stanford supplemental essay 2024

How to Write the Stanford Supplemental Essays 2023–2024

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With a professorship roster including 19 Nobel laureates, nearly 900 student organizations, and a gorgeous campus in the heart of California’s Bay Area, Stanford University is an easy pick for many students’ dream school. Its acceptance rate, however – 3.68% for the class of 2026 – is a more daunting statistic to swallow. Don’t get discouraged! We’re here to help you take your best shot at getting into Stanford , starting by teaching you how to write the Stanford supplemental essays.

Students admitted to Stanford report an average unweighted GPA of 3.96 , an average SAT score of 1505 , and an average ACT of 34 . In other words, at universities like Stanford, top-notch academics are the norm rather than the exception. You’ll need to count on more than just your GPA and standardized test scores to stand out – which is where your essays come in.

Stanford asks you to respond to 5 short-answer prompts, 3 long-answer prompts for a total of 8 essays – double what most other universities require. While means you have twice the writing to do, it also means you have twice the opportunity to show admissions officials your unique strengths as an applicant. With that in mind, let’s have a look at Stanford’s 8 supplemental essay prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Stanford’s 2023–2024 Prompts

Short response (50 words).

• What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?
• What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?
• How did you spend your last two summers?
• Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.
• List five things that are important to you.

Essay Prompts (100-250 words)

• The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
• Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – know you better.
• Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

General Tips

For the 5 short-answer prompts, you’ll only have 50 words to convey a meaningful response. Avoid restating the question and trim unnecessary connector words to make the most of your word count. You can also improve concision by replacing conjunctions and clunky transition phrases with colons, semicolons, and em dashes.

The first example below is an instance of choppy, overly verbose writing.

Ex. 1 : “I think that the most significant challenge that society faces today is improper urban planning. Improper urban planning can result in a surprising number of issues, including noise pollution, increased fossil fuel output, and overcrowding.”

The second example cleans it up using the tips we’ve just discussed.

Ex. 2: “Improper urban planning may sound like a niche issue, but it encompasses a surprising number of society’s challenges – from noise pollution, to fossil fuel output, to overcrowding.”

You have more wiggle room with the reflection – 50-150 words – and even more for the long essay prompts – 100-250 words . Still, you should strive for concision to improve your essay’s flow. Unnecessary fluff and run-on sentences will confuse your reader no matter the length of the essay.

Wherever possible, write your essays on topics you haven’t discussed elsewhere in your application. If an admissions official sees your math team in your activities transcript, and then reads three short responses about the same math team, they may see you as a one-note applicant. Instead, try to vary your essay topics and take advantage of any opportunities to discuss an activity or interest that isn’t reflected in your transcript.

Finally, before we move to a prompt-by-prompt breakdown of the Stanford supplemental essays, here are two tips to keep in mind for both your short-responses and long-answer essays.

One, detail is key. Instead of telling admissions officials that your 10th-grade swim team was important to you, tell admissions officials about the swim meet where you came last in freestyle, motivating you to practice for months and earn first place at the next meet. Especially in your long-answer essays, detailed anecdotes are an excellent way to craft an engaging narrative.

Two, write essays that tell admissions officials about you . This may seem like obvious advice, but some of Stanford’s prompts ask about topics that don’t relate to you directly. Even so, you need to connect these topics to your own perspective. Instead of reciting to Stanford admissions officials impressive statistics about their own school, tell them why it excites you that Stanford has nearly 900 student organizations. Instead of flatly describing the challenges climate change poses to society, tell your reader how these specific challenges have impacted your own life and what you’ve done to help solve them.

With these higher-level tips out of the way, let’s move on to a prompt-by-prompt breakdown of the Stanford supplemental essays.

Stanford’s Short-Responses

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today (50 words).

A good response to this short-answer prompt will clearly identify one significant challenge society faces, with unique insight into its problems and potential solutions. Remember, detail is key – even if you pick a broader topic, you can still explore that topic in a way that sets your response apart from other students.

Let’s say the challenge you’ve chosen is economic inequality. Rather than stating in vague terms that poverty is an issue, you might propose building more homeless-friendly public architecture to combat the dangers poverty poses – and if you connect your response to the public architecture you see in your own community, even better. By going into detail on a specific issue, proposing a solution, and connecting it to your own experience, you’ve shown admissions officials you’re a conscientious and observant student who can bring those qualities to their campus community in turn.

How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words)

Instead of going into exhaustive detail on this short prompt, try to consider themes – what skills or personal experiences did you focus on developing over the last two summers? Can you group your different activities together under an overarching goal you’ve been working towards? If so, you’ll be able to include a wide variety of activities while keeping your response cohesive, and giving admissions officials a sense of your long-term plans.

Ex. 1 : “Last summer, I played basketball with my city’s team and volunteered for a school board chair’s campaign. The summer before that, I worked at a Columbia Sportswear in the local mall.”

Ex. 2: “For me, these last two summers were all about connecting with my community – sweating it out with my city’s basketball team, tamping down campaign signs for a school board candidate, and showing a friendly face to customers at the mall’s Columbia Sportswear.”

Like the last prompt, you’ll also want to try thinking outside the box for your response. Don’t just consider extracurricular activities, jobs, or volunteer experiences – did you travel anywhere interesting? Did you make any long-lasting personal connections? Did you learn any valuable life lessons? Keep your word limit in mind – but even if you don’t have a lot of formal activities to recount, you still did something over the past two summers. Try to tell admissions officials more about yourself by highlighting the experiences that were most meaningful to you.

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words)

Prompts like these can be tricky if an idea doesn’t come to mind right away. Try to choose a moment that’s widely recognizable so you don’t have to waste words giving context, but unique and relevant to your specific interests. You might wish you were in the audience for Shakespeare’s first production of Macbeth , or at a 1980’s board meeting when Shigeru Miyamoto first pitched his idea for Super Mario Bros . Remember, you have a wide range of history to work with!

Some other questions to consider: are there any historical mysteries you wish you could solve, like the disappearance of Amelia Earhart? Do you have any historical role models? When you read or watch historical fiction, what time period do you go for? Try to have fun with this prompt – a creative answer will go a long way toward making efficient use of your 50 words.

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50 words)

This prompt gives you an opportunity to dig a little deeper into a job or activity you’ve listed on your transcript. Ideally, this should be an activity you didn’t mention in Prompt #2 – as always, you want to avoid repetition wherever possible so you don’t appear single-faceted.

Try to choose an activity you’ve put a lot of time and passion into. If you’ve changed as a person through the friends you made at chess club, or your role in a political advocacy group completely changed your perspective, tell that story here! Narratives of personal growth make for effective college essays in general – admissions officials want to invite students who are open to learning and changing over time – so keep an eye out for any you’ve experienced in your past activities. Of course, the 50-word limit is still looming, so make sure you clearly identify the narrative you want to tell before distilling it into 2-3 sentences.

The last part of this prompt also gives an opportunity to discuss family responsibilities, an activity you may not have been able to get into elsewhere. Looking after your baby brother, helping your aunt renovate her new home, and cooking meals for a parent who works late may not be activities you’d put on your resume, but they’re still important activities that can help round out your background. If something immediately comes to mind, consider taking advantage of the opportunity this prompt gives you to discuss it.

List five things that are important to you. (50 words)

This prompt breaks from the standard short-response format and asks you to provide a list instead. Take advantage of this formatting break to save on your word count! Consider using a numbered or bulleted list – maybe even ordering your items from least to greatest importance.

Beyond the formatting, the content of this question is vague – on purpose. A lot of things might be important to you, from your custom-built PC, to a deeply-held value, to a close family member. Vary your answers to show you can think outside the box, and give a wide-spanning overview of your personal qualities. If you can, make each of your five things fall under a different category.

Some categories to consider: objects that are important to you; people; specific personal values (i.e. not just “gender equality,” but perhaps “holding the door for anyone who comes through, regardless of gender”); abilities; aspirations; places you love to visit.

Stanford’s Essay Prompts

The stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100-250 words).

For this first longer essay prompt, anecdotes are your best friend . Was there a moment in class when you realized you were no longer learning to pass a test, but because you found the subject genuinely fascinating? Can you recall the first time your favorite hobby captivated your interest? If so, opening your essay in that moment will immediately draw readers in and engage them with your perspective.

From there, you can spend time showing your reader why you find your favorite subject/hobby so fascinating, and what you’ve done to pursue it. The idea here is to show admissions officials your enthusiasm for learning at its peak – if your reader can sense your excitement through the page, then you’re doing a great job with this prompt. Again, narratives of personal growth are a great way to craft an engaging essay, so try to illustrate how you actually did learn beyond just feeling excited.

Here’s an example essay to help you get a feel for this prompt, as well as the larger word limit:

“There’s no such thing as talent, only hard work.” Coming from anyone else, these words would’ve sounded cheap – but as I looked over my older sister’s shoulder at the sketches she was etching in her notepad, I was breathtaken. I couldn’t believe those life-like characters – the expressive work of a professional comic artist – were something I could learn to do with hard work. From that moment, I resolved to draw one sketch a day. I looked up online courses on anatomy, perspective, and shading, and made my own disastrous renditions of the tutorials that popped up. Some nights, even though my eyes stung from looking at the page, I refused to go to bed without completing my daily sketch. When my brother bought a drawing tablet, he immediately regretted saying I could borrow it whenever I wanted. I had a whole new skillset to learn: digital art, with all its quirks and conveniences. Slowly, I began producing work I was proud to look back on, my character sketches starting to look like they could just maybe stand on the same page as my sister’s. Now, with three sketchbooks scattered haphazardly around my desk as I type, I’m so grateful to my sister for teaching me about hard work early on. I’m happy with where I am in my artistic journey, but I know I still have heaps to learn – and I’m excited to begin that learning process all over again with the next tutorial I click.

Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate — and us — know you better. (100-250 words)

For your second long-answer essay, you’ll answer either this prompt OR Prompt 3 below . Try brainstorming a few ideas for both prompts, and going with the prompt you can describe in more compelling detail.

This prompt challenges you to shake up the essay format with a more personal, casually formatted letter. While earlier essays showed off your interests, activities, and background, this prompt aims to find out who you really are in your day-to-day life. While your tone should still be polite – and your sentences grammatically correct – feel free to take a more playful, informal approach to this essay . What music will your roommate likely overhear blaring at max volume from your earbuds? What eccentricities should they expect from living with you?

Your response also shows admissions officials how you might interact with other members of the Stanford community. Try to think about what kind of relationship you’d like to have with your roommate, and how that reflects more broadly with how you’d like to interact with other Stanford students. Would you want to host dorm room study sessions? Are you hoping your roommate will tell you about courses and clubs you might not otherwise have known about? Details along these lines can show admissions officials you plan to engage intellectually with other community members – but again, don’t be afraid to talk about the more casual aspects of your ideal roommate relationship.

You can also get a little more creative with your essay’s format for this prompt. A letter format may be the most obvious, but you might also try out a bulleted list of things your roommate should know, or a memo you left on your roommate’s desk before leaving for class.

Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University. (100-250 words)

Lots of applicants give huge laundry lists of reasons they want to go to Stanford – the intellectual prestige, the academic resources, the vast opportunities for extracurricular engagement. Here, you need to think the other way around. If Stanford’s community can contribute tons to your college experience, what can you contribute to Stanford’s community?

You might be tempted to answer the prompt straight away, but remember – avoid restating the question, and consider your essay’s narrative structure as a whole. Instead of:

I can make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate at Stanford by drawing on my unique perspective as a first-generation college student. Because of my hard work and resourcefulness which I learned by seeking out help through the college application process, I’ll be able to make meaningful connections in the community and succeed even in the face of adversity.

Try structuring your essay more along the lines of this:

In my junior year of high school, I had no idea how to begin the college application process. Neither of my parents attended college, and I didn’t know anyone who could help – so I learned to reach out on my own. I started by researching my school’s faculty page to find our guidance counselor, then arranged a meeting with her to catch me up to speed on the process. Even though I started a head behind other students in my class, I learned how to be resourceful and ask for help – and now, as a prospective Stanford student, I’ll bring that resourcefulness to campus by forging connections in the community and uplifting other first-generation students like me.

By describing your personal experiences first – ideally in an anecdote – you can answer the prompt more confidently in your later paragraphs. Plus, you can grab your reader’s attention and stand out among other applicants who answer the question in a more typical fashion.

If you need help polishing up your Yale supplemental essays, check out our  College Essay Review  service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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How To Answer Stanford's 2023/24 Supplemental Essays: Tips & Insights

What's New in 2023/24

What Are Stanford's Essay Prompts?

Short Answer Questions

Short essay questions.

General Guidelines

Navigating Stanford University's supplemental essays for the 2023/24 admissions cycle? This guide offers step-by-step advice on tackling each question, from the short answers to the more complex essays. We also include general guidelines to help you craft compelling narratives that answer the prompts, showcase your unique character, and fit with Stanford's community. It is ideal for anyone aiming to make their application stand out in a highly competitive pool.

Stanford’s 2023/24 Supplemental Essay Updates: What's Changed?

Gaining admission to Stanford University , with its acceptance rate of approximately 4% , is an unparalleled accomplishment. In the fiercely competitive world of college admissions, your supplemental essays play a pivotal role in showcasing your unique story and alignment with Stanford's values.

Every academic year, prestigious institutions like Stanford fine-tune their application process to ensure they capture a comprehensive view of their potential students. For the 2023/24 admissions cycle, Stanford has implemented a few notable changes to its supplemental essay questions.

In the short answer section, while four prompts remain consistent with previous years, the question about anticipating an experience at Stanford has been substituted with a prompt asking applicants to "List five things that are important to you." This shift indicates a desire to understand applicants' priorities and values on a more personal level.

The short essay section has also seen adjustments. While the prompts about reflecting on personal learning and penning a note to a future roommate continue to feature, Stanford has amalgamated the questions about defining family and discussing something significant. Now, applicants are invited to describe how their life experiences, interests, and character would contribute to the Stanford undergraduate community.

These revisions highlight Stanford's evolving admissions approach, emphasizing understanding the diverse life experiences and intrinsic values applicants would bring to its dynamic undergraduate community.

What Are Stanford’s Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2023/24?

For the 2023/24 application cycle, Stanford University has thoughtfully designed specific supplemental essay prompts to delve deeper into the profiles of its applicants, complementing the Common App questions. These prompts aim to uncover your societal concerns, personal experiences, academic passions, and how you envision your journey at Stanford.

Stanford's short answer questions provide a snapshot into your perspectives, experiences, and values.

• Societal Challenge : What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 words)
• Summer Activities : How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words)
• Historical Witness : What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words)
• Extracurricular Elaboration : Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50 words)
• Personal Priorities : List five things that are important to you. (50 words)

These essays provide a deeper insight into your intellectual curiosities, personal experiences, and how you'll contribute to Stanford's vibrant community.

• Passion for Learning : The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100-250 words)
• Roommate Introduction : Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate — and us — get to know you better. (100-250 words)
• Distinctive Contribution : Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University. (100-250 words)

With an acceptance rate hovering around 4% , Stanford's application process is undeniably rigorous. These prompts offer applicants a unique opportunity to showcase their societal insights, personal growth, and the distinct perspectives they'll bring to the Stanford community.

Looking for inspiration? Dive into these Stanford essay examples to see what successful applications look like!

How I Got Into Stanford with Crimson Access Opportunity

How to Answer Stanford’s Short Answer Questions?

“what is the most significant challenge that society faces today”, - 50 words max.

Stanford seeks students who are not only academically adept but also socially aware and proactive. This question aims to gauge your awareness of global or local challenges and your perspective on their significance . It's an opportunity to showcase your critical thinking and ability to prioritize issues based on their impact.

Selecting a Challenge

The first step is to identify a challenge you genuinely believe is significant. This could be:

• Environmental issues like climate change or deforestation.
• Social challenges such as racial inequality, gender discrimination, or mental health stigma.
• Technological challenges like data privacy concerns or the ethical implications of AI.
• Economic challenges such as income inequality or unemployment.

Articulating the Significance

Once you've chosen a challenge, delve into why you believe it's the most significant:

• Scope of Impact : Is it a global issue affecting millions or a local challenge with profound implications?
• Long-Term Implications : Does the challenge have potential long-term consequences if not addressed?
• Personal Connection : Perhaps you've witnessed the effects of this challenge firsthand or have been personally affected by it.

Being Concise and Specific

With a 50-word limit, precision is key. Avoid generic statements. Instead, focus on specific aspects of the challenge and its implications.

• "The digital divide is society's most pressing challenge. As technology advances, those without access are left behind, widening educational and economic disparities."
• "Mental health stigma is a silent crisis. Many suffer in silence, fearing judgment, which exacerbates the issue and prevents early intervention."

Stanford's first short answer question tests your awareness, perspective, and ability to articulate complex issues succinctly . Choose a challenge you're passionate about, explain its significance, and ensure your response is concise and impactful.

“How did you spend your last two summers?”

Stanford is interested in how you utilize your free time, as it provides insight into your interests, priorities, and work ethic. This question aims to understand what activities or experiences you value and how you engage with the world when academic commitments are less pressing.

Being Specific and Honest

The key to answering this question effectively is being specific and honest. Instead of saying, "I spent time with family," you could elaborate with, "I explored local hiking trails with my family, fostering my love for environmental science."

Balancing Variety and Depth

You can mention a variety of activities, but remember to be concise. If possible, connect the activities to your intended field of study or personal growth:

• Academic Pursuits : Did you take any courses, attend workshops, or engage in self-study that aligns with your academic interests?
• Work Experience : Did you have a job or internship? What skills did you gain, and how did it shape your understanding of a particular field?
• Volunteering : If you engaged in community service, what impact did it have on you and the community?
• Personal Interests : Did you engage in any hobbies or personal projects? How did they contribute to your skills or well-being?

Appropriateness

Ensure that the experiences you share are appropriate for an academic application. They should be experiences you'd be comfortable sharing with a teacher or in a professional setting.

• "Last summer, I interned at a local tech startup, honing my coding skills and understanding the dynamics of team collaboration. The previous summer, I volunteered at a food bank, which deepened my awareness of food insecurity issues."
• "I spent one summer taking a creative writing course, which fueled my passion for storytelling. The other was dedicated to a family road trip across historical sites, enriching my love for history."

Stanford's second short answer question seeks to understand how you use your free time to engage in meaningful activities or personal growth . Be specific, honest, and appropriate in your response, and if possible, connect your activities to your broader goals or interests.

“What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?”

Stanford is keen to explore your intellectual curiosity and how you relate to history, whether it's a globally recognized event or a personal moment in time. This question aims to understand what you find significant or intriguing in the tapestry of human experience .

Unleashing Your Imagination

Don't limit yourself to textbook historical events. This is an opportunity to showcase your unique interests. Whether it's a monumental event like the signing of the Declaration of Independence or something more personal or niche, like a family event or a lesser-known cultural phenomenon, the key is to pick something that genuinely interests you.

Exploring the 'Why'

Once you've chosen the event, delve into why you wish you could have witnessed it.

• What do you think you would learn or gain from the experience?
• Would it offer insights into contemporary issues, personal growth, or your field of study?

The 'why' is as important as the 'what' in this question.

Timing and Context

Consider the timing of the event. Would it be a moment that lasts a few minutes, like witnessing a groundbreaking scientific discovery, or something more prolonged, like being present during a significant cultural festival? The duration and setting can add another layer of depth to your answer.

• "I wish I could have witnessed the Women's Suffrage Parade of 1913. Seeing the courage and unity of women fighting for their rights would deepen my understanding of the struggles that paved the way for the freedoms I have today."
• "I'd love to have been in the audience at the premiere of Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring.' The riot it incited speaks volumes about the power of art to challenge societal norms, something still relevant today."

Stanford's third short answer question is an invitation to share your intellectual or personal interests through the lens of history . Be imaginative and specific, and focus on the event and why witnessing it would be significant to you. This is a chance to offer a glimpse into what excites your curiosity and how you relate to the world and its history.

“Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.”

Stanford wants to see a fuller picture of who you are beyond academics . This question explores another facet of your life you're passionate about or committed to. It's an opportunity to showcase your skills, values, and contributions in a different context.

Choosing the Right Experience

Select an experience you haven't elaborated on in other parts of your application. It could be an extracurricular activity , a part-time job, or even family responsibilities. The key is to choose something that has significantly impacted you and ideally contrasts with your intended major to show the breadth of your interests.

Narrative Over Summary

Instead of listing what you've done, focus on a specific anecdote that encapsulates the essence of your involvement. Describe a moment that was pivotal or enlightening in that experience. This makes your answer more engaging and provides a deeper insight into your role and its significance.

