans by combating previously lethal infections. Similarly, vaccines have curbed the impact of deadly diseases, exemplified by the eradication of smallpox and ongoing efforts against diseases like polio and coronavirus.

In the modern era, scientific strides continue to push boundaries. Gene editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 offer possibilities for combating genetic disorders and age-related illnesses, potentially further extending healthy lifespans.

However, amidst these advancements there remain questions not only about the science itself, which hinges on complex factors ranging from genetically influenced molecular processes to environmental factors, but also about the morality of extending life. While research points to effective methods, unforeseen consequences will undoubtedly arise, further highlighting the delicate balance between extending life and maintaining its quality.

It’s precisely this quandary that I’m eager to explore through interdisciplinary collaborations that integrate fields such as biology, data science, and ethics. Examining centenarians, studying societies with exceptional longevity, and considering social attitudes toward aging are all essential if we aim to form holistic approaches to aging.

Ultimately, the quest to extend our lifespan exemplifies both the triumphs and uncertainties of scientific progress as it relates to the more subjective niceties of the human experience. I am relentlessly curious about this topic, and can’t wait to study it alongside others who share my passion.

If you’ve written many letters in your life, you may feel comfortable writing this one, but there are a number of ways to write an impactful letter. If you’re not as familiar with letter writing, think about this letter as a conversation, a relaxed, casual and emotionally-grounded form of one-on-one communication. To successfully capture this tone, start by writing your letter by hand. This will help you get out of your academic mindset and into letter-writing mode.

This response should be formatted like an actual letter, and it should give a sneak peek into what it would be like to live with you and to be your friend. Although the express focus is technically on your roommate, the implicit focus of the essay should be the kind of person you are and what interacting with you would be like. Remember not just to tell, but to show how your personality may play out in a dorm room, a classroom, or in a budding friendship. Try to convey aspects of your personality and character that can’t be found anywhere else on your application.

Dear Roger,

Right now we’re strangers, but that will inevitably change in the not-too-distant future. Now that I know of your existence, I’m genuinely eager to meet you. I guess there is no time like the present, so I’ll take the first leap and introduce myself.

I’m from a small town outside of Seattle called Bellingham. It’s a nice place to grow up—towering trees, a view of the Puget Sound, and a park in every subdivision that starts with the same letter as each of the streets (Butterfly Park in the B-neighborhood isn’t known for its butterflies). Anyway, if you stare long enough at the sound, you may see an Orca—or at least that’s what I’m told.

The truth is that I don’t know that much about Bellingham because I’m the only one in my family that was born here. There are no time-honored traditions in my family. No local knowledge that has been passed from generation to generation. My family is small, and those that I do know are spread out across the country. All this to say that I cherish the close relationships that I have—my dear friends have become like family to me, and I look forward to expanding my “chosen family” during this new chapter in college.

A friend once told me: there will always be an unimaginable distance between two people. Don’t let that stop you.

I’m glad I finally had the courage to follow their advice.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,
Gabe

While you have likely spent a great deal of time in your essays discussing the ways in which a Stanford education will enrich your life, this is your opportunity to discuss what you will bring to the campus community as a student. The prompt is open-ended by design, allowing you to choose from a myriad of personal attributes—from experiences to interests to unique qualities. Whatever you choose to write about, make sure that it reflects the aspects of your persona that stand out the most and would make the most impactful contributions to campus.

Use this prompt to get specific—showcase something about yourself that is not only unique to the essence of who you are, but that also aligns with Stanford’s institutional values. Stanford’s vision incorporates three primary themes: sustaining life on earth, accelerating solutions for humanity, catalyzing discovery in every field, and preparing citizens and leaders. While these are lofty ideals, you can demonstrate material ways in which you will contribute to and embody these values as a Stanford student.

Growing up in a Reform Jewish household, I’ve grappled with the complicated interplay of religion, faith, and personal discovery. This ongoing journey allows me to provide a distinct offer to the Stanford community: I am still wrestling with my views, and expect to for the rest of my life, but I welcome anyone to join me in conversation to discuss our beliefs, identities, and questions about the world.

I am grateful to Judaism for nurturing a culture of inquiry and curiosity that has equipped me to reflect on complex ideas. This exposure has helped me foster dialogues within diverse communities and enable meaningful exchanges that enrich understanding of one another.

Beyond sparking conversation, I have a strong commitment to social justice and community service, and I love connecting with others who share those passions—whether or not that is guided by the principle of Tikkun Olam. It’s deeply satisfying to know others who value volunteer work and advocacy no matter where that passion stems from.

My upbringing has taught me an appreciation for the balance between innovation and tradition. This worldview propels me to look for interdisciplinary ways to approach challenges and to leave no stone unturned when searching for answers.

Judaism has helped me form a unique understanding of religion, a commitment to social impact, and an eagerness to bridge divides. I know that Stanford is a wonderful place for me to share these parts of my identity and foster their growth.