Inside Stanford Admissions

What does the admissions office at the most selective university in the world REALLY look for in an applicant?

That’s the question all our contributors answered. Each of our contributors filed FERPA requests, and copied down the numerical scores and comments Stanford wrote on their applications. For the first time ever, Stanford undergrads bring their essays, and those comments, out for future applicants to see. We’ve compiled together a vast array of diverse student experiences – bringing you Inside Stanford Admissions.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Full applicant profiles – including activities, essays, analysis, and the reviewer’s scores and comments.


• Over 200 essays – covering all of the prompts on the Stanford Application.


• Application Strategies – Our students’ unique perspectives on what it takes to get in.

Supercharge your application with advice from those who made it. Peek into the mind of your reader.

This is a book written by Stanford Students, for Stanford Students – get Inside Stanford Admissions.