What You Bring to the Table

Discuss the skills or values you've gained from this experience. Whether it's leadership in a club, responsibility in a family setting, or problem-solving in a job, highlight how these skills have shaped you and how they could be applied in a Stanford context.

• "As the editor of our school newspaper, I once had to navigate a controversial article submission. Balancing freedom of speech with the potential for harm taught me the delicate art of ethical journalism."
• "Working in a family-owned restaurant taught me the value of hard work and customer service. It also fueled my passion for business analytics, as I started to see how data-driven decisions could improve our operations."

Stanford's fourth short answer question is a window into your life outside the classroom. Focusing on a specific anecdote and the lessons learned can provide a more vivid and meaningful picture of your extracurricular involvement or responsibilities . This is your chance to show Stanford another layer of who you are and what you could bring to their community.

“List five things that are important to you.”

This prompt is a straightforward yet revealing way for Stanford to understand your priorities, values, and interests . It's a snapshot of what matters most to you, from personal beliefs to hobbies, relationships, or aspirations.

Selecting Your Five Things

Choose items that genuinely resonate with you and ideally offer a well-rounded view of who you are. The list can include a mix of the profound and the seemingly mundane as long as they are genuinely important to you.

Be Authentic, Be You

This is not the time to list what you think Stanford wants to hear. Authenticity is key. Your list should reflect your true self, as it offers another layer of understanding about you that might not be evident in other parts of your application.

• Family: The cornerstone of my life and my biggest support system.
• Environmental Sustainability: A cause I'm deeply committed to, both in lifestyle choices and activism.
• Music: A universal language that brings me joy and emotional expression.
• Intellectual Curiosity: The driving force behind my academic and personal endeavors.
• Humor: A necessary tool for navigating life's ups and downs.

Stanford's fifth short answer question is a quick but insightful look into your values and interests. By carefully selecting the five genuinely important things to you, you offer Stanford a glimpse into what drives you, what you care about, and what kind of community member you would be .

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How to Answer Stanford’s Short Essay Questions?

“the stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.”, - 100 to 250 words.

Stanford is looking for students who are both academically competent and passionately curious. This essay aims to delve into what genuinely excites you about learning , whether it's a specific subject, a method of inquiry, or an experiential learning opportunity.

Identifying Your Idea or Experience

Begin by pinpointing the idea or experience that genuinely excites you about learning. This could be:

• A subject matter that you are passionate about but haven't had the chance to explore in a formal educational setting.
• An experience that sparked your curiosity and led you to further exploration or research.
• A methodology or form of inquiry that you find particularly stimulating.

Narrating the Discovery Journey

Discuss how you came across this idea or experience. Was it through a book, a mentor, an internship, or perhaps a personal experience? If you faced any obstacles or discouragement in pursuing this interest, this is a good place to discuss it.

Connecting to Stanford's Learning Environment

Now, consider how you would continue to explore this interest at Stanford. Would it be through specific courses, research opportunities, or clubs? Are there professors you're excited to work with or facilities you're eager to use?

Formulating Questions and Research Approaches

Discuss the kinds of questions this topic raises for you and how you might go about answering them. Whether it's through lab experiments, fieldwork, or theoretical analysis, indicate how you envision your learning journey unfolding at Stanford.

Collaborative Learning

Stanford values collaborative learning. Briefly touch upon how you see yourself engaging with peers, professors, or even external communities to deepen your understanding of the topic.

Stanford's first short essay question is an opportunity to showcase your intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. By detailing an idea or experience that excites you and connecting it to Stanford's resources and community, you demonstrate not just your passion but also how you would contribute to the intellectual vitality of the campus. Approach this essay with a focus on specificity, authenticity, and a clear vision of your academic journey at Stanford .

“Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate — and us — get to know you better.”

Stanford wants to get a glimpse of who you are outside of your academic and extracurricular achievements. This essay is a chance to showcase your personality, quirks, and the unique traits that make you, you .

Setting the Tone

Approach this essay as if you're writing a letter to a friend. The tone should be conversational; you can incorporate humor, vulnerability, or even self-deprecation to make it engaging and relatable.

Sharing Personal Anecdotes

Instead of using adjectives to describe yourself, share specific anecdotes or experiences that reveal something about you. This could be:

• A ritual or tradition that's important to you.
• A hobby or interest that you're passionate about.
• A challenge you've faced and how you dealt with it.

Examples for Inspiration

• If you have a religious practice, you could talk about how you adapted it during a school trip, perhaps waking up early to pray without disturbing others.
• If you love aesthetics, you might mention how you can't resist picking flowers from your neighborhood to make your space more beautiful.

Incorporating Humor or Poignancy

Feel free to incorporate humor or poignant moments to make the essay memorable. Whether it's a funny story about a family vacation gone wrong or a touching moment from a community service trip, these details help paint a fuller picture of who you are.

Living Together

Since this is a letter to a future roommate, consider mentioning how you approach shared living spaces. Are you neat or messy? An early riser or a night owl? This adds another layer of personal insight.

Stanford's second short essay question offers a unique opportunity to showcase your personality in a more informal setting. By sharing specific anecdotes and experiences, you not only help your future roommate get to know you but also give Stanford a more comprehensive view of what you'll bring to its community . Approach this essay with authenticity, vulnerability, and a dash of humor to make it memorable.

“Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.”

Stanford wants to understand how you will contribute to its diverse and vibrant community. This prompt allows you to showcase the unique qualities, experiences, and perspectives you bring to the table .

Defining Your Community

Start by identifying a community you are a part of . This could be anything from a school club, a sports team, a religious group, or even a community of hobbyists. What binds this community together? Is it a shared goal, a common interest, or collective challenge?

Your Role in the Community

Once you've defined the community, focus on your role within it. Are you a leader, a supporter, a motivator, or perhaps a creative mind? How have you contributed to this community, and what impact have you had?

• If you've been part of a mentoring program, you could discuss how you nurtured that relationship over the years, the challenges you faced, and the growth you observed in yourself and your mentee.
• If you started a club in school, you could talk about how it originated from a common interest, how it grew, and what steps you've taken to ensure its continuity after you leave for college.

Connecting to Stanford

Now, tie these experiences back to how you will contribute to Stanford.

• Will you bring your leadership skills to a student organization?
• Will your creative thinking contribute to classroom discussions?
• Will your commitment to service find a new avenue on campus?

Character Traits

Don't forget to mention character traits that enable you to make these contributions. Are you empathetic, resilient, innovative, or collaborative? Use specific examples to demonstrate these traits.

Stanford's third short essay question is your chance to showcase how your unique life experiences, interests, and character will enrich the Stanford community. Focusing on your role in a specific community and how you've contributed to it provides a glimpse into how you'll engage with the Stanford community. Approach this essay with introspection and authenticity to effectively convey your potential contributions .

General Guidelines for Answering Stanford's Supplemental Essay Questions

• Research and Specificity : Stanford's essay prompts are designed to gauge your fit within its diverse and intellectually vibrant community. Be specific about courses, professors, or extracurricular activities that excite you. Mentioning these details shows that you've done your homework and that you're genuinely interested in Stanford.
• Show Self-awareness : Stanford values students who are reflective and self-aware. Whether you're discussing a societal challenge, your summer activities, or your future roommate, always tie it back to what these experiences or thoughts reveal about you.
• Diversity of Thought : Stanford prides itself on a diverse student body that brings many perspectives to campus. Highlight how your unique experiences, viewpoints, or background will contribute to this diversity of thought.
• Be Authentic : Authenticity is crucial. Don't write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. Your genuine interests, challenges, and aspirations will always make a more profound impression.
• Quality Over Quantity : With strict word limits, focusing on depth rather than breadth is essential. Choose a few points and explore them fully to give the admissions committee a more detailed picture of who you are.
• Narrative Storytelling : A compelling narrative can make your essay stand out. Whether you're describing a historical event you wish you'd witnessed or explaining what brings you joy, storytelling techniques can make your essay more engaging and memorable.
• Proofread and Revise : Your essays should be well-crafted and error-free. Beyond grammar and spelling, ensure your essay flows well and effectively communicates your message. Consider seeking feedback from teachers, mentors, or friends.
• Connect to the Bigger Picture : Always relate your answers back to your potential contributions to the Stanford community and how Stanford will help you achieve your personal and academic goals. This shows that you're not just thinking about admission but also about how you'll fit into the Stanford community long-term.
• Embrace the Challenge : These essays are your opportunity to present a fuller picture of yourself beyond just grades and test scores. Use them to show why you and Stanford would be a mutually beneficial match.

Stanford's supplemental essays provide a platform to express your individuality, aspirations, and suitability for the university. By carefully crafting your responses and connecting them to Stanford's resources and ethos, you can effectively demonstrate why you would be a valuable addition to the Stanford community.

For more inspiration, you might want to explore examples of successful Stanford essays to understand what makes an application truly stand out.

Final Thoughts

Embarking on the journey to Stanford is about more than just academic excellence; it's about crafting a narrative that deeply resonates with Stanford's unique ethos and the admissions committee. Your supplemental essays offer a unique lens into your character, aspirations, and the distinct contributions you'll make to the Stanford community.

Every Stanford hopeful has a unique story to tell. This is your golden opportunity to narrate yours. Approach your essays with authenticity, introspection, and a genuine enthusiasm for your narrative.

If you're uncertain whether your essay truly encapsulates your essence or if it will distinguish you amidst the sea of applications, our essay review service is here to assist. Our seasoned experts will meticulously review and provide feedback, ensuring your essay strikes a chord with Stanford's admissions officers.

Want some helpful inspiration? Explore our ebook and discover essays from students like you who have secured places at elite institutions. And for those aiming for Stanford, our collection of successful Stanford essay examples will offer invaluable insights.

For those at the onset of their college application journey, consider booking a free consultation with our experienced college counselors. We're committed to guiding you in crafting an application that amplifies your chances of walking through Stanford's iconic arch. Your dream of becoming a Stanford Cardinal is attainable, and we're here to support you every step of the way.

What Makes Crimson Different

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Everything you need to know about US Application Supplemental Essays
• Acing your College Application Essay: 5 Expert Tips to Make it Stand Out from the Rest
• How to Tackle Every Type of Supplemental Essay
• 2023-24 Common App Essay Prompts
• What are the Most Unusual US College Supplemental Essay Prompts?

More Articles

10 great common app essay examples from accepted students.

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August 8, 2023

2023-2024 Stanford Supplemental Essay Prompts

Stanford University has published its 2023-2024 admissions essays for applicants to its Class of 2028. In all, Stanford asks this year’s applicants to answer five short essay prompts of 50-words each in addition to three longer essay prompts of 250-words each. In addition to The Common Application ’s Personal Statement, all of the short supplemental answers and more extended supplemental essays are required of applicants to the Stanford Class of 2028 .

2023-2024 Stanford Essay Topics and Questions

Short answer questions.

Stanford’s five short answers, which can be answered in up to 50 words, are listed below. This year, Stanford does not ask a short Why Stanford prompt.

1. What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?

The prompt is a longtime staple of the Stanford supplement. Don’t choose climate change. Don’t choose race relations. Stanford receives too many such responses. Applicants should instead dare to teach Stanford’s admissions officers something they don’t already know in their answer.

2. How did you spend your last two summers?

A student must demonstrate their hook in this answer. If a student traveled the world last summer, they’d be wise not to write about it. Instead, they should focus on what they did locally that meaningfully connects to the singular hook they hope to bring to the Stanford campus.

3. What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?

This prompt is a chance for an applicant to enlighten admissions officers about an event they don’t know about. As such, writing about witnessing the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech would not qualify. Dare to teach admissions officers something new here, too!

4. Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.

Applicants should detail an activity here that relates to their hook — just like their summer activities. But since each answer should be a puzzle piece that complements rather than repeats information that’s already been shared with Stanford admissions officers, applicants should make sure not to repeat an activity they wrote about in their answer to how they spent the last two summers.

5. List five things that are important to you.

Stanford wants a list here. But that doesn’t mean an applicant can’t pepper in an explanation or two — within the 50-word limit, of course!

Longer Essay Prompts

Stanford applicants must answer the three essays below in 100-250 words:

1. The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

This essay is also making yet another appearance in the Stanford supplement. It’s Stanford’s most well-known essay. Too often, applicants show a silly side to themselves in their answers to the roommate prompt that they didn’t showcase in other areas of their application. And that’s a mistake. Students must almost demonstrate intellectual curiosity — whether the prompt directly asks them as much or not.

2. Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.

As such, Stanford’s admissions officers want to hear what you will discuss in late-night conversations with your roommate. They want to hear about some things you will do together on Stanford’s campus. They want to see what impact an applicant will make on the student body — through the prism of their roommate experience.

3. Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

This essay prompt is somewhat of a hybrid: part tell us more about yourself and part Why Stanford. The life experiences component of this prompt is likely Stanford’s response to the Supreme Court’s outlawing of Affirmative Action . Chief Justice John Roberts left an opening for applicants to write about their backgrounds, including their race: “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.” Herein lies that opening.

And while this is not a Why Stanford essay, to address the second part of the question, it would be wise for students to include a few specifics about how they hope to contribute to Stanford’s campus through their life experience, interests, or character, and, no, that does not mean peppering in class names or name-dropping professors who may or may not even be at Stanford next year. Instead, they should endeavor to capture enduring specifics about the university — from programs and institutes to activities and traditions.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Stanford Essays

If you’re interested in giving yourself the best chance of earning admission to Stanford by submitting the most compelling essays possible, fill out Ivy Coach ’s consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to outline our college admissions counseling services for Stanford applicants.

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How to Approach the Stanford Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

September 25, 2023

As one of the most esteemed universities in the nation, Stanford is often the top choice for students seeking a school that values intellectual curiosity. However, it is important to showcase to the university that your interest goes beyond its prestigious reputation. Perhaps you are drawn to Stanford because of its distinctive majors like "Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law" or "Music, Science, and Technology." Utilize your supplemental essays as an opportunity to express your enthusiasm and passion for the specific opportunities Stanford offers. To assist you in fully understanding each prompt, I have provided a comprehensive overview of all the essay topics, along with helpful do's and don'ts for your responses, and additional tips for successfully addressing the Stanford supplemental essays 2023-2024.

Stanford Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

When reading the application and essays, Stanford admissions officers consider your potential to succeed academically, your commitment to expanding your intellectual horizons, and whether you’ve participated in a few extracurricular activities with exceptional depth. Make sure these characteristics shine through in your writing. Remember to think honestly about your approach, and not just choose generic or predictable routes in your responses. 

With so many prompts, it’s important to get started by outlining all of them before you dive into your writing. You need to make sure that all of your answers complement each other. Together, your essays need a cohesive narrative, built through unique answers. Do not overlap or contradict yourself from one essay to the next. Without further ado, let’s now take a look at the prompts!

Short Answer Questions

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today (50 words).

Crafting a compelling essay in just 50 words is no easy feat. Admissions officers at Stanford are eager to understand your thinking process and what truly drives you. Are you a student who is willing to participate in conversations about current events or attend lectures featuring the eminent guest speakers that Stanford regularly hosts? Instead of trying to figure out what you think the school might be looking for, ask yourself if there’s an issue that you’re genuinely concerned about. 

Pick a challenge that resonates with your background or academic interests. The more personal, the more meaningful your essay will be. You’ll be able to talk much more genuinely about something you’re actually familiar with, rather than exaggerating your knowledge on a topic you’ve decided you care about on a whim. Add a brief anecdote exemplifying your personal connection to the matter. If you have space, you might be able to dedicate a sentence or two to how you would use your education and work towards a resolution. 

PRO TIP: Avoid society’s addiction to technology and global warming. We see these answers way too often!

How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words)

Stanford wants students who spend every opportunity they have learning, growing, and making an impact. With so much free time, Stanford wants to know how you spend your summers without the restrictions of a school schedule. You only have about 25 words to dedicate to each summer. That’s barely anything! Don’t waste space rambling about a new TV series you might have discovered last June. Think about the most meaningful parts of your summers and activities or experiences that you might have not had the chance to mention in the rest of your application. Is there a new hobby you picked up? 

PRO TIP: Don’t worry about writing in full sentences. Prioritize getting the content in there! 

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words)

Make sure that you carefully divide the 50 words to set up the context for the event, what happened, and why you have chosen to write about it. Avoid common answers such as the French Revolution or World War II because the odds are that multiple students will do so. Pick a topic with a personal connection that matters to you. If you have a personal connection to a historical event—such as your family being deeply impacted by its occurrence or aftermath, this could add a unique perspective to your writing. You may also choose an event deeply related to your academic or extracurricular interests. For example, if you’re a photographer, maybe you want to have witnessed the first photograph ever being taken in the 1800s.  

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50 words)

You shouldn’t spend any more than 25 words naming and describing the activity or responsibility. Admissions officers want to know less about what you do daily as part of the involvement and more about how you’ve made an impact and how much the role has shaped your perspective. The key focus of your response should lie in explaining why it holds such importance to you. Has this experience enriched your connection to your community? Is it connected to your interests and goals? Is there a direct connection between your ideal career and the role you played while participating in this particular extracurricular? Anecdotes are important in getting your point across successfully. Think about instances that emphasize why this activity matters so much to you. Why does it stand out over your other experiences?

Your choice of extracurricular should reflect the type of experience that holds the most meaning to you personally – because after all, this is your college application. Admissions officers don’t want an essay outlining seemingly impressive activities that you think they want to hear. Your response should provide more information about who you are and what you enjoy. So reflect on how this activity has shaped your perspective and the role it plays in your aspirations.

PRO TIP: Do not write about an activity listed at the bottom of your Activities List. If it’s important enough to write an essay on, then it should be listed higher on your activities list. If it’s not, then pick a different activity. 

List five things that are important to you. (Max: 50 words)

There’s no correct answer or level of depth you must reach—the point of these essays is for the school to learn more about you. You could write about a photograph, a movie, or even something abstract such as your faith. Is there a family member you love spending time with more than others? One thing to note is that you should avoid writing about cliché topics, as you’re attempting to stand out among a very tough applicant pool. Don’t spend too many words rambling about what is meaningful, and focus more on the why .  Admissions officers want to understand your reasoning behind placing value on certain ideas or experiences over others.

PRO TIP: Brainstorm by jotting down the first things that come to your mind! After filling about a page with your list, narrow down your options by highlighting the ones that will bring the most value to your application!

Short Essays

The stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning..

Stanford strongly values students who challenge themselves and approach learning with enthusiasm and curiosity. Stanford wants to see “commitment, dedication and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons in what you write about yourself.” When brainstorming your answer to the question, remember that you don’t have to limit yourself to abstract ideas. You can talk about a person or a place that encourages curiosity in you as well.

Don’t forget to show, with anecdotes, why you’re so interested in the idea or experience. Dive deeper into the why’s and how’s of the way your excitement increases at the thought of the topic. Since you have the words, talk more in-depth about the ways in which you have explored the issue and how your knowledge has developed over time. The reader should come out of your essay knowing that you’re a student who wouldn’t be afraid to contribute to the Stanford classrooms and wider community as well as ask probing questions. 

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better.

The key to answering this question is to keep your tone informal. Of course, you shouldn’t start using slang, curse words, or emojis, but your style of writing shouldn’t be highly academic either. It’s also a good idea to throw in facts about you that you’d actually want your roommate to know. Do you enjoy attending concerts and want to know if your roommate would like to see your favorite artist with you? Do you want someone to play pickup soccer against or start an impromptu musical jam session with? You could also use this essay as a chance to mention activities you want to try out at Stanford. What makes you most excited about moving to campus and joining the community?

While you are writing to your “roommate,” don’t forget that you’re also providing the college with more information on what kind of Stanford community member you’re likely to be. Your answer to this prompt is a way to portray a more fun side of yourself and reveal information such as hobbies and unusual interests that you won’t have the space to discuss in comparatively serious questions. Take advantage of this opportunity to show what you’re really like.

Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University. (Max: 250 words)

This is an accelerated version of the “why our school” prompt that you might encounter with other colleges’ supplemental essays. Think about how you can frame your answer as personally as possible. Do you have a specific plan to take advantage of the Bing Overseas Studies Program? Are you excited to bring new ideas to Stanford’s philosophy organization, the Dualist? You should be able to both demonstrate that you’ve done the research on Stanford, as well as tie that knowledge to your unique interests when brainstorming your approach to this response. 

