Founded in the year 1885, Stanford University is one of the leading institutes in the world. This is especially true for STEM fields and most importantly in AI. Additionally, in the QS rankings, Stanford University Ranking is at the #6 position.
However, with so much to offer, it is also really difficult to get into Stanford as it has a low acceptance rate. To help you, below is everything you need to know about getting into Stanford along with some general information.
Why is Stanford University a Top Choice of Students?
Stanford is a top choice of students around the world because of its programs and unique position in Silicon Valley. What is even more amazing about Stanford University is that it also has some of the top research centres and institutes.
This works like a magnet for students who want to make substantial progress in their careers. Below are a few more reasons why Stanford is a top choice of students:
Top Ranking: The first thing that makes Stanford a top institute is its ranking. The Stanford University Ranking is in the top 10 in the world as per top ranking systems. It ranks #3 in per US News & World Report and #6 in the QS World Ranking.
Wide variety of courses: At Stanford, you can choose from a wide range of courses in both UG and PG. There are more than 65 fields of study available at Stanford and students can choose from 90+ graduate areas.
Financial Aid: There is no sense in providing top education if deserving students can’t afford it. To make quality education more accessible, Stanford provides various scholarships and financial aid. A total of 70% of UG students get financial aid at Stanford University as per the website.
High Paying Job: Lastly, students from Stanford also get high paying jobs in top fields. As per Glassdoor, a Stanford graduate on average earn INR 80L (USD 95,728) per year.
How Hard is it to Get into Stanford?
Getting admission into Stanford is a little hard. However, it is not impossible. Stanford is a top institute that keeps getting ranked among other top colleges like Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford and many more. This makes getting into Stanford a little competitive, as students around the world want to complete their education there.
Additionally, the admission process at Stanford is also a little holistic. This is because they do not just look at your grades but they also look at your entire profile. You will be evaluated based on your GPA, and essay, LOR, extracurricular, and more.
Stanford’s Acceptance Rate
Yes, getting into Stanford University is difficult because of its low acceptance rate. At Stanford, only 4 out of 100 applicants get admitted. Moreover, for the class of 2026, the acceptance rate was at 3.68% as only 2,190 students out of 55,000 were admitted.
How to Get into Stanford
As we said above, getting into Stanford is a little difficult but it is not impossible. If you want to get into Stanford, then you will have to start preparing for it as early as you can.
Make sure that you understand what this school is looking for and how you can fit into it. To help you, below are some requirements for getting into Stanford:
Minimum GPA requirement for Stanford University
There is no strict minimum GPA requirement that you need to pass to get into Stanford University. However, the students who get into Stanford usually have high GPAs of around 3.8 to 4.0.
Additionally, you will have to compensate for having a GPA lower than 3.9 by having higher standardized test scores. Also keep in mind that Stanford also looks for students who have challenging courses.
SAT and ACT score Requirements for Stanford
Again, Stanford has not mentioned the minimum score requirement. However, the students who get admitted to Stanford have SAT scores between the range of 1510-1580 and ACT scores between 34-35.
Documents Needed for Stanford University
If you are an international student, you will need to submit a few documents to get admission to Stanford. Below is a list of documents that you will need, so that you can start gathering them well before the admission process.
Undergraduate Applicants:
To get an admission into UG courses you will need, Application Fee, Common Application, ELP Test, LOR along with Midyear Transcript, School Report Form, Test Scores, and Transcripts.
Graduate Applicants:
However, for PG you will need SOP, Resume/CV, LOR, Standardized Test Scores and ELP Test.
How to get Admission in Stanford University as an International Student?
To get an admission into the Stanford University, you can follow the steps below for a smoother application process:
- Do Well on the SAT/ACT: To apply for Stanford, you as an international student will need to submit your SAT or ACT scores. Make sure that your score ranges between 1440-1570 on the SAT and 34-35 on the ACT.
- Do Well on the GMAT or GRE (For Graduate Students): If you are applying for a graduate program, you will have to submit GRE or GMAT scores. Moreover, Stanford generally expects GRE scores of 162 in each section and GMAT scores above 650.
- Take an English Proficiency Test: If you are a non-native English speaker, you will have to submit English Language Proficiency test score of PTE, IELTS, or TOEFL. Stanford requires an IELTS score of at least 7.0 overall.
- Write Great Essays: Additionally, You’ll need to write essays that stand out and meet the requirements of the program you’re applying to.
- Prepare for the Interview: If your application makes it through the initial stages, you’ll have to give an interview.
What Does Stanford Look for in Students?
Stanford uses a “holistic” admissions process to decide who gets accepted. This means the Stanford University looks at every part of your application as a piece of a bigger picture to understand you better as a person.
They focus on four main areas when reviewing applications:
- Academic excellence: Your grades, test scores, and overall academic performance.
- Intellectual vitality: Your curiosity, passion for learning, along with how you engage with challenging ideas.
- Extracurricular activities or non-academic interests: The hobbies, activities, along with your achievements that show who you are outside the classroom.
- Context: Your background, experiences, and the environment you come from.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Stanford University is one of the best institutes that will help you advance your career but getting admission there is not as easy. In our blog above, we talked about everything, from Stanford University Ranking to requirements for getting into Stanford. So, make sure that you go through this and tailor your profile accordingly.
Additionally, if you need any help you can connect with our experts at Gradding. What’s more? Our expert counsellors are available 24*7 for assistance to make our study abroad journey smoother.