Additional Tips for Writing the Stanford Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Now that you’ve taken a look at the prompts for the Stanford supplemental essays , here are a few tips to help your brainstorming process: 

• Think about what Stanford offers beyond the name: Even though the Stanford supplemental essays don’t ask an extended “why Stanford” essay, your responses are still used to determine whether you’ve done your homework and whether you’re a good fit for the school. Admissions officers want to be confident in their decision. If your essays depict you as someone who knows what you’re talking about when it comes to the majors, professors, and research opportunities, you will be more likely to gain approval. Carefully research what the college is looking for and frame your interests in a way that accurately captures your academic excellence, intellectual vitality, and extracurricular activities. 
• Don’t waste words: The admissions officers don’t have all day to go through your application considering they have countless others to read. This is why you need to think strategically when writing each response, especially the 50-word answers. Don’t waste words beating around the bush or writing general statements. Aim to be as specific as possible, especially regarding how wider issues hold meaning to you and how the college itself can benefit you, and of course, focusing on exactly what the prompt wants to know. 
• Context can make a difference: Factors that Stanford considers heavily when looking at your application are your “background, educational pathway, and work and family responsibilities.” If you believe that the context of your high school community can be relevant in the roommate question, definitely mention it. Knowing where you come from and how you’ve taken advantage of the opportunities you’ve had could make a difference in your Stanford application.

As you embark on the journey of completing the Stanford supplemental essays for the 2023-2024 application, it is crucial to showcase your enthusiasm and active participation in the academic and extracurricular life at Stanford University. Admissions officers should read your responses and be compelled to exclaim, "This student is a perfect fit for our exceptional majors and extracurricular opportunities!" Take this opportunity to effectively convey your unique qualities, maintaining specificity and precision throughout. This might just be the deciding factor that places you in the coveted acceptance pile. Best of luck!

If you are looking for a college admissions counselor to help maximize your chances of getting into your dream school, we can help! InGenius Prep has helped more than 6,000 students around the world gain admission into the most competitive schools including Harvard, Yale, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, NYU, and more. Sign up for a free strategy call today and join the 6,000+ students we've helped get accepted into their dream schools. 

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Stanford accepts the Common Application , which asks about:

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• Extracurricular activities, family responsibilities, work experience, or military service

Our holistic review allows us to consider each applicant's unique circumstances and educational background. We recognize that many of our transfer applicants have followed non-traditional routes to higher education, and we welcome the diverse perspectives these students bring to campus. Additionally, we understand that family, personal or financial circumstances may prevent students from participating in traditional extracurricular activities. We hope you will use the application to explain your specific situation.

When you apply to Stanford, you apply to the university as a whole, not to a particular major, department or school. We encourage you to indicate prospective majors and career interests in the application, but please know you are not bound by these selections in any way.

Stanford Essays

The Common Application personal statement and the Stanford short essay questions are an opportunity to tell us about your reasons for transferring, your future goals, and your favorite activities and interests. These responses help us understand your experiences, ideas and insights.

Common Application Personal Statement

The personal statement request is located in the Stanford Questions section of the Transfer Common Application. The question reads: Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. (650-word maximum)

Stanford Short Essays

We ask applicants to write a short essay on each of the following three topics. For the second essay, transfer applicants must choose one of the two listed prompts. There is a 100-word minimum and a 250-word maximum for each essay.

• The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
• Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.
• Stanford’s community is an essential part of the undergraduate experience. How do you define community and what contributions have you made to yours?
• Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.
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Stanford Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

August 14, 2023

With an acceptance rate of 3.68% in 2023, Stanford University is in a league of selectivity with only a handful of other schools including Harvard, MIT, and Princeton. At Stanford, the median SAT is a 1500 and 96% hail from the top 10% of their high school class. As a result, you need more than just superior test scores and a sparkling transcript to be among the 1 in every 25 applicants who is ultimately admitted. Each year, we work with a number of successful Stanford University applicants. We can say with confidence that exceptional Stanford supplemental essays are a necessary component of any winning application.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into Stanford? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Stanford: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Stanford University requires applicants to respond to a whopping eight prompts. This makes the decision to apply an instantly sizable time commitment. Your mission—should you choose to accept it— is to write compelling, standout compositions that showcase your top-notch writing ability and reveal more about who you are as an individual. Below are Stanford’s essay prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with tips about how to address each one.

Stanford Supplemental Essays: (100-250 words)

Prompt 1: the stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning..

Whether it’s a general love for math/science or literature or a specific interest in aerospace engineering or 19th-century French novels, use this opportunity to share what makes you tick, the ideas that keep you up at night, and what subject inspires you to dream big. What topic makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed? Share the manner in which you relentlessly pursue knowledge. Whether it’s falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the nature of time or consuming thousands of hours of podcasts on game theory, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you are an obsessive learner with an endless thirst for information. The admissions reader should emerge from reading this essay with the sense that you are a sincerely curious young person with a strong intellectual drive.

Prompt 2: Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.

Applicants can utilize this response to give greater insight into the little details about themselves that may not appear elsewhere in the application. Keep the old adage “you don’t truly know a person until you live with them” in mind. Think about what your future roommate will learn about your daily habits, quirks, passions, and preferences. What music do you like to listen to? At what time do you get up in the morning and what is your morning routine? What activities do you like to do (that ideally have not yet been communicated elsewhere)? Most often, writers choose to put together a number of different details. Before including each one, think about what it communicates about you.

Stanford Supplemental Essays (Continued)

For example, if you can seldom be found without a novel in hand or spend an hour every morning practicing yoga, why is that important for us to know? That said, at least a few details are often comical or light-hearted (perhaps you can’t survive without a large supply of lime seltzer or always eat salt & vinegar chips when you’re up late studying). Another common “move” writers use in this essay is to list a few uniquely-Stanford things that they can’t wait to do with their roommate around campus. In the grand scheme of things, this is a genuine chance to reveal more about your character, unique personality, and also—sometimes— how to get along with others.

Prompt 3:  Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

This prompt asks you to not only share a particular life experience, interest, or value. Additionally, you’ll describe why that experience, interest, or value will help you contribute to Stanford in general. Essentially, it’s asking you to take your essay’s reflection one step further. You’ll need to share why the experience, interest, or value you’ve chosen has impacted you. Additionally, you can explore why/how you believe it will allow you to positively impact the Stanford community.

First, choose a key aspect of your experiences, background, or personality that reveals something deep and meaningful about you. (Although you could choose more than one, we’d advise against it, given that you only have 250 words in which to respond.) As you brainstorm, consider the following avenues:

• Your role in your family.
• Your role in your social group.
• Something you’re particularly committed to, i.e., an activity, social/political cause, or idea (just be sure it doesn’t overlap with the intellectual curiosity response).
• A challenge you’ve faced.
• A formative experience or realization.
• Core values and beliefs.
• Important aspects of your upbringing.
• Most intriguing and unique attributes.
• Cultural, religious, community influence.

Second, you’ll need to describe both personal and future impact. Note the absence of a straight “Why Stanford?” essay in this application. This response is the closest thing to it. Make sure that your answer reveals something about how you will live out Stanford’s values or contribute to an academic/social community. For the latter angle, you could name a specific  course ,  research opportunity , or extracurricular club , to name a few—perhaps living in a beach town has heavily contributed to your passion for the world’s oceans, and you seek to bring that perspective to the biology department’s research opportunities. Alternatively, you could discuss something more intangible—perhaps Stanford’s mission to develop active citizens resonates with you, and you hope to bring your experience of growing up in a large family (which gave you excellent communication and conflict resolution skills) to volunteer positions on campus and within the surrounding community.

Stanford Supplemental Essays – Short Response Questions (50 words)

1) what is the most significant challenge that society faces today.

The admissions committee wants to make sure that your personal aims align with those of the university, as indicated in its mission statement. This mission is “to extend the frontiers of knowledge, stimulate creativity, and solve real-world problems, prepare students to think broadly, deeply and critically, and to contribute to the world, and deploy Stanford’s strengths to benefit our region, country, and world.” The strongest answers usually include some level of previous or hopeful participation/community service on the part of the applicant. For example, if you are concerned about voting rights and the preservation of the democratic process, you may have volunteered with a relevant organization.

2) How did you spend your last two summers? 

We are looking at your summers after sophomore and junior year for this prompt. So, why is Stanford so interested in what you did from mid-June through August, you ask? The answer, primarily, is because this is the time of the year when your entire schedule wasn’t laid out for you–the admissions office can observe your actions in the lone time and space when you are given complete agency and control.

Did you work to earn money to help support your family? On the other hand, did you work to save money for a specific purpose? Did you take a college course or two or enroll in an academic summer program? Or, did you conduct independent research or secure an internship at a company or organization? Stanford recognizes that students in different circumstances have varying levels of opportunity. Therefore, if you spent the summer watching your siblings out of necessity so your mom could go to work, that can be as valid as attending an aerospace engineering program at MIT. Ideally, your summer endeavor will—at least to some extent, align with your expressed passions and academic/intellectual aims.

3) What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?

Keep in mind that “historical” could refer to a famous event that is included in your average history textbook. Alternatively, it could be something more personal to your family, like when your great-grandmother immigrated to California in 1917. Many times, if students select a moment in world history, it isn’t one that is universally known in endless detail. Unless you are picking something as well known as MLK’s “I Have a Dream Speech” or the 1969 Moon landing, make sure to give the reader some level of context about the actual event in addition to your commentary about why that moment is special to you. No need to get uber-obscure with your answer. However, the most needle-moving answers are generally not usually based on any of the most famous events in human history. These are the kind of events that you’ve known about since elementary school.

You might approach this prompt by choosing an issue of importance to you and then researching corresponding moments/events (whether within recorded or personal history) that allow you to communicate that interest.

4) Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.

Stanford is not necessarily asking you to write about the activity where you earned the most prestigious awards or held the highest position of leadership. The university is going to see all of your activities in that section of the Common App. As such, you want to ask yourself—which of your entries is crying out for more explanation and detail? Which one is closest to your heart and most representative of your unique passions? Pick the option that will allow you to deliver additional detail that may be memorable to the admissions reader. Start this process by asking yourself, “What is the most interesting and consequential moment that I have experienced in one of my extracurricular activities?” If you can identify one clear-cut moment, that is likely the activity worth sharing with the Stanford admissions staff.

5) List five things that are important to you.

Before answering this question, take inventory of what has already been communicated on the rest of your application. What have you tackled in your other responses? Is there anything that has been left unsaid? What themes are currently present that you could reinforce? The list should be organic. This means that some answers will naturally reiterate passions and experiences shared in other areas of the application. That said, you’ll want to avoid straight-up repeats to the best of your ability. In addition, try to be as specific as possible. Since you have fifty words to utilize, try to include a brief why or explanation for each answer, that, again, is different than what’s already been presented in other areas of the application.

How important are the Stanford supplemental essays?

The lengthy supplemental essay section is among the nine factors that Stanford considers to be “very important.” The other factors are: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, and character/personal qualities.

Stanford Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

In conclusion, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Stanford supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

• College Essay

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Stanford Supplemental Essay Prompts

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Stanford University is a private research university located in Stanford, California. It is an extremely selective university with the acceptance rate hovering around 4% . In order to apply, students must complete the Stanford supplemental essays. Before applying to any university or college, you should make sure that it is the right fit for you. Meaning, it has the programs, location, cost, extracurricular activities and more that you are longing for. 

Once you know this school is the right fit for you, spend some time researching. This will help you breeze through the application process due to your extensive knowledge of the school and all the programs and opportunities available. If you’ve decided that you are interested in Stanford, it’s time to dig into their supplemental essays. Here’s our guide for how to ace each prompt on the application.

Related:  Most prestigious scholarships in the US

Stanford supplemental essays – 100 to 250 word responses

The three supplemental essay questions Stanford requires must be answered between 100 to 250 words. This may seem like a lot,  but it truly is not once you start answering these prompts. Therefore, try to be short and sweet with your answers. Do not use filler words or go off track to ensure the word count is met. 

“The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.” 

This is the time to discuss a passion you have in regards to academics. Be specific with this response and consider what major or type of study you want to get involved in college that are not typical academics offered at the high school level. 

Try and channel your inner nerd! Think of a time while learning that something truly fascinated you and you wanted to continue to learn more. 

Questions to consider: 

• What is your favorite subject to learn? 
• What class or major are you most excited to be a part of in college? 
• What is something that you nerd out about? 

Related:  How to write a 250 word essay

“Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.”

This prompt is a chance to show a side of you that most colleges do not see from an application. Rather than looking at grades or academics they want to learn more about your personality and who you are as a person outside of a school environment. 

This prompt wants you to write to a future roommate so the tone should be more casual as if you were just talking to a good friend. So, this essay is a great opportunity to stray away from a typical essay format and play around with different styles of writing and formatting. 

Do not focus on Stanford or academic related activities such as wanting to study together or wanting to attend a football game together as roommates. This will not provide an admissions officer with a true understanding of you on a personal level.

Rather, you should answer this prompt by focusing on the minute and intimate details of your life that a roommate would experience. For example, maybe you have to go to sleep listening to music or maybe you have to wake up and immediately go get an iced coffee before you can function. 

After considering these experiences, you should then think about why you do these things. Understanding your motivations and the “why” to your actions will allow you to write a solid response to this prompt. 

• What is something unique about yourself that only those who live with you can see? 
• What type of morning or night routine do you have? 
• What are you looking forward to in regards to having a roommate? What are you not looking forward to? 
• What makes you you? 
• What are some fun facts about yourself? 
• How would you introduce yourself to a stranger? 

Don’t miss:  How to write an essay about yourself

“Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.”

This is an extremely broad prompt and can be tricky to narrow it down to one 100-250 word answer. Luckily, it is the last essay question so therefore you should think about what you have not revealed about yourself in your application that you would like to. 

For this prompt, you can choose to focus on what makes you “you.” Think about how your unique perspective and life experience brings something special to the Stanford University community. Express that you want to meaningfully share what your experiences and make a difference to others. 

Questions to consider

• What have you not written about yourself in this application yet? 
• What is something that you are passionate about? Something you could talk about for hours? 
• What do you spend your free time doing? 
• Have you ever volunteered somewhere? 
• If you could donate to any organization who would it be? Why? 

Related:  How to respond to the Common App essay prompts

Short answer questions- 50 words

In addition to the supplemental essay questions you will need to answer 5 short answer questions with a 50 word limit. 

50 words is not a lot so really try to be concise and direct with your answers. This is not the section to drone on about random details rather you should be straightforward.

Short answer 1

“What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?” 

Pick a not-too broad topic that is a true challenge to society today and include a quick “why”, it is important to emphasize your logic and opinion behind the challenge. 

Short answer 2

“How did you spend your last two summers?” 

Do not talk about the mundane aspects of your summer rather focus on something you did to better yourself or an experience that you have learned from. Try to consider something you did related to what you want to study in college. This can include volunteering or job experience you may have. 

Short answer 3

“What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?” 

This response should utilize your imagination so try and truly think about a moment you wish you could have witnessed. It does not have to be a huge event that altered the course of life, rather it can be a smaller historical event such as a concert. The important thing with this prompt is to reveal more about your personality so choose something you are interested in. 

Short answer 4

“Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold or responsibilities you have for your family.” 

Use this space to discuss experiences outside of a school setting that you are a part of. Try to show your diverse interests in this answer. 

Short answer 5

“List five things that are important to you.” 

The five things you choose will be unique to you, so there is really no right or wrong. If you can find a way to tie how you will continue to connect to those things while at Stanford, all the better. Through researching Stanford you should have a good idea about the culture and programs of the school.  Just try and show your personality through your response. 

Don’t miss:  Guide to reach, match, and safety schools

Next steps after applying to Stanford

Once you’ve completed the Stanford supplemental essays, take a breather! The hard part is over and your application is just about ready. Congratulations, you did it! Your next step should be continuing to show demonstrated interest in Stanford so they know you are committed and prioritizing their school (even if you have a few other top choices).

This can be done by following their social media accounts, reaching out to admissions officers, scheduling an in-person or virtual tour , reading up on what you want to get involved in on campus and more.  Essentially, showing interest and staying connected will allow you to get that extra foot in the door and make your name known.

Also see:  How to choose a college

Additional resources

Once you’ve sent off your application, remember to be proactive as you wait to hear back from each school. It’s never too early to apply for scholarships, and our free scholarship search tool is a great resource to connect you to vetted and personalized opportunities. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re applying to a diverse coalition of colleges – check out our guides for how many schools to apply to , and how to find a financial safety school .

Once you hear back from your schools, you’ll have some big choices to make. Check out our guides to interpreting your financial aid award letter , and appealing it if it does not provide enough money. If you’ll be taking out loans, we can also help you choose the best loans for your situation . Good luck out there, and make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for while you are eligible!

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12 Best Stanford Supplemental Essays That Worked 2024

Your essays are one of the best ways you can stand out in Stanford's competitive admissions process.

In this article, I'm going to share with you 12 answers to Stanford's notorious writing supplement from an admitted student.

Stanford University Admissions FAQs

Many students are interested in applying to Stanford, even though admission may seem like a long-shot.

But you may surprise yourself, and for many students it's the only time in their life they'll apply.

Here are some common questions students and parents have about Stanford's admissions:

What is Stanford University's acceptance rate?

This past year, Stanford had a record 55,471 applications and admitted 2,190 students. That gives Stanford an overall admit rate of 3.95%.

Or in other words, less than 1 in 25 students are admitted.

Just having good stats is not enough to get into schools like Stanford.

Which makes your essays are a critical opportunity for you to show why you should be accepted.

Stanford University Acceptance Scattergram

But for any school that has competitive admissions like Stanford, that only means your essays are more heavily weighed.

Each year thousands of students apply with stats that are good enough to get in. And your essays are one important factor admissions officers use.

What is Stanford's application deadline for this year?

Stanford offers two admissions deadlines for 2022-23: restrictive early action and regular decision.

For this year, Stanford's deadlines are:

• Restrictive Early Action (REA): November 1st, 2022
• Regular Decision (RD): January 5th, 2023

How many essays does Stanford require?

This year, Stanford University requires applying students to answer five Short Questions and write three Short Essays. If you're applying with the Common App, you'll also need a strong personal statement essay .

Stanford is notorious for its lengthy and creative writing supplement. The questions are known to be thought-provoking, which is done on purpose.

Stanford admissions officers want to dig into your thought process, and learn how you think.

What are the Stanford supplemental essay prompts for 2022-23?

For 2024, the Stanford writing supplement consists of eight questions total:

Short Questions

Stanford requires applicants to answer five short answer questions of between 3 and 50 words each.

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (3-50 words)

How did you spend your last two summers? (3-50 words)

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (3-50 words)

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (3-50 words)

Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (3-50 words)

Short Essays

Stanford's short essays are three required essays of between 100 and 250 words each.

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100-250 words)

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better. (100-250 words)

Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (100-250 words)

Stanford's unique prompts give you a lot of freedom in how you choose to respond.

But being so open-ended can also make it difficult to get started.

Because of that, it can be helpful to see how other students wrote answers to Stanford's prompts in recent years.

12 Stanford University Essays That Worked

For getting your best shot at Stanford, you'll need to write authentic and interesting essays.

My advice: Have fun with the prompts when coming up with ideas. But write about them with care and diligence. Above all, be authentic.

Check out how these admitted Stanford students wrote their essay and short answer responses.

I've also included a great Common App essay from an admitted student.

• Stanford University Essay Example #1
• Stanford University Essay Example #2
• Stanford University Essay Example #3
• Stanford University Essay Example #4
• Stanford University Essay Example #5
• Stanford University Essay Example #6
• Stanford University Essay Example #7
• Stanford University Essay Example #8
• Stanford University Essay Example #9
• Stanford University Essay Example #10
• Stanford University Essay Example #11
• Stanford University Essay Example #12

1. Stanford University Short Question

Prompt: What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 words max)

RECOGNIZING. CLIMATE. CHANGE.

Why This Essay Works:

• Bold and Unique: Stanford's prompts reward bold and genuine writing. It is okay to be simple and straightforward, but still must be thoughtful as this response is.
• Well-Composed: Although only three words, this response still shows thought. The use of capitalization and periods separating each word emphasizes the author's point and makes it even more poignant.

What They Might Change:

• Use The Full Word Limit: It is risky to leave 47 words unused. This essay succeeds in taking that risk, but generally you should use all the words available because each one is an opportunity to convey more meaning.

2. Stanford University Short Question

Prompt: How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words max)

[Date] : Working with the head of IT at Golden Gate Parks and Rec to renovate the social media program and redesign the website. (sfrecpark.org)

[Date] : Studying at Stanford High School Summer College, building a family in two months.

• Answers Prompt Directly: This response leaves no room for doubt. And shows that you don't have to be fancy or "try hard" for all essays. Sometimes plain answers work best when it is a short prompt like this one.
• Organized Clearly: For straightforward answers, having a straightforward structure can be a good thing. Each word is used carefully and has a purpose.
• Has Strong Ideas: You don't need much to convey meaning. In just the last six words ("building a family in two months") there is hints of deeper ideas.

3. Stanford University Short Question

Prompt: What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words max)

The Trinity test, the first detonation of the atomic bomb. For one, an opportunity to meet my role models: Oppenheimer, Feynman, Fermi, etc. But also, to witness the 4 millisecond shift to an era of humanity that could eradicate itself. “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

• Connects To Author's Interests: The author cleverly reveals about themselves by telling their role models: the physicists involved.
• Shows Specific Knowledge: Rather than just saying "the first atomic bomb test", the author names it specifically: The Trinity Test. Including the famous Oppenheimer quote from the Bhagavad Gita also shows real thought was put into it.

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4. Stanford University Short Question

Prompt: Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (50 words max)

Representing an ideal.

Stanford is a gathering place of people working towards a common ideal; one of engagement, passion, intellectual vitality, and devotion to progress. This is what I stand for, so I want to help Stanford represent it.

(Also those cream cheese croissants from CoHo.)

• Idea-Focused: The author's take on what Stanford represents ("an ideal") is a unique perspective.
• Authentic Motivations: Revealing your genuine motivation for attending a school shows your interest is not surface-level. The author's motivation is also a powerful one: representing an ideal.
• Lighthearted and Relatable: The last remark in parantheses lightens the tone, while still relating to Stanford specifically. Admissions officers surely would crack a smile at this remark because it is relatable to them and genuine.

5. Stanford University Short Question

Prompt: What five words best describe you? (5 words max)

I don’t conform to arbitrary boundaries.

• Bold and Takes a Risk: Stanford supplements are the perfect place to take a (calculated) risk. This type of answer only works if A.) it hasn't been done before and B.) it is genuine and not done just for the sake of risk-taking.

6. Stanford University Short Question

Prompt: Imagine you had an extra hour in the day — how would you spend that time? (50 words max)

One extra hour is thirty minutes extra of daylight.

The US has 28 GW of installed solar capacity. With the extra daylight, there will be a 4% increase in national capacity, an entire GW added. This small increase alone powers 700,000 homes. I’m spending the time investing in photovoltaics!

• Thinks Outside the Box: Most students would answer this prompt more literally: with what activity they would do. Having a unique approach shows your ability to think differently.
• Cleverness: Strikes the right balance between being clever and genuinely answering the prompt. Trying too hard to be clever is easily seen-through.
• Explain Acronyms Before Using: Instead of writing "GW," the first reference should say "gigawatt." This is a minor semantic correction that would make things slightly more clear.

7. Stanford University "Genuinely Excited About Learning" Short Essay

Prompt: The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100-250 words)

It’s in the mail.

I rip open the package.

It feels sleek along my fingertips. Three volumes. Gorgeous red binding with stunning silver lettering. THE Feynman LECTURES ON PHYSICS The NEW MILLENIUM Edition

I had heard about them previously, but a Quora thread on “essential physics texts” convinced me to invest in them. I thought I was buying a textbook, but I was buying a new way of life. That night, while I laid in bed, Feynman changed my entire perspective of the universe. In the first lecture.

Not only was he a Nobel prize winning physicist with a unique approach to the subject, but his pedagogical capabilities were perfectly suited to my personality. When Feynman teaches, he does not just teach physics, he teaches how to think and understand. He helped me recognize that my passion wasn’t for physics, it was for a passion for learning and understanding.

Spoken directly from the source: “I don't know anything, but I do know that everything is interesting if you go into it deeply enough.”

Reading the Lectures rouses within me the most intense feeling of elation I have ever experienced. When I open the Lectures, any bad mood is erased, any haze in my mind is cleared away, and I become the person I strive to be.

Now, I always have at least one of the Lectures on me. At festivals, in backpacks, in carryons, if I am there, so are the Lectures.

• Tells a Story: Painting a vivid picture can bring admissions officers into your world. Using stories also is a compelling way to share ideas without stating them plainly.
• Showcases Genuine Interest: Write about things in a way that only you could write about. The authenticity in this essay is palpable.

8. Stanford University "Letter to Roommate" Short Essay

Prompt: Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate -- and us -- know you better. (100-250 words)

Dear roommate,

Don’t be alarmed if you glance over at my laptop late at night displaying a plague doctor examining a watermelon with a stethoscope, meticulously listening for a heartbeat.

I apologise for waking you, but before requesting a room change, allow me to explain. This twisted scene is innocently my favorite video on YouTube. I have ASMR, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. It is a euphoric, calming sensation triggered by visual and auditory stimuli like whispering and fine movements, which I use to aid my insomnia. This plague doctor, played by youtuber Ephemeral Rift, has movements as he inspects the watermelon that are as calming to me as a mother’s lullabies are to a child.

I know we will both have our strong, unique personalities with our individual quirks like this. However, I guarantee we have a fundamental similarity which lead us to becoming Stanford students.

We have passion for learning. Even if two people are polar-opposite personalities, they can become family if they have this.

That said, I have a feeling we won’t be polar opposites. I love jamming on my guitar, going out to parties, playing video games, messing around with soccer, and a hodgepodge of other hobbies. I’m sure we’ll have some common ground to start off but either way there will be plenty of time to grow together!

P.S. I am a whiteboard fiend. I hope that’s okay.

• Humanizes the Author: Being quirky for quirkiness sake isn't good. But the author strikes a balance between showing their unique (some may say strange) interests and the relatable aspects (like whiteboards, going to parties, and soccer).
• Connects to Bigger Ideas: Even in "unserious" writing, connecting to meaningful ideas is key. The author brilliantly shows what relates all Stanford students: their passion for learning.
• Minor Writing Fixes: Small edits such as capitalizing the proper noun "Youtuber" and some word choices could be altered.

9. Stanford University "Meaningful To You" Short Essay

Prompt: Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (100-250 words)

A meaningful discussion can be found deep in the jungle of YouTube, during an obscure “CBS This Morning” interview with Bill Murray.

“What do you want, that you don’t have?” - Charlie Rose

Bill Murray - “I’d like to be here all the time, and just see what I could get done, what I could do if I really, you know, didn’t cloud myself... if I were able to... to not get distracted. To not change channels in my mind and body, to be my own channel.”

Death is scary but my slimy, monolithic, Lovecraftian fear is unengagement. I only have a brief time to experience life and I know I will find the most fulfillment in “[seeing] what I could get done.” When I feel that signature fuzzy, tired feeling in my head, I am reminded of my old night terrors; I would be awake yet unable to interact with my surroundings.

In sophomore year, when I discovered my passion for physics, I found a powerful way to stay engaged. Developing a passion fundamentally requires me, as Murray puts it, “to be my own channel.” Problem solving, understanding difficult concepts, having intense discussions all demand your mind to be present and I am more than happy to oblige.

Intellectual vitality is not my application buzzword, it is my lifestyle.

• Shows What Drives Them: Admissions officers are interested in the root of your being. That is, what gets you up in the morning. Showing your perspective on life and what you hope to get out of life is key.
• Connects to Application's Interests: A central theme of this author is physics. And each essay relates back to their intended area of study to a varying degree. By connecting to the rest of your application, it creates a cohesive picture of yourself as an applicant.
• Use Less Quotes: Quotes can be great for introducing ideas. But ultimately admissions officers want to hear your words, not other people's. The first three paragraphs are about other people's ideas, not the author's, and could be condensed.

10. Stanford University Short Essay

Prompt: Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (150 words max)

One month into AP Physics C Mr. Shapiro's cancer came out of remission. With no teacher for the rest of the semester, I offered to give a few lectures. The first try was a huge success and I was hooked on teaching.

Following my newfound addiction, I started Lowell Physics Club (LPC). Our first lecture attracted 50 students, with 40 returning the next week!

A victim of grandeur, I designed an environment more than a club. It had to be innovative, attractive, and have a tangible payoff. We tutor students in physics, connect those looking for fun projects, prepare students for the F=ma Olympiad, and sometimes I give lectures which expand rather than repeat. This year two students qualified.

Mr. Shapiro returned this semester and continued teaching. I can now relax in the back of the room listening to his engaging lectures, occasionally giving one of my own.

• Provides Backstory: Explaining how you got started in an extracurricular is compelling because it reveals your motivations for doing it.
• Shows Takeaways from Their Achievements: Listing achievements and extracurriculars isn't as important as what you got from them. The author emphasizes the important of their extracurricular and why it is meaningful, rather than just what they did.
• Be Careful With Personal Details: Unless this author got permission from "Mr. Shapiro" to use their name, revealing personal details such as health conditions is not good to do. Always be careful naming people in your essays, but especially for potentially sensitive topics.

11. Stanford University Short Question

Prompt: When the choice is yours, what do you read, listen to, or watch? (50 words max)

From my bookshelf, Youtube subscriptions, Netflix history, and Spotify.

The Feynman Lectures, MF Doom, Ephemeral Rift, Tank and The Bangas, The Eric Andre Show, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Hubbard and Hubbard’s Differential Equations and Vector Calculus, Thích Nhất Hạnh, Kamasi Washington, 3Blue1Brown, Al Green, Band of Gypsys, Oxford Press - Very Short Introductions

• Answers Prompt Clearly: Provides a straightforward response without room for misinterpretation.
• Has Good Context: By stating where these interests come from ("bookshelf, Youtube subscriptions, Netflix"), the answers have more context.
• Organization: Listing their interests by type (such as musical artists, authors, and TV shows) would help readers who may not be as familiar with all the interests.

12. Stanford University Common App Essay

Common App Prompt #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (250-650 words)

Slowly, my passion emerged from pretense and envy into reality.

This essay is all based upon the metaphor of "the itch" representing a desire to understand the world. By using a central theme, such as a metaphor, you can create a thread of ideas that run throughout your essay. If you want to use a metaphor, make sure it clearly relates to the idea you're trying to express, rather than choosing one just because it is a creative or unique approach. In this case, there is perhaps no better metaphor than "the itch" which would capture their main idea, so it works well.

Instead of "telling" their ideas, this essay does a lot of fantastic "showing" through specific anecdotes. Sentences like "I learned to sing the blues before I knew the words..." capture a lot about the author's character and background without having to say it outright. By showing the reader, you allow them to draw their own conclusions rather than just having to accept what you're telling them. Using specific language also creates a more vibrant and interesting essay. Rather than saying "I loved learning as a kid," this student shows it using a concrete example: "my favorite book was an introduction to fulcrums".

Writing about other people in your essay can be a great way to tell things about yourself. Known as a literary "foil," by describing other people you can show your own values without stating them plainly. In this essay, the author shows their value (of being passionate about learning) by first recognizing that value in somebody else, "Kikki" in this case. By writing about people in your life, you can also create a sense of humility and humanity. Nobody is an "island," meaning that everyone is influenced by those around us. Showing how you draw inspiration, values, or lessons from others will show more about your character than simply telling admissions would.

In general, listing activities in your essay is a bad strategy, because it is repetitive of your activities list and comes across boring. However, this essay manages to list their activities in the 3rd-to-last paragraph by connecting them to a central idea: how their newfound passion for learning sparked all these new engagements. Listing activities can be okay, but only if they have a clear purpose in doing so. In this case, the purpose is to show how these activities are representative of their new passion for learning. But the purpose for listing activities could also be to show a specific value, provide examples for your idea, demonstrate your new perspective, etc.

What Can You Learn From These Stanford Essays?

Do you want to get into Stanford in 2022? If so, writing great application essays is one of your most critical parts of applying.

With selective schools like Stanford, your essays matter even more.

Hopefully these 12 Stanford short answers and essays have helped inspire you.

From these essay examples, you can learn what it takes to write some stellar Stanford supplements:

• Don't be afraid to be creative
• Don't write formally. You can write as you would speak.
• Showcase your genuine self, interests, and passions
• Think outside the box, if appropriate and natural

If you enjoyed these essays, you'll also like reading UCLA essays and USC essays .

What did you think of these Stanford essays?

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Stanford University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 2023-24

If Stanford is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how you can make your application stand out. Your responses to Stanford’s supplemental essay questions are a significant way to set yourself apart from other applicants. However, these essay prompts require you to be both concise and creative, which is not an easy task. Keep reading to learn more about Stanford’s supplemental essays for the 2023-24 admissions cycle and how to craft them.   

How Much Do Stanford Essays Matter?

Writing a compelling essay as part of the Common Application is one way for the Stanford admissions committee to get to know you. However, the additional prompts that Stanford University requires going a bit deeper to find out more about who you are, what you hope to get out of the undergraduate experience, and what contributions you can make specifically to the Stanford community. As the Stanford admissions office states, “These questions help us get to know you as a friend, future roommate, and classmate.”

Do the Stanford essays matter that much? Think about it this way — other applicants may have comparable grades and test scores, so you need to have something in your application that makes you stand out. Submitting compelling and authentic college essays helps you do just that. However, you need to ensure you do your research and truly know what Stanford University is like , so you can be specific and detailed in your responses.

How Many Supplementals Does Stanford Require?

Stanford has a total of eight supplements, which include three short essay questions of 100-250 words each and five short questions with a limit of 50 words each. You are required to complete all eight of them to be considered for admission.

If you’re wondering how to get into Stanford , focus on crafting responses to these essay questions that demonstrate your intellectual drive, personal growth, and interest in attending the university. Successful essays will give the admissions committee a fuller picture of you beyond your academic performance and activities list.

What Are the Stanford Supplemental Essays and How to Craft Them

According to Mike, IvyWise Master College Admissions Counselor and former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford, “If you look at the Stanford supplement questions, I think it gives you an idea of what they value.” This includes your impact in academics, how you will fit into the community, and the unique perspective you can contribute.  

Your responses to each prompt should be unique and reveal something new about yourself that isn’t found elsewhere in your application — in other words, avoid repetition. Take each response seriously, but feel free to have fun with them, too. Your personality should shine through in each essay, so if you’re normally a funny person, feel free to add some humor. If you’re typically more sentimental, don’t be afraid to make your responses heartfelt.

Stanford’s essay topics are subject to change every year. Here are the prompts from the 2023-24 admissions cycle.

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100-250 words)

This question is designed to help the admissions office understand the depth of your intellectual curiosity and your motivation for learning. When answering this question, focus on one subject or experience that inspires you to learn more and how you act on that inspiration. Keep it brief, but ensure the narrative structure demonstrates how well you will contribute to the academic environment at Stanford. Of course, each student’s response to this question will be unique, but this example may help you think about ways to craft your essay.

The concept of renewable energy has always fascinated me. Last summer, I had the opportunity to intern at a local solar energy startup. Witnessing the real-world impact of sustainable technology ignited my fervor for learning.

Working alongside passionate engineers, I saw firsthand how solar panels transformed sunlight into a viable energy source. It was like witnessing magic unfold before my eyes. The intricate engineering, coupled with the commitment to a greener future, profoundly enhanced my understanding of energy systems.

What truly excited me was the potential for innovation in this field. The idea that we’re on the cusp of breakthroughs that could redefine how we power our world is both awe-inspiring and humbling. It’s not just about reducing our carbon footprint; it’s about revolutionizing the way we interact with our environment.

This experience propelled me to explore renewable energy even further. I researched advancements in solar technology, attended webinars, and even initiated a sustainability club at my high school. The prospect of contributing to a more sustainable future has become my driving force.

Joining the Stanford community, with its reputation for curiosity and drive, would be a dream come true. I envision collaborating with like-minded individuals in the Atmosphere/Energy program, pushing the boundaries of sustainable technology, and ultimately, leaving a lasting impact on our planet’s future.

Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate and us know you better. (100-250 words)

This prompt is meant to be creative and should read like you’re writing a letter or an email to a friend instead of the admissions committee. This is a great opportunity to really show off your personality and even be humorous. Just avoid the temptation to use vernacular language — grammatical correctness is still important! The following is a great example of how you might respond to this prompt.   

Dear Future Roommate,

I can’t wait to share this new chapter at Stanford with you! There’s something you should know about me: I’m a nocturnal creature. Late nights are when my creativity and focus peak. Don’t be surprised if you find me buried in books or typing away at my laptop well into the night — I tend to lose track of time! But fear not, I’m a ninja with my noise-canceling headphones, so your sleep schedule won’t be disrupted.

I’m also a bit of a plant enthusiast. You’ll likely spot a small jungle of greenery adorning our room. They’re like my leafy companions, bringing life and a touch of tranquility to our space. Feel free to water them if you’d like; they appreciate all the love they can get.

When it comes to music, I have an eclectic taste. From indie rock to classical piano, there’s a little bit of everything on my playlist. I’m always up for a jam session or discovering new artists, so if you’re a music lover, too, we’ll have some great times together.

Exploring new cuisines is a passion of mine, so I’m always game for trying out local eateries or cooking up something unique. If you ever want to embark on a culinary adventure, count me in!

I’m genuinely excited about this journey at Stanford, and I can’t wait to learn more about you and the experiences you’ll bring to our shared space. Here’s to an amazing year ahead!

Warm regards,

Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate at Stanford University. (100-250 words)

This prompt is so common that you may have a response you can use for more than one school — just make sure you tailor your responses instead of copying and pasting and don’t forget to change the name of the school! That is one of the most common mistakes we see students make in their responses! 

This prompt is a great opportunity for you to focus on specific strengths or skills you can bring to the Stanford community, whether you’re good at organizing events, managing projects, leading groups, or something else. Check out this example for inspiration:

Growing up in a multicultural household, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for diversity and inclusion. I’ve seen firsthand how different perspectives enrich our understanding of the world. This has driven me to be an advocate for inclusivity, whether by leading diversity-focused initiatives in my high school or volunteering at local community centers.

My passion for environmental sustainability has led me to engage in various eco-conscious projects. From organizing tree-planting drives to participating in beach cleanups, I am committed to addressing pressing environmental challenges. At Stanford, I intend to continue this commitment, channeling my enthusiasm into research and initiatives that promote sustainability and getting involved in Students for a Sustainable Stanford. 

My interest in computer science and technology is another facet of my character. I’ve spent countless hours coding, participating in hackathons, and developing software solutions for community problems. This technical prowess, combined with my entrepreneurial spirit, drives me to create innovative solutions that can positively impact society.

Lastly, the resilience and adaptability I honed through overcoming personal challenges equip me to thrive in a rigorous academic environment. I view setbacks as opportunities for growth and believe in perseverance in the face of adversity.

My diverse background, commitment to inclusivity, dedication to sustainability, technical proficiency, and resilience are qualities I believe will enable me to contribute uniquely to the Stanford community, fostering positive change and making a meaningful impact on campus and beyond.

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 words maximum)

This is a serious question with an extremely short answer, so your response needs to pack a lot of punch. Check out this example about climate change:

Climate change looms as the most significant challenge, imperiling our planet’s future. Its far-reaching consequences affect ecosystems, food security, and vulnerable communities. Urgent global cooperation is required to mitigate its impact and safeguard our world for future generations.

How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words maximum)

This is an opportunity for you to share how you contributed to your community or completed a project. The important thing is focusing on the parts of your activities list that are impactful and help the Stanford admissions committee picture how you’ll fit in on campus.

Last summer, I interned at a local environmental nonprofit, working on community-driven sustainability projects. The previous year, I attended a coding bootcamp, honing my software development skills. Both experiences fueled my passion for sustainable technology solutions and equipped me with invaluable practical knowledge.

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words maximum)

This is a fun prompt because you can choose any moment or event from any time period. However, it’s important to briefly explain your choice, like this short answer below:

I wish I could have witnessed the moon landing in 1969. The sheer audacity of humanity reaching another celestial body, the unity it inspired, and the possibilities it unlocked for future exploration make it an awe-inspiring moment in history.

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50 words maximum)

This is another common supplemental essay prompt. While you elaborate on your one activity, job, or responsibility, make sure to tie it into what you hope to contribute to Stanford.

Leading my school’s Model United Nations team, I fostered debate, diplomacy, and global awareness. Organizing conferences and mentoring team members taught me leadership, research, and public speaking. This experience ignited my interest in international relations, and I aspire to continue it at Stanford.

List five things that are important to you. (50 words maximum)

Don’t just list five things — explain why they are important to you. Here’s an example:

• Family: Their unwavering love and support anchor me.
• Education: A gateway to personal growth and positive change.
• Sustainability: A commitment to protecting our planet’s future.
• Inclusivity: Fostering diverse perspectives and empathy.
• Integrity: Upholding honesty and ethics in all endeavors.

What Should You Definitely Not Include in Your Supplemental Essays?

When responding to the supplemental essay questions for Stanford, it’s important to present a positive, professional, and balanced tone. Avoid humor or language that may be offensive or inappropriate, and stay away from clichés, platitudes, or generic language that don’t provide unique insights into who you are as an individual. When writing about challenges you’ve faced, focus on solutions, personal growth, and resilience.

Use your essays to provide new insights and perspectives, not traditional answers. It’s also important to be yourself — not who you think the admissions committee wants you to be. Authenticity is key! That said, while some personal anecdotes can add depth to your essays, avoid including irrelevant personal details or stories that don’t contribute to your narrative.

Remember that the goal of supplemental essays is to provide the Stanford admissions committee with a better understanding of who you are, your values, and how you would contribute to their academic community. This is a competitive school with an acceptance rate of under 4%, so it’s important to be thoughtful, genuine, and focused when crafting your essays. Don’t forget to carefully review them for any inappropriate or irrelevant content before submission!

Need help from an expert? Consider college counseling to ensure you submit a successful application that tells your story in the most compelling way and helps you gain admission into your best-fit school.  

Related Topics

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• How to Write Princeton Supplemental Essays
• 2024-25 Common App Essay Prompts
• How to Write the Yale Supplemental Essays
• Tips for Supplemental Essays
• 2023-24 Cornell University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide
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Home » IvyWise College Admissions Blog » College Admission Advice » College Essays » Stanford University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 2023-24

Stanford Essays 2023-24

Stanford supplemental essays .

The Stanford essays form a critical part of the application process. Like at many top schools around the country, when you apply to Stanford, you’ll complete school-specific Stanford essay prompts in addition to the Common App essay. If you’re wondering how to get into Stanford, strong Stanford supplemental essays are a good place to start. 

In this article, we’ll discuss each of the Stanford supplemental essays in detail, including the Stanford roommate essay and other Stanford essays. Additionally, we’ll review the requirements for each of the Stanford essay prompts. We’ll also provide resources with Stanford essay examples that you can use when writing your own Stanford essays. Finally, we’ll offer more tips on how to get into Stanford, including application deadlines, dates, and timelines.

Stanford Essays: Quick Facts

Stanford university supplemental essays quick facts.

• Stanford Acceptance Rate: The acceptance rate for Stanford admissions is only 4% according to U.S. News . 
• Understanding the Stanford Essay Requirements: The Stanford requirements include three Stanford supplemental essays. Each of the Stanford essays must be between 100 and 250 words.
• Applying to Stanford: Students must complete the Common Application and the Stanford requirements before the Stanford application deadline. Make sure you submit your Stanford supplemental essays along with all other application materials when applying .
• Restrictive Early Action Deadline: November 1
• Standard Application Deadline: January 5
• Top Stanford Essays Tip: Because you have to complete three Stanford essays, make sure you give yourself enough time to work on each of them. Even though each of the essays is only at most 250 words, shorter essays can take longer to revise and perfect.

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website. 

Does Stanford have supplemental essays?

Yes, students must complete three Stanford supplemental essays. Students must submit their Stanford supplemental essays in addition to the Common App essay and the other Stanford requirements. These Stanford essays help the admissions team get to know their applicants better and evaluate whether they will be a good fit for the school.

How many essays does Stanford require?

Students must submit responses to three Stanford essay prompts as part of their application. In addition to these Stanford supplemental essays, there are also several additional short answer prompts that students must complete. 

These responses are limited to 50 words maximum, so they are not quite long enough to be considered full Stanford essays. However, they are still an important part of your application, so plan to spend as much time on those responses as your responses to the Stanford essay prompts. You can find a list of these additional prompts along with tips and Stanford essays examples in our guide here .

Do Stanford essays change?

The Stanford essay prompts do sometimes change from year to year. One of their more well-known prompts, the Stanford roommate essay, has been part of the application for a while and likely won’t change. However, in the 2021-2022 school year , one of the Stanford essay prompts asked students to talk about a topic that was meaningful to them. Now, that question has been changed to ask students: what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University?

Even though the Stanford supplemental essays may change, the purpose behind the Stanford essays remains the same. The admissions team uses the Stanford supplemental essays to get to know students on a deeper and more personal level. While grades and extracurricular activities are also important, the Stanford essays allow students to share parts of their life and experiences that the admissions office would not otherwise know. So, in each of your Stanford essays, highlight why you would be a perfect fit for Stanford!

What are the Stanford essay prompts?

The Stanford supplemental essays consist of three different Stanford essay prompts. Each prompt must be answered with an essay of between 100 and 250 words. The Stanford essay prompts for 2023-2024 are as follows and can also be found on the Stanford admissions website:

Stanford University Essay Prompts

1. the stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning., 2. virtually all of stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better., 3. please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to stanford university..

Before you start writing your Stanford essays, we recommend taking the time to read each of the Stanford essay prompts carefully. This will help you know exactly what each prompt asks so you can craft a strong response. 

Below, we’ll break down each prompt individually and show you how you can write standout Stanford essays for each prompt. For additional tips and Stanford essay examples, check out our Stanford essays guide .

Stanford Essays #1

The first of the Stanford essay prompts is fairly straightforward. This prompt asks you to describe a time or experience that sparked a passion for learning. The possibilities for answering this prompt vary widely. However, the key to any great essay is specificity and focus. Remember that you only have a maximum of 250 words to write your Stanford supplemental essays, so you need to choose which of your passions to focus on. 

Start by identifying a formative moment when you developed a love for learning about your chosen subject. Then, build from that to show your intellectual curiosity. For instance, this could be a school field trip to a planetarium that inspired an ongoing love of space. The best essays begin by immediately pulling their readers into a story rather than restating the prompt or giving a general introduction.

Keep it authentic

Some students make the mistake of trying to look perfect and writing Stanford essay examples that they believe readers want to see. Being authentic and showing off your unique personality is much more important. In fact, your readers will appreciate getting to know the real you. 

This prompt asks about more than just a single defining moment. It is about why this moment was meaningful and how that moment inspired you to keep learning and growing. So, don’t be afraid to show off how much you love your topic.

Stanford Essays #2

Prompt #2 is the famous Stanford roommate essay. While the other Stanford essays share common elements with other essay prompts, the Stanford roommate essay is in a category of its own. In the Stanford roommate essay, students write a letter introducing themselves to their future roommate. This essay can take many forms, from a standard letter beginning with “Dear Roomie,” to a list of important characteristics, and even a “day in the life” snapshot where the writer describes what a typical Stanford day might look like for them.

Whichever format you choose for your Stanford roommate essay, remember that your audience for this essay is not just your hypothetical future roommate, but also the Stanford admissions team. So, like your other Stanford essays, your Stanford roommate essay should highlight what makes you unique. 

Approaching the Stanford roommate essay

Think about what quirks, characteristics, or personality traits you want to reveal about yourself. Then, come up with anecdotes or stories that showcase those characteristics. Instead of simply saying to your reader, “I am an avid crossword puzzle solver,” you can convey the same information in a more interesting way by saying “You’ll probably wake up most mornings and hear me mumbling random words to myself while hunched over a newspaper. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll be more social once I finish my daily crossword!”

The Stanford roommate essay can seem intimidating at first, but it can also be a fun way to show off who you are. If you have trouble coming up with ideas, don’t be afraid to ask family members or friends for help. They may be able to identify parts of your personality that would make great subjects for your Stanford roommate essay. 

Stanford Essays #3

After the Stanford roommate essay, the final prompt for the Stanford supplemental essays asks you to describe why you would make a “distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.” In other words, this essay asks you to tell the admissions team how you would contribute to life at Stanford. Although this question is more straightforward than the Stanford roommate essay, you should still think carefully about your response. 

As with the other Stanford essays, there is no single right answer for how you would contribute to the Stanford community. Like other top colleges, Stanford hopes to create a diverse community of students. So, write about what excites you and let your passion for those subjects shine through. Just remember that you only have 250 words to answer the Stanford essays. So, it helps to pick out two or three key ways you would get involved at Stanford.

Getting specific

The Stanford supplemental essays are also a great place to show off the research you have done about Stanford. Your Stanford supplemental essays should indicate both why you are a good fit for Stanford and why Stanford would be the perfect fit for your interests. The more specific details you include from either an in-person or virtual visit , the stronger your essay will be. Including the names of specific professors, internships, clubs, or study abroad programs is great, but make sure to provide context and specificity. Talk about why that aspect of life at Stanford stood out to you and how it connects back to your academic and career goals.

As with your other Stanford supplemental essays, make sure not to simply repeat your extracurriculars list from earlier in your application. If you do mention these activities, talk about how you would continue to pursue that interest at Stanford. Check out lists of student organizations and/or programs and see what lines up with your passions. For example, if you have an interest in journalism, you might talk about writing articles for the Stanford Daily or contributing to the many other student-run publications on campus. The more detailed you can get about what kind of Stanford student you would be, the better.

What is Stanford looking for in essays?

The Stanford supplemental essays serve several purposes. First and foremost, the Stanford supplemental essays help your application readers learn who you are in a more holistic way. The Stanford essays let you introduce yourself to the admissions team and give them a complete picture of who you are. So, your Stanford essays should highlight your life and experiences. 

The second purpose of the Stanford supplemental essays is to assess your writing abilities. No matter your major, you will write papers of some kind while at Stanford. So, Stanford wants to see that you have strong written communication skills. This does not mean that you need to fill your Stanford essays with impressive vocabulary words. Rather, Stanford simply wants to see clear, well-written prose that shows evidence of revision and thoughtfulness. So, make sure you check your Stanford supplemental essays for spelling and grammar before you submit them.

To learn more about Stanford check out this video from Stanford Admissions below:

Where can I find Stanford essays that worked?

One of the most effective things you can do to write better Stanford essays is to look at Stanford essays examples from admitted students. These essays can teach you what kinds of essays get students accepted to the most competitive schools in the country. It is important to note, however, that you should never copy someone else’s essay. Instead, think of these Stanford essays examples as a source of inspiration for your own writing. 

While there are books of Stanford supplemental essays available for you to purchase, there are plenty of free resources out there to help you with the Stanford supplemental essays. At CollegeAdvisor.com, we have a series of essay guides with tips for many different kinds of essays, including the Stanford supplemental essays. You can find the tips for the Stanford essays including full examples here and additional guidance for the Stanford supplemental essays here . You can also check out our full series about how to get into Stanford through the college page , which has all the info you need to ace your application.

Stanford Essays Examples

What is the application deadline for Stanford?

Like at other schools, students can choose between multiple Stanford application deadlines. If you know that Stanford is your first choice school, you can apply through the Restrictive Early Action pool. This pathway allows you to apply to other colleges as well as Stanford as long as those other applications are through a Regular Decision pathway (not Early Action or Decision). 

If admitted through REA, you are not required to attend Stanford and you have until May 1st to accept or decline your offer of admission. The Stanford application deadline for Restrictive Early Action is November 1st.

Students who do not wish to apply to Stanford through the Restrictive Early Action pathway can instead apply to Stanford through the Regular Decision pathway. Students who choose this route may apply to other schools with no restrictions from Stanford. The Regular Decision application deadline is January 5th, and students receive decisions from Stanford in early April. There are separate timelines and application deadlines for financial aid, which you can find on the school’s website .

Five tips for writing outstanding Stanford essays!

1. start early.

Because there are so many Stanford supplemental essays and short answer questions, it helps to get started on them as early as possible. Especially if you apply through the Restrictive Early Action pathway, you should give yourself enough time to write each of the Stanford essays. You likely won’t submit your first draft of the Stanford essays, so leave plenty of time to redraft and edit. This will also give you time to put the other Stanford essays tips we’ve discussed into practice!

2. Brainstorm ideas before writing

The Stanford supplemental essays, in particular the Stanford roommate essay, require a lot of personal reflection. Because of this, we recommend that you think critically about your passions, interests, and most important personal traits. That way, you can outline what you want your Stanford essays to say about you and choose subjects that highlight those aspects of your personality. The Stanford essays are not long enough to capture every one of your unique life experiences and qualities. So, choosing a few key details will help streamline your essays.

3. Show, don’t tell

This guideline can help you strengthen not only your Stanford essays, but also your writing in general. Try to use examples from your life to highlight your key traits rather than stating them outright. For example, if you want to show that you have exceptional leadership skills and a passion for gardening, you could describe how you created a horticulture club at your school and transformed an old courtyard into a plant sanctuary. These stories help your reader see the kind of person you are. Moreover, they provide perspective into the kind of student you would be at Stanford.

4. It’s all in the details 

Make sure your Stanford essays include vivid, specific details. The more descriptive and specific your language, the better your message will come across. So, keep your Stanford essays focused. Don’t try to include too much information—instead, center each essay on a single, compelling narrative. Then, use as much descriptive language as possible!  

5. Ask for help

The Stanford essays, and particularly the Stanford roommate essay, are not easy to complete. Moreover, writing any college essay is very different from writing a paper for class. So, find someone you trust to help you revise and edit your essays. Additionally, for prompts like the Stanford roommate essay, a second reader can provide useful insights. They also may catch mistakes or see improvements that you would not have otherwise considered. Just make sure that no one writes the Stanford essays for you! Admissions officers are trained to look for essays written by parents or siblings. Additionally, the strongest Stanford essays will capture your authentic voice. 

If you’re looking for help writing your Stanford supplemental essays, our advisors can help. We’ll provide one-on-one guidance to help you make the most of your Stanford essays. Click here to schedule a meeting with our team and learn more about how to make your Stanford essays count.

This essay guide was written by senior advisor, Alex Baggott-Rowe . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Stanford Supplemental Essay Examples

With tips for writing a compelling essay.

Looking at Stanford supplemental essay examples is a great way to prepare for your own  college supplemental essays . Even if you are not planning on attending  Stanford University , you will find that reviewing different college essays will help you learn how to tackle various types of essay prompts so that you can learn to write a better essay. If you are applying to Stanford or any other prestigious university, like the  Ivy League Schools , you will need a compelling essay to improve your chances of admission.

Every year, universities like Stanford get thousands of applications from students with good grades and strong extracurriculars, and only a few of them get admitted. In fact, last year, Stanford had an acceptance rate that was just under 4%. If you want to stand out and be part of those few students who get an offer of admission, you will need to write a college essay that stands out.

Reviewing different  college essay examples  can help you do that. So take a look at the X outstanding Stanford supplemental college essay examples that we share in this blog. We also share a few tips to help you ace your college essays and tackle tricky topics like the notorious Stanford roommate essay. 

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Article Contents 6 min read

Stanford supplemental essay example # 1.

Prompt: The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100 – 250 words)

My mother loves to tell me that I was born in a garden. It's not exactly true. Her water broke in our backyard garden, and she didn't feel the need to hurry to the hospital. It's my grandmother who came home from work and found her in the middle of the garden that finally convinced her that her tomatoes could wait while I - the baby she needed to give birth to - could not.

She blames those few minutes for my obsession with agriculture, but I believe it stems from watching her care for her garden. I remember watching her plant seeds as a child and being amazed when actual food started growing out of the ground within a few weeks.

I started helping her out in her garden when I was a child, and we volunteered together for the local community garden. As I grew up, I became more curious about agriculture. I started asking questions in school and researching independently to learn more. It led me to the national agriculture  summer program for high school students , where I got to learn more about the technical aspects of food production and distribution.

That experience reaffirmed the decision that I have made to learn about agricultural economics and sustainability. I am genuinely excited to learn what we can do to improve the current processes in order to make things better for future generations. I believe that Stanford's sustainability program is the best place for me to do that.  (248 words)

Prompt: Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (100 – 250 words)

"Not thanking is Witchcraft, Annie. You have to thank people for their effort". Those are my grandmother's words. She often reminds me that the profoundly traditional Shawna people of Zimbabwe, where she and my parents were raised, believe that not thanking is witchcraft more often than I can remember. 

As a child, I loved my grandmother but thought she was very annoying. She speaks very little English, and my Shawna is not very good, so sometimes it's hard to understand her. She also loves to tell me stories about the village she grew up in, which I have never seen and will likely never see because, according to her, the foreigners have built shopping malls where it was. 

I started appreciating my grandmother when I began learning about oral history in class. It occurred to me that although I was born and raised in the US, I am a Zimbabwean American and most of my connection to my culture comes from her. She always made it a point to cook traditional foods like Sadza for my siblings and me, speak to us in Shawna even when she knew how to say it in English, and teach us about our culture. 

My relationship with her and the stories she shares with us have allowed me to connect with my heritage, and they prompted my interest in African history and cultures. So I'd like to wrap up this short essay by thanking her for teaching me and thanking you for considering my application.  (250 words)

Wondering how to get into a top college with a low GPA? Check this out:

Prompt: Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better. (100 – 250 words)

Dear future roommate, 

The first thing you need to know about me is that almost every song is "my jam". You will probably start rolling your eyes every time I say, "ouh, that's my song" by the end of our first week together. Don't worry; I won't take it personally. I will also try not to sing or hum loudly, but I know this will be a serious challenge, so if I get carried away and disturb you when you're studying or just having some quiet time, let me know, and I will stop. 

I hope you're a music lover too so we can listen to some great records together. Yes, you read that right. I said records because I have an old-school record player and a great collection of vinyls that has a bit of everything, including Kendrick Lamar, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Frank Sinatra.

If music is not your thing, then I'm sure we'll find something else to bond over. I also enjoy reading, shopping, and defending the superiority of DC comics over marvel. I also enjoy trying new things, so I hope you'll be open to introducing me to one of your hobbies. I'm willing to try anything that doesn't involve horses. I know that they are cute and majestic, but one of them scarred me for life, and I am kind of scared of them now. 

I look forward to telling you the whole story one day soon and learning about you. 

(249 words)

Tips for tackling the Stanford roommate essay

Many students find the Stanford roommate essay especially difficult to write because it is so broad and a bit more personal than most college essays. When tackling this prompt, you should remember that even though the admissions committee will be reading this essay, it needs to be written as if it were addressed to a peer. By asking you to write to your college roommate, they have given you a writing assignment, and you need to follow instructions. So your tone should be a bit less formal but still courteous. It would also be best to avoid focusing on academia in this essay.

This particular prompt gives you a chance to humanize your application so take advantage of that. Many students approach this essay the same way they do the " tell me about yourself" interview question , but this is not the same thing. This essay should focus more on providing the admissions committee with an authentic portrayal of your character and personality. You can't share everything in 250 words, so we recommend making a list of everything you'd want to share with an actual future roommate and then narrowing it down to the three or four things that are most meaningful to you.

Check out this video for more college essay tips:

Contrary to popular belief in my home, I cannot wait to meet you! 

There are thirteen people in my house on most days. That includes my parents, eight siblings, grandmother, and two cousins. Most of them assumed that I would have opted to live on my own so that I could have some peace and quiet. I can see why they'd think that, but the truth is that while I enjoy doing many things on my own- like curling up on the couch with a good book and some ginger tea or drawing- I also enjoy being around people. 

One of the reasons I am excited about college is that I get a chance to try new things and meet new people. I like to explore and learn about different cultures, so I hope you'll feel comfortable telling me about where you're from and teaching me about your culture. I am Senegalese-American, and I hope that I'll get a chance to introduce you to some Senegalese food because it is delicious, and I think everyone should try it at least once. 

I don't cook very often, but I love food, so I look forward to checking out all the different restaurants on and near campus. I love to spend Saturday nights on the couch with good company, great takeout, and a good movie. If that sounds like a fun night to you, then I think we will get along just fine. 

Sincerely, 

(246 words)

Conclusion & Writing tips

Your supplemental college essays can significantly impact the admissions committee's decision, so it is important that you do everything you can to write an essay that will not only be attention-grabbing but will also add value to your overall application. This is especially important if you are hoping to  get into college with a low GPA.   So, here are a few tips to help you write a more compelling essay. 

Many promising students don't know  how to write a college essay . If you are one of them, or if you feel that you need some additional guidance as you write your essay, then you should reach out to a  college essay advisor  for support. Or, if you've already started working on your essay, it may be a good idea to reach out to a  college essay review service . These services are offered by admission professionals who will be able to identify issues in your essay that the untrained eye may not be able to. "}]">

Last year, only 3.9% of the students who applied to Stanford were offered admission, so it is fair to say that it is a highly competitive school. You will need an outstanding application to get in. 

Many assume that Stanford is an Ivy League School, but it is actually not. It is, however, one of the most prestigious universities in the United States and the entire world.

Do not underestimate the importance of your college essays. Every year, Stanford gets applications from thousands of students with high GPAs and impressive extracurriculars. Your essays give the school a chance to find out what else you bring to the table.

These essays are relatively short. You’re between 100-250 words.

One of Stanford's oldest and most well-known supplemental essay prompts asks students to write a letter to their future roommates. It is one of the essays that students often find challenging.

Your roommate essay needs to be about you! This essay is supposed to tell the admission committee what you are like as a person, what interests you, and what you can contribute to the Stanford campus. So, talk about your hobbies, habits, and interests outside of academia.

You can improve the overall quality of your essays by having a strong opening, using specific examples, showing instead of telling, and ensuring that your essay is error-free. If you're not sure how to do this, reach out to a college essay advisor for some assistance. 

We recommend starting your essay with a "hook" or something catchy like an anecdote, a gripping or funny fun fact about you so that you can grab the reader's attention from the very beginning.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write stellar stanford essays: 3 expert tips.

College Essays

Are you hoping to be one of the less than 4% of students admitted to Stanford this year? If so, you'll need to write some amazing essays as part of your application.

In this article, we'll outline the different types of essays you need to write for your Stanford University application and teach you how to write an essay that will help you stand out from the thousands of other applicants. We'll also go over the five short answer questions that are part of the Stanford supplement.

So let's get started!

What Are the Stanford Essays?

Stanford requires that you complete a total of four essays as a part of your application for admission.

You'll need to answer one  prompt provided by the Common Application or Coalition Application , depending on which one you use to submit your Stanford application through. You can find more information about the Common Application essays here , and more info about the Coalition essay prompts here .

You'll also need to respond to three Stanford-specific short essay questions .

The Stanford essay prompts offer you plenty of opportunities to show off your qualifications as an applicant and wow the admissions committee.

2022-2023 Stanford Essay Prompts

You'll need to respond to three Stanford Questions for your Stanford supplement essays. You'll submit the Stanford supplement essays online with your Coalition or Common app.

You need to respond to all three of the Stanford essay prompts for your application. Each one of the Stanford essays has a 100-word minimum and a 250-word maximum.

Here are the 2022-2023 Stanford essay prompts:

#1 : The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

#2 : Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better.

#3 : Tell us about something that is meaningful to you, and why?

Stanford Essays Analyzed

In this section, we'll be looking at each of the three Stanford supplement essays in depth. Remember, every applicant must answer every one of the Stanford essay prompts, so you don't get to choose which essay you would like to write. You have to answer all three of the Stanford essay prompts well in order for your application to stand out.

Let's take a look at each of the three Stanford short essay questions and see how to write something meaningful for each.

Stanford Essay Prompt 1

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100 word min, 250 word max)

This Stanford essay prompt is very broad. The structure of the prompt indicates that the committee is interested in learning about your curiosity inside and outside of the classroom, so don't feel like you have to limit the lessons you talk about to ones that occur at school.

The most important thing to remember here is to be specific. The committee doesn't want you to wax poetic about the virtues of remaining eternally curious; they want to see how a real-life example has affected you.

For instance, instead of talking about how a trip to a foreign country opened your eyes to different cultures, pick a specific moment from your visit that really hammered home the importance of curiosity. Go into detail about how that one experience affected you. Being specific is more powerful than speaking in generalized platitudes.

Similarly, you want to write about something that you're genuinely passionate and excited about. After all, it says so right in the prompt! Pick a topic that you truly love, such as a historical fiction book that you read that inspired you to learn about a new era in history or the science fiction movie that sparked curiosity about how time works in space.

Don't feel limited to your potential major. Stanford doesn't require that you pick and stick with a specific major for your application, so you don't have to write about a moment here that relates to your predicted course of study. In fact, picking a learning experience in a different field will better show that you're curious and open to new ideas.

Stanford Essay Prompt 2

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—know you better. (100 word min, 250 word max) 

Stanford's roommate essay question is notorious. While the other two of the three Stanford essays may change from year-to-year, the Stanford roommate essay is always on the application.

First, remember that this essay is written to your future roommate, who will be one of your peers. You can adopt a more informal, fun tone with this essay, because the prompt indicates that it's going to someone who is your age.

The Stanford roommate essay is your opportunity to show a different side of your personality than the admissions committee will see on the rest of your application. This essay is your chance to show yourself as a well-rounded person who has a variety of different interests and talents.

Don't repeat information that the committee can find elsewhere on your application. Take the time to share fun, personal details about yourself.

For instance, do you make awesome, screen-accurate cosplays or have a collection of rock crystals from caving expeditions? Think about what you love to do in your spare time.

Be specific—the committee wants to get a real picture of you as a person. Don't just say that you love to play video games, say exactly which video games you love and why.

The roommate essay is also a great time to show off your community—the friends, family, teammates, etc. who make up your current life. You can talk about the deep bonds you have and how they have affected you. Showing your relationships to others gives the committee a better idea of how you will fit in on Stanford's campus.

All in all, the Stanford roommate essay is a great opportunity to have some fun and show off some different aspects of your personality. Let yourself shine!

Stanford Essay Prompt 3

Tell us about something that is meaningful to you, and why? (100 word min, 250 word max) 

While all three of the Stanford essay prompts are fairly broad, the third Stanford essay prompt is by far the broadest. You can write about anything that's meaningful to you here— the prompt doesn't specify that you have to talk about something academic or personal.

Sometimes, broad prompts can be more intimidating than prompts that have a very narrow focus. The trick here is to (again) pick something specific and stick to it.

Don't, for instance, say that world peace is meaningful to you because it won't sound sincere. You should talk about something that is uniquely important to you, not the other thousands of students that are applying to Stanford.

Pick something that is really meaningful to you. You could talk about your relationship with your grandmother and how she taught you how to cook or a specific musical album that reminds you of an important experience in your life. You might talk about a club or after-school activity that has broadened your horizons or an academic award you won after an extreme challenge.

Whatever topic you choose, your essay should feel sincere. Don't write what you think the committee wants to hear. They'll be more impressed by a meaningful experience that rings true than one that seems artificial or implausible.

Stanford Short Answer Questions Analyzed

Along with your essays, you'll also need to answer five short questions. You'll only have 50 words to answer each one...so you'll need to make it count!

Question 1: The Social Challenge Question

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?

There are two ways you can answer this question. First, you can choose a significant social challenge that matters to you. For instance, perhaps your parents are essential workers, and the COVID pandemic revealed the unfair labor practices that exist in the US to you. Labor issues are a major social issue both in the US and abroad, and because you're impacted by it, you'll be able to put together a very compelling and powerful answer.

The other approach you can take to this question is linking it to your academic interests. Perhaps you want to major in mechanical engineering. One huge social issue is access to clean drinking water. In your response, you can explain the issue and then talk about how it inspired you to become a mechanical engineer. Maybe you want to develop better water decontamination systems! That would be a great response to this question.

The big thing to remember is you need to include a why in your answer. Why do you think this challenge is significant? And how are you planning to help solve this problem? Make sure you include these answers in your response!

Question 2: The Summer Question

How did you spend your last two summers?

This is a pretty straightforward question. Make a list of everything you did the past two summers, then parse it down so that you're including the most important aspects. For example, say you volunteered at a summer camp for the past two summers, but you also helped your family with chores and volunteered with a political campaign. Our recommendation would be to leave the chores out and focus on the bigger, more notable aspects of your summer vacation.

But maybe you had to work over the summers. Or perhaps you weren't able to take on extracurriculars because your parents needed your help caring for your younger siblings. Don't worry: those are great answers here, too. Your response doesn't have to be flashy —you don't have to have spent two summers participating in scientific research!

The important thing is to include a why in your answer . Why did you spend your summer vacations this way? And what do your choices say about your values? For instance, if you helped care for your younger siblings, you can explain that family is important to you, and that's part of why you're driven to get a college education. Counselors are trying to get a sense of who you are and what you care about!

Question 3: The Historical Moment Question

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?

Think back to your history classes. Is there a historical moment you're fascinated with? This is a good time to share it with the admissions committee! Maybe you love legal history, so you would have loved to have attended Ruth Bader Ginsburg's swearing in ceremony. Or perhaps you're more interested in medicine, so you'd have loved to witness Wilhelm Röntgen discover x-rays.

Our best advice for answering this question is to be specific and original. Stay away from popular and obvious answers, like "the signing of the Declaration of Independence" or "Lincoln's Gettysburg address." Pick something more unique so that you stand out from other applicants. Once you've picked your historical moment, explain why you'd want to witness it!

Question 4: The Extracurriculars and Responsibilities Question

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.

The key word in this question is "one." The admissions counselors don't want to read a list of your responsibilities. They want you to talk about one of them and then explain why you participate and/or why it's important to you.

For this question, avoid discussing something that's already evident from the rest of your admissions packet. For instance, if you've already listed band as an extracurricular and talked about it in one of your essays, you don't really need to talk about it here. Give the admissions counselors new information about yourself that they wouldn't be able to learn from other parts of your application.

For instance, maybe you help your dad out with his lawn care business in the summers. That would be a great thing to discuss here, especially if you haven't had a chance to talk about this elsewhere in your application. You could use this opportunity to discuss how helping your family out is important to you, and you also appreciated getting to know the people in your community while cutting their grass.

Whatever activity you choose, be sure to do more than just explain what that activity entails . Go into detail about what it means to you. Why do you participate in that activity? How has it impacted you as a person? You'll have to keep it brief, but these kinds of personal details are what Stanford admissions counselors are looking for.

Question 5: The Stanford Question

Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford.

Answering this question starts with research. What is one—again, just one —thing you can't wait to learn, experience, or participate in as a Stanford student? You'll need to spend some time on the Stanford website looking into the different opportunities available to students.

First things first: limit your answer to academics or academic-leaning extracurricular activities. Yes, Palo Alto is beautiful. And yes, Stanford has a fun football program. But admissions counselors want to see that you're going to be a thoughtful, involved member of the Stanford community. So while these things are true and fun, this question is your chance to explain how you're going to get involved on the Stanford campus ...and maybe even give back, too.

Also, the best answers to this question are going to be specific. Instead of saying that you can't wait to participate in clubs, pick one (like the Food and Agribusiness Club) and discuss why it's so exciting to you. The more specific you are, the more you'll show admissions counselors that you're super serious about being a Stanford student.

How to Write a Great Stanford Essay

Regardless of which Stanford essay prompt you're responding to, you should keep in mind the following tips for how to write a great Stanford essay.

#1: Use Your Own Voice

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed out person.

You should, then, make sure that the person you're presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don't try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Stanford wants you to be.

#2: Avoid Cliches and Overused Phrases

When writing your Stanford essays, try to avoid using cliches or overused quotes or phrases.

These include quotations that have been quoted to death and phrases or idioms that are overused in daily life. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Strive for originality.

Similarly, avoid using cliches , which take away from the strength and sincerity of your work.

#3: Check Your Work

It should almost go without saying, but you want to make sure your Stanford essays are the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your Stanford application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit.

It's a good idea to have someone else read your Stanford essays, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be.

What's Next?

If you want to be one of the 6% of students accepted to Stanford, you'll have to have a great GPA. Check out our guide on how to get good grades in high school for some tips and strategies!

Confused or intimidated about the college admissions process? Check out our complete guide on how to apply to college.

If you want to stand out from the crowd as an applicant, you'll need a solid resume of extracurricular activities . Learn more about your extracurricular options and why they matter.

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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Stanford Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

By Eric Eng

Among the most prestigious and sought-after institutions is Stanford University, renowned for its rigorous academic environment and vibrant community. Understanding and mastering Stanford’s supplemental essays 2023-2024 is crucial for those aspiring to join this illustrious institution.

This article aims to demystify the Stanford supplemental essays, offering insights and strategies to help you craft compelling narratives that resonate with your unique voice.

How Many Supplemental Essays Does Stanford Have?

When it comes to Stanford’s supplemental essays 2023-2024, applicants often wonder about the quantity and nature of the writing they must prepare. In addition to the personal essay required by the Common Application, which allows a maximum of 650 words and offers a choice among several prompts, Stanford requires three supplemental essay responses .

These supplemental essays are distinct from the Common App personal statement, both in length and in the specific aspects of your personality and experiences they aim to uncover. Each of these three essays has a minimum requirement of 100 words and a maximum limit of 250 words.

This structure ensures applicants provide concise yet detailed insights into their character and aspirations. The combination of the Common App essay and Stanford’s supplemental essays allows for a comprehensive portrayal of the applicant, covering a broad spectrum of their intellectual pursuits, personal attributes, and potential contributions to the Stanford community.

What are the Stanford Supplemental Essays 2023-2024?

Stanford’s supplemental essays 2023-2024 allow you to go beyond the academic achievements and extracurricular activities listed on your application, providing a platform to convey your individuality and how you would contribute to the Stanford community.

Common App Essay Prompts (Choose one, 650 words max)

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Stanford Questions 2023-2024 (100-word minimum and 250-word maximum for each essay)

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.

Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.

Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

How to Write the Stanford Supplemental Essays 2023-2024?

Writing Stanford’s supplemental essays 2023-2024 is an exercise in introspection and creativity. The key is to present authentic aspects of your personality and experiences while aligning with the ethos of Stanford University. Remember, clarity of thought, coherence in structure, and a touch of creativity can make your essays stand out.

Common App Essay Prompts

The Common Application essay is vital to your college application, including for Stanford. You are required to choose one prompt from a list with a maximum word count of 650 words.

These prompts elicit responses that reveal your character, experiences, and worldview. They range from discussing your background, identity, or interests to reflecting on challenges, accomplishments, or personal growth. The prompts also include an option to write about a topic of your choice, offering maximum flexibility to showcase your strengths and interests.

Understanding Common App Essay Prompts

Understanding the Common App essay prompts is the first step in crafting a compelling narrative. Each prompt opens a window into your personality and life experiences. Whether discussing a fundamental part of your identity, an obstacle you’ve overcome, a belief you’ve challenged, or an accomplishment that signifies personal growth, each prompt requires introspection.

The key is to select a prompt that resonates most with your experiences and offers ample scope to reflect your uniqueness. Your response should not only narrate an event or idea but also delve into its impact on you and your perspective on the world.

Brainstorming Your Response: Common App Essay Prompts

• For prompts about background or identity, think about what fundamentally defines you. What stories or experiences have shaped your character?
• When considering challenges or setbacks, focus on resilience and learning. How did you grow from these experiences?
• Consider moments of profound insight or change when reflecting on a belief or idea. What sparked this change, and how did it transform your thinking?
• For prompts about gratitude or happiness, recall moments that left a lasting impact. How did these experiences change your outlook?
• When discussing personal growth, identify critical events that marked a turning point in your understanding of yourself or others.
• If a particular topic or idea captivates you, explore why it’s engaging and how it shapes your pursuits and passions.
• For the open-ended prompt, consider what story or aspect of your life you’re most eager to share that has yet to be covered in other essays.

Structuring Your Answer for Common App Essay Prompts

Structuring your response to the Common App essay prompts is crucial for clarity and impact. Begin with an engaging introduction that sets the tone and introduces the theme of your essay. Use the body of your essay to narrate your story or describe your idea, ensuring that each paragraph flows logically and contributes to the overall narrative. Include specific details and examples to add depth and authenticity to your essay.

In conclusion, tie back to the central theme and reflect on the broader implications of your story or idea. Remember, your essay should answer the prompt and provide insights into who you are and how you think, making a compelling case for admission to Stanford.

Stanford Question 1

The first of Stanford’s supplemental essays 2023-2024 invites applicants to delve into their intellectual passions. This prompt seeks to uncover what you learn and how and why specific ideas or experiences ignite your enthusiasm for knowledge.

Stanford values a vibrant community of academically excellent learners genuinely excited about exploring new concepts and ideas.

Understanding Stanford Question 1

To effectively respond to this prompt, it’s crucial to understand what it’s asking. Stanford seeks evidence of your intellectual vitality – a trait beyond academic excellence. They want to see how your curiosity drives your desire to learn and explore.

The key is to choose an idea or experience that genuinely excites you, not something you think will impress the admissions committee. This question is less about the topic and more about your reaction to it: how it sparks your curiosity, challenges your thinking, or changes your perspective. Your response should convey a deep engagement with the subject and reflect a zest for learning that extends beyond the classroom.

Brainstorming Your Response to Stanford Question 1

• Recall a moment when a subject or idea captivated you. What was it about this topic that intrigued you?
• Think about an experience where learning something new changed your perspective. How did this experience impact your understanding of the world or yourself?
• Consider a time when you pursued knowledge outside of school. What drove you to learn more about this topic?
• Reflect on a project or hobby that involves learning. What about this activity excites you?
• Identify a book, conversation, or event that sparked a deep interest. How did this moment inspire a love for learning in you?

Structuring Your Answer for Stanford Question 1

When structuring your response to Stanford’s supplemental essays 2023-2024, particularly this first question, start with a vivid description of the idea or experience that excites you about learning. This could be a narrative of a moment or a detailed explanation of a concept. Ensure that your passion and curiosity shine through in your writing.

The body of your essay should delve into how this idea or experience has influenced your approach to learning, your academic interests, or your perspective on the world. Be specific about the impact – what changed your thinking or understanding?

Conclude by connecting this learning experience to your future aspirations, particularly how it aligns with the intellectual environment you seek at Stanford. Remember, the goal is to demonstrate what you learn and how you engage with and are transformed by knowledge.

Stanford Question 2

The second of Stanford’s supplemental essays 2023-2024 offers a unique and personal prompt. It asks you to write a note to your future roommate, revealing aspects of yourself that contribute to who you are.

This essay is an opportunity to showcase your personality, quirks, habits, and even your sense of humor. Stanford uses this prompt to understand you as a person beyond academic achievements and extracurricular activities. It’s a chance to express your individuality and give a glimpse of what it would be like to live with you, helping the admissions committee see how you might fit into the campus community.

Understanding Stanford Question 2

Understanding this prompt is crucial in crafting a compelling response. The challenge lies in balancing informality and sincerity while being engaging and authentic to yourself. This is not a typical academic essay; it’s more personal and conversational.

The aim is to communicate aspects of your life that aren’t apparent in other parts of your application. Think about what makes you, you – your daily routines, your hobbies, your quirks, and even your dreams and aspirations. The tone should be friendly and welcoming, as if you’re speaking to your future roommate.

Brainstorming Your Response to Stanford Question 2

• List your hobbies and interests that define your daily life. What are you passionate about?
• Think about your quirks or unique habits. What are some amusing or distinctive aspects of your personality?
• Reflect on your routines or rituals. Is there something you do daily that’s integral to who you are?
• Consider your aspirations or dreams. What are you looking forward to achieving or exploring at Stanford?
• Recall funny or memorable experiences that have shaped you. Can these stories give insight into your character or values?

Structuring Your Answer for Stanford Question 2

When structuring your response to this prompt, start with a friendly and engaging opening, as if you’re initiating a conversation with someone you’re excited to meet. The introduction should set the tone and give a hint of your personality.

In the body of your essay, delve into the specifics of what you want your future roommate to know about you. Share anecdotes or details that are revealing and endearing and that paint a vivid picture of your daily life and character. Be authentic and let your personality shine through – humorous, reflective, or creative.

Conclude with a warm and open-ended statement that not only wraps up your note but also leaves room for the curiosity and excitement of meeting in person. Remember, this essay is a window into your world for your future roommate and the admissions committee, so make it as welcoming and genuine as possible.

Stanford Question 3

Stanford’s third supplemental essay question for the 2023-2024 application cycle focuses on self-reflection and projection. Applicants are asked to describe aspects of their life experiences, interests, and character that would enable them to make a distinctive contribution to the Stanford community.

This prompt invites you to introspect and articulate how your unique blend of experiences and personal qualities would add value to the university. It’s an opportunity to showcase your individuality, your potential impact on campus, and how your presence would enrich the diverse tapestry of Stanford’s undergraduate community.

Understanding Stanford Question 3

To effectively address this prompt, it’s essential to understand what Stanford is seeking. They are interested in how your unique experiences and personal attributes will contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of their campus.

This question goes beyond academic achievements; it’s about how your background, interests, and personality traits will positively influence the Stanford community. Think about what sets you apart from other applicants: it could be your cultural background, your personal experiences, your hobbies, or even your approach to solving problems or facing challenges. The key is to reflect on how these elements of your identity and life story equip you to contribute in a way only you can.

Brainstorming Your Response to Stanford Question 3

• Identify experiences that have shaped your worldview or character. How have these experiences prepared you to contribute to a diverse community?
• Reflect on your hobbies or interests and how they might add to the campus culture. Do you have unique skills or talents that could benefit others?
• Consider your cultural background or community involvement. How have these influenced your perspective, and how might they enrich the Stanford community?
• Think about any challenges you’ve faced and how overcoming them has equipped you with unique insights or strengths.
• Analyze your personality traits. Are there aspects of your character that would positively impact student life at Stanford?

Structuring Your Answer for Stanford Question 3

When structuring your response, start by briefly introducing the aspects of your life experiences, interests, or character traits you plan to discuss. This introduction should set the stage for the detailed examples you will provide.

In the body of your essay, delve into specific experiences or traits, explaining how they have shaped you and how they relate to your potential contribution to Stanford. Use concrete examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points, making your essay both personal and relatable.

Conclude by tying these elements together, emphasizing how they collectively enable you to contribute uniquely to Stanford University. Remember, this essay is your chance to show how your journey and qualities will fit into and enrich the Stanford community.

Ready to Make Your Stanford Dream a Reality? Join AdmissionSight Today!

Embarking on the journey to Stanford University is an exhilarating challenge, filled with opportunities to showcase your unique strengths and aspirations. At AdmissionSight , we understand the intricacies of the college admissions process and are dedicated to helping you navigate this journey with confidence and success. Our expert team guides students like you through the complexities of crafting standout applications, including the pivotal Stanford supplemental essays for 2023-2024.

Take the First Step Towards Your Stanford Journey

Don’t let the complexities of the college admissions process hold you back from reaching your dreams. Take the first step towards your Stanford journey with AdmissionSight. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you turn your Stanford aspirations into reality. Your future at Stanford begins here – let’s make it extraordinary together!

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Why This Stanford Supplement Essay Works

Want to learn what Stanford University will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take?  Here’s what every student considering Stanford University needs to know.

Prompt: Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development (250 words) .

As with any prompt, the first step is to take a close look at exactly what the question is asking for you to discuss in your response. Many colleges have some variation of this prompt – asking you to reflect on an idea which has grown to fascinate you. 

Here, Stanford asks you to demonstrate the intellectual vitality common among Stanford students. As such, your writing should show your passion about whatever idea or experience you choose to discuss. It is important that you show – not tell – what it is that excites you about the topic, as opposed to simply stating your excitement. Instead of passively describing your interest, demonstrate it through active verbs, vivid descriptions, and diverse syntax. If a topic is sincerely of great interest to you, you should be able to describe it in a way that makes it sound exciting for a reader!

Consider the following two examples that a student interested in art history might write. 

Passive: I have always loved art history. On the weekends, I like to go to museums and visit old paintings and sculptures. I am fascinated by how much the art that someone creates can tell you about their life. When I look at Van Gogh’s painting, I love to imagine him sitting down and actually creating it.

Active: For a second, I saw Van Gogh dipping his paintbrush into the pigments on his paint board, each bristle becoming draped in a swirl of bright yellow. His hands moved carefully yet quickly as he covered the canvas with dots and dashes. *WHACK*  The redheaded artist vanished. One of the many other museum visitors bumped into me, and I came crashing back into 2019. 

See how the second version allows the author to show not tell their passion for art history by using the literary techniques discussed above (active verbs, vivid descriptions, and varied syntax)?

Employing in media res – starting your narrative in the middle of the action – can be a great tool for this style of essay. Then, zoom out to explain the background of the excitement you just showed. The attached sample essay does a great job of this, with the student starting his essay with an alarm clock ringing at 3 AM. Using this technique immediately attracts a reader’s attention, as it allows you to set up questions (like “why would you set your alarm for 3 AM?”) that keep admissions officers engaged.

This supplement is not supposed to be a short report on a subject – you don’t want to write a history of Van Gogh’s life and work. An admissions committee doesn’t want to read a mini Wikipedia article, but rather to learn about how you think. While you should make sure to describe the concept in a brief, simplified fashion, the bulk of your response should be about you (and your intellectual or personal relationship to the topic).

You also want to ensure that you are describing excitement about your experiences as they relate to academics, not just focusing on something cool you have done. For example, you may have a lot of experience with equestrian sports that you can describe in great detail. However, admissions committees won’t be interested in this experience if you fail to connect it with your excitement about comparative biology.

In fact, this is exactly what the first draft of the sample essay got wrong. The author spent all but one sentence describing the magic of lucid dreaming – only briefly connecting this hobby to his intellectual interests in philosophy and psychology. With CollegeVine’s help, the author was able to restructure his essay in a way that demonstrates the academic zeal for which Stanford searches. Ultimately, this applicant did a great job of showing the experience that introduced them to the kinds of questions asked in the mind-body problem. 

Crucially, the author showed how he is attempting to develop his intellectual understanding of the topic before college. As most high schools don’t offer courses in philosophy, the admissions committee won’t expect this applicant to have a deep understanding of the material. This is true for most topics – you don’t need to have intense research experience to talk about your passion for genetics, or even have been to an art museum to discuss your fascination with art history. Rather, demonstrate what you have been doing with the resources readily available to you to develop intellectually. Talk about documentaries, books, and websites you’ve consumed or even conversations you’ve learned from. Generally, show your desire to parse through all the information available to you in order to fully understand a topic. 

Breaking Down A Stanford Supplemental Essay

Let’s break down the final draft of the sample essay and see how the author successfully incorporated the advice above.

My alarm clock rings: 3 AM.  I fumble around for the “off” button, breathe deeply, and stand up. I flip on the light and sit on the ground, preparing to read the latest Stephen King novel for the next half hour.

The author uses the literary technique in media res effectively. Immediately, the reader wants to know why someone would set their alarm for 3 AM just to read a Stephen King novel. This will hook an admissions officer from the start! Also, notice the use of active voice and an abundance of verbs; the author fumbles, breathes, stands up, flips on, sits on, prepares, and reads all within two sentences. 

Though I love reading about cell phone zombies, reading science fiction is a byproduct of my real purpose. My goal is to lucid dream. Many people use dream journals and reality checks to bring themselves into this state; I most easily achieve lucidity when I wake up, distract myself with a book, then return to slumber.

The author does a great job of introducing us to his topic – an experience that has been important to his intellectual development – quickly. The student also answers our questions from the first part of his essay – why is he waking up at 3 AM to read Stephen King. The strategies used to reach the state of lucid dreaming are explained at a level that represents the student’s level of expertise while still being accessible to non-experts. That being said, the student could have added in a short, clarifying statement, given that lucid dreaming is an obscure topic that admissions officers may never have heard of. Further, note the variance in syntax length and structure that the author has already used – short and long sentences, colons and semicolons. 

During these periods, I can consciously travel to the Salar de Uyuni salt flats, present a TED Talk, or visit my grandmother’s kitchen. Most importantly, I can explore questions of consciousness and reality.

In a creative fashion, the author uses a prompt about intellectual excitement to also show us a little bit about his other interests, goals, and connections. The sites that the student chooses to visit while lucid dreaming let us know he has an interest in travel, are ambitious, and have a close connection with his grandmother. In fact, these details would be made more salient if they were connected to other essay topics within the student’s portfolio. Finally, we are introduced to how exactly lucid dreaming connects to the student’s intellectual fascination: “questions of consciousness and reality.”

At 3:30, I flick off the lights and tuck myself into bed for the second time that night.  I visualize the Bolivian salt flats, attempting to enter a lucid dream. My body falls asleep while my mind remains conscious. As I imagine the salty breeze kissing my skin, and a galaxy of stars spilling over the glassy waters, I ponder Rene Descartes’ mind-body problem. In a dream, I can create empirically “unreal” realities, while leaving my body behind. When I awake, I study the philosophical and psychological texts that help me grapple with the paradoxes lucid dreaming creates. No matter my state of consciousness, I can continue to push my understanding of what it means to “be.”

Again, the student shows off his writing prowess with vivid descriptions of his lucid dreams. It takes a certain amount of creativity to be able to conjure up alternative dreamworlds, and this creativity is certainly showcased in the applicant’s description of a “salty breeze kissing [his] skin, and a galaxy of stars spilling over the glassy waters.” Crucially, the student draws connections between his lucid dreaming hobby and intellectual passion. He exhibits a degree of understanding of the topic, without attempting to come across as an expert (let’s face it, Stanford doesn’t expect high schoolers to be experts, just excited!). His reference to a specific philosopher is a nice touch, as it allows admissions committees to know the author has spent time exploring this area of philosophy without regurgitating too much of the literature and risking sounding pretentious. That being said, the author does a great job of showing admissions officers how he goes above and beyond his basic schooling – studying relevant philosophical and psychological texts to explore advanced theories of consciousness and “being.”

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Conquering Stanford University's 2023-2024 Supplemental Essays

Stanford University's supplemental essays allow you the opportunity to stand out from the throng of prospective students. We'll breakdown this year's prompts, provide expert advice, and share compelling examples of successful essays from past applications, focusing on both content and length.

Prompt 1: The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100-250 words)

This prompt is Stanford's way of assessing your intellectual vitality. Think about an idea or experience that sparked your curiosity and led you to learn something new.

Here is a compelling example from a 2021 application:

"Stargazing on a clear night, I was awestruck by the enormity of the cosmos. This ignited a profound curiosity about the celestial bodies above. I eagerly delved into astrophysics, digesting complex theories about black holes, supernovas, and quantum mechanics. Each revelation about the universe's vastness further intensified my excitement about learning. I even began attending local astronomy club meetings, reveling in our shared awe and curiosity. To me, the infinite cosmos serves as a humbling reminder of our quest for knowledge, a quest that I eagerly wish to continue at Stanford."

Prompt 2: Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better. (100-250 words)

This creative prompt helps Stanford get a sense of your personality and values. Be authentic, and remember, your future roommate will also be reading this!

An endearing example from a 2022 application reads:

"Dear Roomie,

Welcome to our room! I'm excited about the year ahead. I should tell you that I am a self-proclaimed 'chocoholic' and there's a good chance you'll always find a hidden stash of dark chocolate in our room (willing to share, of course!). I enjoy morning runs and would love company if you're up for it. On weekends, you'll likely find me in a quiet corner, lost in a book or scribbling in my journal. I've also mastered the art of 'silent' typing for our late-night study sessions. Lastly, I bring a collection of indoor plants. They make our room livelier and I promise they don’t attract bugs!

Looking forward to sharing our Stanford journey, [Your Name]"

Prompt 3: Tell us about something that is meaningful to you, and why? (100-250 words)

Here, Stanford is inviting you to share something that holds significance in your life. It can be an experience, an object, or an idea.

A profound example from a 2021 application articulates:

"One thing meaningful to me is my grandfather's pocket watch. Not only does it hold sentimental value, but it also serves as a reminder of the relentless passage of time. Its incessant ticking prompts me to value each moment and not postpone my dreams. This small object has influenced my philosophy towards life, fostering my desire to make an impact, create change, and not wait for 'someday.' It drives me to contribute to my community, voice my opinions, and not shy away from challenges."

As you set about crafting your Stanford supplemental essays, let your uniqueness and authentic self be evident. Use these essays as an opportunity to present your story and character. Good luck, and may your words make an impact!

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Essay advice from a Stanford 2024 admit

Edit: I'm aware getting into Stanford doesn't warrant my advice but I'm just trying to help out. Here's a link for a full guide to the Stanford essays I found super helpful - http://www.pavedwithverbs.com/blog/stanfordessays2017#comments

Edit2: I don't know whats up with the down-votes on this sub, if you don't like it just skip it, someone out there might find these useful.

Hi! I'm a Stanford 2024 admit from India.

When you're just words on a page, you want to wake your admissions officer up. If you're lucky enough, your application has a compelling story (or if we're being real here, a compelling hook). If you're not lucky enough, you need everything else to work out for you. These are tips I picked up along the way. Some are psychological, some are quick fixes, and some are just my learnings. Hope they help you out :)

Needless to say, take all of these with a grain of salt.

I once came across a story about an Apple employee who would purposefully incline the store's MacBook screens till it was just off. Whenever a customer would walk in to look at the device - a few of them would physically lift the screen back up to its place. That one interaction increased the attachment they had with the device - genius .

Now you're writing essays, most of which are being viewed computer screen (maybe even paper). How do you psychologically get your reader to become more invested in your writing? Nudge them.

This is an excerpt from my intellectual curiosity essay to Stanford:

"Running my hands over the laptop's keyboard, my fingers seamlessly moved over two subtle bumps. It was 2 am in the night and out of exhaustion, I placed my head sideways on the desk. Right on the keys 'F and J', were two lifted lines, deformities hiding in 'plane' sight."

Chances are, the existence of these bumps wasn't known to my AO (as I confirmed when I read her handwritten letter to me). The moment she looked down she could find them for herself, and that one discovery went a long way to help cement my words in her memory.

Another example of the same principle from my essay to Yale about my journey with Indian Sign Language:

"Given a unique sign for my name - *touch your thumb with your pointer and interlock your two loops, curling your outer three fingers to make an S* - by my Deaf peers"

In my opinion, this one is a little much, but the idea here is to bring your AO to physically react and try it out for themselves. If they can invest even the slightest bit of cognitive effort into your work, beyond words on a screen, the chances of it becoming memorable will genuinely increase.

2. Your Common Application Essay shouldn't be about your spike.

This one's quick - but also just a personal opinion. Your Counsellor LOR references your spike. Your additional LOR references your spike. Everyone's talking about your spike. Use the Common Application essay to provide an experience your college wouldn't know about from each other category. Make it about you, your personality, and what makes you unique. Could you do this through your spike? Yes. Do you need to do it through your spike? Not necessarily.

3. Short Answers. Short Answers. Short Answers.

My father used to tell me a quote by Blaise Pascal (I didn't know he said it but Quora pointed me to him so I'm assuming it's one of his sayings)

"I'm sorry I wrote you such a long letter; I didn't have time to write a short one."

When you're forced to cram answers in 100 characters / 50 words / annoyingly short prompts you have the greatest chance to shine. Take advantage of it.

Here's an example:

Stanford prompt: What would you do with an extra hour in the day.

The goal here is not to be quirky , neither is it to come off as an over-productive machine that would capitalize on the hour till the very last second.

"Years ago, my father would tuck my younger brother and me into bed with virtuous stories he would weave through the night. With his entrepreneurial venture, our tradition has faded away.

In this 25th hour, I would become the storyteller, awakening my brother's imagination, and recreating our ritual of togetherness."

A little tacky? Yes. Maybe a little more self-awareness about how 'ritual of togetherness' sounded like a children's storybook would've gone a long way. But the point is, in those 50 words I tried to convey 3 of the 6 themes I chose for my entire application:

The bloodline of storytelling. An entrepreneurial background that inspired mine. Family and its importance to me.

(The other 3 were the irrationality of human beings, communication, and disability and inclusion in case you wanted to know)

Okay that was a long tip, here's a short one for a break.

4. Show, don't tell. Show and Tell.

Given the stats, letters of recommendations, your activities and honors, your essays will be read briefly, and then highlighted in places where the AOs sometimes comment on what you're trying to convey. I understand what reviewers mean when they say "Show, don't tell." But often it might be more helpful to go beyond the entire scene you have articulated and draw a soft conclusion. Show and Tell . It's just one of those small things that has the potential to ease their process, or maybe affirm their conclusions.

5. Kill your babies. I mean it. Kill them.

Essay writing is a personal process. But you're going to have to eventually share those ideas with trusted sources ( I mean beyond your wildly supportive or unsupportive parents - counsellors, reviewers, and students ) When they all unanimously make recommendations, in most cases, something's up.

Since the 11th grade, I wanted to write an essay about dim sum and my obsession with it. An Indian loving dim sum?? Unique? Why not. A food essay? Who doesn't love food!!! Bonus points - my AO is now reading my words and thinking about her love for food too!!!

The worst part? I began writing this essay and fell in love with my introduction. Just the introduction.

"Ayurvedic scriptures dictate that a passion for certain pursuits can be genetically transferred. Personally, though, I strongly believe they missed out on the heritability of food.

In a corner shop on the streets of Tanjong Pagar, a soon-to-be Indian mother in Singapore vociferously brought chopsticks close to her mouth. Years into the relationship, the naive soon-to-be father asked, "Have you had enough?" Something snapped - possibly the chopsticks. From a soon-to-be born perspective, I believe the intensity of emotions surging through my mother infused in me an innate love for the dim sum that was hurled at the undeserving target."

Here's the deal. After a while, my essay turned into one of those - metaphorical, matching features of a dim sum to myself like its a dating app, here's my quirky obsession I'm not like other applicants pieces.

It took me a while. I usually take advice but I was convinced this was a golden ticket and refused to switch up my Common App essay until I was backed into a corner.

Tl;dr I killed my baby, but I'm thankful for it.

If you made it to the end, why thank you I appreciate it. I have way too many #tipsandtricks but these are a great place to start. I admit, I don't use this platform often and I'm a Youtuber at heart. Soon enough, I'll be posting videos about my stats, extra-curriculars, spike, etc. etc.

I don't have any college advice videos up yet, but I will have them up soon. If you want to check out my College Decisions Reaction Video - you've probably seen a lot of these but give it 30 seconds, if you're not into it, feel free to click off - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8J7xCmI_ro

Thanks for hearing me out :)

Yale University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 2

You Have: 

Yale University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

Short Answers dominate the Yale application. So, in brief, they’re looking for confidence. When an essay must clock in at under 100 words, you don’t have time to waffle. There’s no room for you to circle your main idea with broad statements. You’ve got to get straight to the point, and clearly. The successful applicant will choose precise words that can do double — even triple duty — telling your story (literally), bringing vivid details to life, and highlighting your overall intelligence.

The Requirements: 1 list; 6 short answer questions; 1 additional short essay of 400 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s):   Why ,  Short Answer , Community ,  Oddball

Short Answer Questions

Students at yale have time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. as of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably please indicate up to three from the list provided..

There’s only one trick to generating a straightforward list of your academic interests: be honest. If you already know what you want to major in, or have it narrowed down to a few departments, you’re set! Don’t waste time trying to strategize. Choosing anything other than your true interests would be a misrepresentation of who you are and a disservice to you and the admissions office. This assignment will no doubt be most challenging for the undecideds, but to help you narrow your focus, try to tell a story with your choices. How can you use this to reveal something about what you value and what excites you intellectually? You could try to illustrate a general inclination (art history, studio art, and American studies). Or if you really feel like you could go any direction, try to show a balance, picking majors across domains that link to each other in a way that still makes sense (biology, psychology, classics)—you’ll thank yourself when answering the next question.

Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it? (200 words or fewer)

You’ve only got 200 words, but if you chose wisely (and honestly) in the previous question, answering this one should be a cinch. Whether you listed one or several interests, your goal is to tell a cohesive story about your intellectual curiosity. Ideally, you should try to recount an anecdote that illustrates your engagement with your chosen field, or demonstrates your ability to link seemingly disparate fields. Perhaps you’re interested in both religion and astrophysics because each offers a way for you to contemplate our place in the universe. But while you may be tempted to wax philosophical, you should beware of veering into overly abstract territory. This is a great opportunity for you to explain how your intellectual interests relate to who you are as a person. Don’t waste it!

What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (125 words or fewer)

This is a short version of the Why essay, the mini Why. Yale wants to make sure you are psyched for the full college experience at their school. So, we’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: DO. YOUR. RESEARCH. As a top school, Yale attracts many applicants based on its reputation alone, so it won’t do you any good to go on and on about the world-class education you will receive. Yale admissions officers know — and they know you know. Locate specific opportunities within your department and related programs and centers that really make your heart sing with excitement.

And make sure you talk about yourself! Yale doesn’t need a summary of its website (even if you write about a forgotten page deep in the Math Department website). Talk about your academic and professional goals and how Yale will help you achieve them. What unexpected classes might you want to take to sate your curiosity? How will you drive yourself to succeed? Don’t forget to include details about personal growth. If you think you can accomplish this and that on campus, what experience do you have to back up those claims? What about the Yale experience will enrich your life overall? Which extracurricular activities and organizations will you take advantage of? Do they offer quidditch ? If so, you should definitely play. Figure out why you’re applying to Yale over all the other schools out there – and then deliver it with eloquence and confidence.

Applicants applying with the QuestBridge Application will complete the questions above via the Yale QuestBridge Questionnaire, available on the Yale Admissions Status Portal after an application has been received.

Applicants submitting the coalition application or common application will also respond to the following short answer questions, in no more than 200 characters (approximately 35 words):, what inspires you (200 characters or fewer).

200 characters is not a lot of characters, especially when it comes to a concept as broad as inspiration. You don’t have time to describe what the word means to you, and admissions officers don’t have time for vague answers (“nature”) or trite ones (“my mom”). First and foremost, have fun with this prompt. Think of the 200 character challenge as a game. Then, get specific. What experiences have launched some of your best ideas? Although you won’t have time to relate the whole story, you can draw upon your personal experience for a hyper-specific, memorable answer like “the color of fresh drosophila eggs” or “Goldie Hawn’s crazy eyes in Death Becomes Her .” You get the idea.

If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be? (200 characters or fewer)

The previous question asked you what inspires you, and this one is asking you what you can do. What are you good at? It’s time to show your stuff. Reach beyond the traditional academic areas and toward skills you may have cultivated on your own time (e.g., gardening, rock climbing, baking, etc.). Then, think about how you might share this talent with others, whether that be through a course, book, or artwork. Maybe you’ve been making TikToks reviewing your favorite YA novels for some time now. Would you teach a class on the politics of the modern heroine in YA fiction? Perhaps you could talk about marine life for hours on end. Would you write a book on the idiosyncrasies of giant isopods? There is no right or wrong answer here, so write about the subject that interests you the most!

Other than a family member, who is someone who has had a significant influence on you? What has been the impact of their influence? (200 characters or fewer)

Since you have so much to say in so few words, our advice is to summarize this person’s accomplishments succinctly and leave room to offer admissions deeper insight into their influence on you, what you value, and the kind of person you aspire to become. The person you choose to write about can be someone in your local community—a friend, a teacher, a community leader—or someone you haven’t yet had the chance to meet IRL. Maybe there is a renowned scientist who inspired you to pursue your chosen field. Perhaps an artist or thought leader has altered your understanding of what it means to be human. No matter who you choose, remember that this should say more about you than it does about them, so stay the course!

What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application? (200 characters or fewer)

This is one of the hardest prompts! What do they want to know?! Where do you start? Birth? School? Puberty? First, take a breath and calm down. Think about why they’re asking you this question and it will all fall into place. While many applications look similar, with impressive grades, extracurriculars, and teacher recommendations, this essay makes it so you can stand out from the crowd with your personality. Do you have a very sarcastic sense of humor? Do you make more dad jokes than your own father? Do all of your friends refer to you as the “artsy” one? Yale wants to know that you’re more than your transcripts, so take this opportunity to share a piece of yourself that they wouldn’t otherwise get to see. This prompt also lends itself to recycling previously written essays for other schools quite well, so you might want to consider revisiting it once you’ve made a dent in writing your supplemental essays for other schools.

Applicants submitting the Coalition Application or Common Application will respond to one of the following prompts in 400 words or fewer. 

1. reflect on a time you discussed an issue important to you with someone holding an opposing view. why did you find the experience meaningful.

Engaging with others in meaningful conversations about important issues can be intimidating and challenging, and the Yale admissions committee knows this. Nevertheless, we have all experienced standing up for our beliefs in some capacity, so scroll through your memory to identify a time when you had an uncomfortable conversation with friends, family, or even mere acquaintances. Maybe you engaged your grandparents in a conversation regarding the Black Lives Matter movement. Were you able to clearly communicate your perspective? What did you take away from the discussion? Perhaps you learned that one of your friends was a passive supporter of an organization that you vehemently disagree with. How did you broach the subject and what was the outcome of your conversation? You don’t need to have changed someone’s mind (or your own!) to impress admissions here. You just need to show that you’re not afraid to engage with those who may have different opinions than you. College will present you with a plethora of opportunities to meet and interact with people who are very different from you, so show Yale that you’re game to learn, listen, share, and grow.

2. Reflect on your membership in a community to which you feel connected. Why is this community meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.

“A community to which you feel connected” could be anything: your family, a club at school, your dance troupe, women in STEM… you get the idea. If you’ve been wanting to spin your 8-bit video game obsession into an essay, this prompt is offering you the opportunity to describe your community of old-school gamers. Whatever community you choose, remember to define your place within it. Who are you to your fellow community members? How does being in this community add to your life or identity? Why is it meaningful? As always, try to be as concrete as possible as you develop your story, giving examples as you go. Just brainstorming your topic may remind you of a video you made or photo you took that you can use as a jumping off point. You might even consider digging through old photos and notebooks as a way to brainstorm!

3. Reflect on an element of your personal experience that you feel will enrich your college. How has it shaped you?

This is a fabulous prompt because it’s just about as open-ended as it gets. If the other two essay prompts didn’t speak to you, this one is here to save the day! Yale wants to know what has made you into the person you are today. What you focus on here can really run the gamut, but it should be something that you feel will help you to contribute to Yale’s community in a unique way. Is there anything you can teach your classmates about your hometown, traditions, culture, identity, race, or ethnicity that they might not already know? What has influenced your identity? What do you believe and how will your worldview bring something of value to the community at Yale?

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Justice for All? Why We Have an Access to Justice Gap in America—and What Can We Do About It?

• June 13, 2024
• Nora and David Freeman Engstrom; Q&A with Professor Pamela Karlan
• Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession
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On a recent episode of the Stanford Legal podcast, Professors David and Nora Freeman Engstrom , co-directors of Stanford Law School’s Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession , delve into what they describe as an access to justice crisis in the United States. In three-quarters of civil cases in state courts, they say, at least one party lacks a lawyer, usually because they cannot afford one. And, as they explain, this pro se crisis is just a small part of a much larger problem.

Stanford Legal co-host Pam Karlan , the Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Professor of Public Interest Law, interviewed the Engstroms about the roots of the access to justice crisis, how it impacts individuals and families—and what can be done to fix it.

The following is an edited version of the full podcast transcript, which can be found here .

Pam Karlan: On one hand, people often think there are too many lawyers in the United States, but then there’s this countervailing issue of there not being enough legal services. 

Nora Freeman Engstrom: In the United States, we have plenty of lawyers, but people’s ability to get access to justice is actually pretty dismal. In three-quarters of civil cases in state court—and state court is where the vast majority of cases are litigated in this country—one side lacks a lawyer. Sometimes, both sides lack a lawyer.

Pam Karlan: What kind of cases are we talking about here where three-quarters of the people don’t have lawyers?

David Freeman Engstrom: Generally, these are low-dollar, but highly consequential cases. They tend to be debt collection actions, evictions, mortgage foreclosure actions, and a lot of family law claims, including child support enforcement actions. There are approximately 15 million cases a year where at least one side lacks a lawyer. Another feature of these cases also really stands out: These cases tend to pit an institutional plaintiff—for instance, a bank, a credit card company, a corporate landlord, a municipal housing authority, or some other government agency—against an individual defendant without a lawyer.

Pam Karlan: And we’re not even counting in the cases where people don’t get to court in the first place: individual plaintiffs who’ve been defrauded or wronged, who would go up against a corporate defendant if they had a lawyer or the resources.

Nora Freeman Engstrom: Yes, the pro se crisis—all those folks in court without counsel—is really just the tip of the iceberg. Below all these folks we see are all these cases that never make it into court at all. These are people with rights that are violated but never vindicated. And it’s exactly as you say: It’s the person who has an uninhabitable apartment, but never seeks to enforce her right for habitable housing, or the person who’s jerked around by the insurance company and never gets the claim paid and just ultimately shrugs her shoulders and gives up, or the woman who’s being abused by her spouse and never gets that domestic violence restraining order that she needs.

Pam Karlan: Why can’t people get lawyers for these kinds of cases?

David Freeman Engstrom: The Stanford Law Review had a symposium last year on access to justice, and Nora and I wrote an introductory essay in that symposium that I can commend to the listeners. It’s titled “ The Making of the A2J Crisis ,” and in that essay, we roll through all the different causes.

One issue is attribution. Many Americans don’t even necessarily know that the problem that they have is a legal problem in the first place, and that’s really important to keep in mind. They don’t even know that they should resolve a certain matter by going to court.

Another issue is expense. Legal services are really expensive. Anyone middle class or below is priced out of the market for legal services that cost, on average, $300 an hour. And, although there is some legal aid to help people, there’s clearly not enough , and, adding to the insufficiency, there are restrictive rules that limit what types of legal services can be provided and by whom.

Pam Karlan: But why are we seeing such an uptick in pro se litigation rates? There’s some evidence that, over the past few decades, pro se rates have more than doubled.

David Freeman Engstrom: Yes, rates of pro se litigation is up sharply, although assessing the exact amount is challenging. But why?

In the Stanford Law Review essay, we note that, interestingly, poverty rates haven’t really changed so much in recent decades. What has increased is economic precarity. Most American households can’t really weather any significant financial hit, and so when they get hit with health care bills that they can’t pay, or fall behind on their rent, they descend into poverty and debt collection actions, and evictions frequently follow—and it is these cases that are really choking courts. These cases overwhelmingly end in default judgments: The defendant fails to show up because the defendant has no meaningful legal help.

Nora Freeman Engstrom: All this is bound up together. For example, once your wages are garnished pursuant to a default judgment, it sure is harder to pay rent, and if you’re not paying rent, then it sure is easy to get evicted. And it cuts the other way, too. Once you’re evicted, it’s really hard to keep your job, and it’s hard to keep your family together, and so legal problems have a way of cascading on one another.

Pam Karlan: And none of these cases that we are talking about would be done on contingent fee cases, correct?

Nora Freeman Engstrom: That’s mostly right. The access to justice problems David and I are focused on are particularly acute in areas where lawyers charge by the hour—areas involving housing, families, and debt collections. But they’re not isolated to these areas. A lot of people think, for example, that there’s no access to justice problem in the personal injury sphere because, if you’re hurt, you can get a lawyer on a contingency fee basis. That’s right if you’re a high wage earner and you’re really seriously injured. But it is not necessarily the case if you are an elderly person or a child. As I’ve written about , there are access to justice problems that afflict certain areas of the personal injury ecosystem too.

David Freeman Engstrom: Right now in the American legal system, the most numerous type of case is consumer credit debt collection actions. If you look back 30 or 40 years, torts and contract actions were neck and neck on state court dockets. Now, torts have largely fallen away for a variety of reasons, and contract claims, which include debt collection claims, are ascendant. The question is: what happened? It is a really interesting part of all of this and something that you really need to understand to have a full, 360-degree view of the problem. The debt collection industry has learned to leverage a lot of technology, what you would call robotic process automation, to build the pleadings and everything else you need to do in order to generate legal filings and then get them into court. About 60 percent of these cases are brought by debt buyers–that is, entities that buy tranches of debt from the originators, and then use all of this automation to assembly-line filings. However, restrictive rules that say that only lawyers can practice law mean that technology is not nearly as available to the individual defendants on the other side.  

Pam Karlan: Let’s talk about restrictions we have on the provision of legal services. The United States is different from other countries where there are all sorts of people who provide legal services. Nora, could you tell us a little bit about how we ended up in this situation?

Nora Freeman Engstrom: As we have said, lawyers are expensive and they’re the only game in town. I call this the two-door problem, which is: If you have a legal problem, or you’re trying to vindicate or defend your legal rights, and you’re going to make your way into court, you’ve got two choices in the United States. You can represent yourself. Or you can hire one of these very expensive lawyers. You can imagine a third choice, right? Like, some sort of “lawyer lite.” Like when I have a sprained ankle, I don’t need to go to a full MD. I can go to a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner. Some problems are smaller and more easily addressed—and often better addressed—by someone without a law degree. But in the United States, we don’t have a third door. We have no third option—nothing between a full lawyer and going it alone.

Now, in terms of how we ended up in this situation, it’s fascinating! I am just finishing a paper entitled Auto Clubs and the Lost Origins of the Access-to-Justice Crisis that I wrote with James Stone, a Stanford Law grad who was a fellow at the Rhode Center last year, that sheds light on this. The paper tells this origin story by recovering the lost history of auto clubs. We explain that, in addition to the roadside assistance that we have today, the AAA of yesteryear provided legal services, and actually a lot of legal services. You could go to your auto club if you were in a car accident, and you thought the other person was at fault, and they would represent you. Or, if you were at fault, they would represent you. They would represent you even in criminal matters and provide a defense. Essentially, by joining an auto club, you had a lawyer for all things auto.

Pam Karlan: So, what happened? Why did the auto clubs stop providing legal services?

Nora Freeman Engstrom: It’s a crime in nearly every state for a non-lawyer to supply legal advice or assistance, and those laws have been around for a long time. It’s these laws, called unauthorized practice of law restrictions, that create the two-door problem I just discussed.

Now, auto clubs weren’t running afoul of those laws because lawyers employed by the clubs were providing legal assistance. So, you might be thinking: how is it that a lawyer providing legal assistance is going to run afoul of an unauthorized practice of law rule, designed to prevent the practice of law by nonlawyers? In the 1920s and 30s, the organized bar developed an argument. Never before had there been rules banning what was called “the corporate practice of law,” which is to say lawyers working for non-law firms. Yet, in the 1920s and 30s, the bar simply created a new prohibition. Pursuant to this new prohibition, not only can nonlawyers not practice law. Additionally, if a lawyer is not self-employed or employed at a law firm, the lawyer is also engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. That’s also a no-no. A lawyer’s relation to his client should be personal, and the responsibilities of the lawyer to the client should be direct, they said. Pursuant to this new idea, the bar argued that it’s improper to have things like auto clubs where the lawyers were working for the club and providing legal services. 

So, peddling this newly minted prohibition, the bar shut down the auto clubs. And this wasn’t an altruistic move. They weren’t worried about consumer harm. All evidence suggests that the auto clubs were booming, and people were quite thrilled with the services that they received. We argue that the bar fashioned a new argument at a time when the organized bar was under a lot of financial strain, and they wanted to crush the competition. 

Pam Karlan: Can you tell us a little bit about some of the innovations that you’re now seeing to try to address the access to justice problems we’ve discussed?

David Freeman Engstrom: There is a movement afoot in the United States, across many states, to relax the usual rules that say that only lawyers can practice law and to try to open up a space for non-lawyer alternative legal services providers. That can include what I refer to sometimes as “human non-lawyers.” These would be along the lines of a nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant. But these providers could also include non-human non-lawyers, i.e., software-driven models of legal provision. This is an important moment, and I think the success or failure of this movement to open up this space for new types of legal services, and new delivery models, is really going to shape the future of the civil justice system. We have advised multiple state supreme courts on how to responsibly relax those rules. And we’ve also done what we think is some really neat empirical work looking at what has happened in the first two states that did this, Utah and Arizona. In both states, there was a liberalization of these rules to create a little more space for non-lawyer legal services providers.

Nora Freeman Engstrom: The big question is: what happens if you relax Rule 5.4? That’s the modern version of the rule, created in the 1920s and 30s, that says lawyers have to practice in law firms or as solo practitioners. They can’t work for things like auto clubs.

David Freeman Engstrom:   We are seeing a lot of interesting new service delivery models. Law firms have started to develop tiered legal services, with, for instance, a purely software-based, do-it-yourself tier at the bottom. In the middle, something that involves perhaps a paralegal or a paraprofessional. And then at the top, full representation by a lawyer.

Given the tangle of unauthorized practice of law restrictions, in most states, law companies like LegalZoom are currently limited to what we call document assembly. But, in Utah and Arizona, LegalZoom is using the rule relaxation to hire lawyers to supplement those document assembly services. A lot of non-law companies that just provide, for example, immigration services can now layer in some legal services, so they can provide more wraparound services that they couldn’t offer previously. There’s a company in Utah that helps people achieve expungement of their criminal record in a software-based way. It’s a very robust user-friendly platform.

Pam Karlan: Can you touch on what is happening with generative AI?

David Freeman Engstrom:  One of the many things that generative AI brings to the table is “mapping”—the ability to take a plain language description of a legal problem that someone is experiencing. It can take a plain-language description and map it to what we would call a legal ontology in order to understand what the possible actions and outcomes would be, and then come back to the individual who would otherwise go without meaningful legal help with a roadmap for what to do next. That’s real promise, but also, frankly, peril. Generative AI makes these tools much easier to create, but we need to ensure that these tools are high quality and trustworthy.

Listen to the Full Podcast

David Freeman Engstrom and Nora Freeman Engstrom co-direct SLS’s Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession , the premier academic center working to make the civil justice system more accessible, equitable, and transparent. 

David, the LSVF Professor in Law and an expert in civil procedure and administrative law, focuses his current work on the future of courts and legal services in the age of AI. His book, Legal Tech and the Future of Civil Justice, was published last year. He currently serves as the Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Principles of the Law, High-Volume Civil Adjudication, which will offer courts guidance on the millions of low-dollar but consequential cases, including debt and eviction, that shape Americans’ lives each year. He also co-founded the Filing Fairness Project, an ambitious, multi-state collaboration to modernize court technologies and increase access. 

Nora, the Ernest W. McFarland Professor of Law, is a nationally recognized expert in both tort law and legal ethics. In her far-ranging scholarship, she explores the day-to-day operation of the tort system, including the system’s interaction with alternative compensation mechanisms, such as no-fault automobile insurance and the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. For the American Law Institute, she serves as a Reporter for the Third Restatement of Torts: Miscellaneous Provisions; a Reporter for the Third Restatement of Torts: Medical Malpractice (read recent coverage here ); and as an Adviser to the Third Restatement of Torts: Remedies.

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The ai tightrope: balancing innovation with human rights.

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AI in facial recognition technology creates an ethical dilemma.

“Success in creating effective AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilization. Or the worst. We just don’t know.” Stephen Hawking’s prophetic warning in 2017 about artificial intelligence hangs heavy in the air: a potential game-changer for humanity or a chilling harbinger of doom. According to my colleague Grace Hamilton at Columbia University, the truth lies somewhere in between, as with most disruptive technology.

AI has undoubtedly ushered in a golden age of innovation. From the lightning-fast analysis of Big Data to the eerie prescience of predictive analytics, AI algorithms are transforming industries at breakneck speed. It’s become ubiquitous, quietly shaping our daily lives—from the familiar face scan at the airport to the uncanny ability of ChatGPT to whip up a coherent essay in seconds.

This rapid integration has lulled many into a false sense of security. We’ve become accustomed to the invisible hand of AI, often viewing it as the inevitable domain of tech giants or a mere inevitability. Legislation, lumbering and outdated, struggles to keep pace with this digital cheetah. Here’s the wake-up call: the human rights implications of AI are neither novel nor unavoidable. Remember, technology has a long and checkered history of protecting and challenging our fundamental rights.

The story of AI’s rise mirrors the explosive growth of the internet in the ’90s. Back then, a laissez-faire approach fueled the creation of tech titans like Amazon and Google. Thriving in an unregulated Wild West, these companies amassed mountains of user data, the lifeblood of AI development. Today, the result is a landscape dominated by powerful algorithms, some so sophisticated they can make entirely autonomous decisions. While this has revolutionized healthcare, finance, and e-commerce, it’s also opened a Pandora’s box of privacy and discrimination concerns.

After all, AI algorithms are only as good as the data they’re trained on. Biased data begets biased outcomes, perpetuating existing inequalities. Furthermore, AI companies’ insatiable hunger for personal information raises serious privacy red flags. Striking a balance between technological progress and the protection of human rights is the defining challenge of our era.

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Consider facial recognition technology. In 1955, the FBI’s COINTELPRO program weaponized surveillance against Martin Luther King Jr., a chilling example of technology employed to silence dissent. Later, in January 2020, Robert Williams’ answered a knock on his front door. A Black man from Detroit, Williams wasn’t prepared for the sight that greeted him—police officers at his doorstep, ready to arrest him for a crime he didn’t commit. The accusation? Stealing a collection of high-end watches from a luxury store. The culprit? A blurry CCTV image matched by faulty facial recognition technology.

This wasn’t just a case of mistaken identity. Instead, it was a glaring display of how AI, specifically facial recognition, can perpetuate racial bias and lead to devastating consequences. The image used by the police was of poor quality, and the algorithm, likely trained on an unbalanced dataset, disproportionately misidentified Williams. As a result, Williams spent thirty agonizing hours in jail, away from his family, his reputation tarnished, and his trust in the system shattered.

However, Williams’ story became more than just a personal injustice. He publicly spoke out , voicing the reality that “many Black people won’t be so lucky” and “nobody deserves to live with that fear.” With the help of the ACLU and the University of Michigan’s Civil Rights Litigation Initiative, he filed a lawsuit against the Detroit Police Department, accusing them of violating his Fourth Amendment rights.

Williams’ story isn’t an isolated incident. It’s a chilling reminder of the inherent dangers of relying on biased AI, particularly for tasks as critical as law enforcement. As of 2016, Williams is one of 117 million people—nearly half of all American adults—whose images are stored in a facial recognition database used by law enforcement.

Among the vast expanse of facial recognition databases, biases are amplified. Indeed, studies have shown that facial recognition algorithms have a higher error rate when identifying people of color, with the highest error rates occurring for darker-skinned females—up to 34% higher than for lighter-skinned males.

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The road ahead requires a multi-pronged approach. Robust regulations and ethical frameworks are crucial to safeguard human rights. DAOs must embed human rights principles in their governance structures and conduct regular AI impact assessments. Extending stringent warrant requirements to all data, including internet activities, is essential to protect intellectual privacy and democratic values.

The legal system must address AI’s chilling effects on free speech and intellectual pursuits. Regulating discriminatory AI usage is paramount; facial recognition technology should only be used as supplemental evidence, with built-in safeguards against perpetuating systemic bias.

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The bottom line? Transparency and accountability are essential. Companies must disclose biases, and governments must set best practices for ethical AI development. We must also ensure equitable data sources, with diverse datasets trained on the foundation of individual consent. Only by addressing these challenges can we harness the immense potential of AI while safeguarding our fundamental rights. The future hinges on our ability to walk this tightrope, ensuring technology serves humanity, not the other way around.

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