Holistic Admission
At Stanford, we practice holistic admission. This means that each piece in your application is reviewed as part of an integrated and comprehensive whole.
One piece tells us about your background and life experiences, another about your school and your academic achievement. We learn from others about your character and intellectual contributions. In your essays, we learn about your ideas and interests, and what is meaningful to you.
Each year (and in conformance with the law) we aim to enroll a class of diverse backgrounds and experiences, talents, academic interests, and ways of viewing the world.
In a holistic review, we seek to understand how you, as a whole person, would grow, contribute and thrive at Stanford, and how Stanford would, in turn, be changed by you.
Context
Just as no two Stanford students are the same, each applicant to Stanford is unique. This means that as we review each application, we pay careful attention to unique circ*mstances. We take into account your background, educational pathway, and work and family responsibilities. By focusing on your achievements in context, we evaluate how you have excelled in your school environment and how you have taken advantage of what is available to you in your school and community.
Academic Excellence
The primary criterion for admission to Stanford is academic excellence. We look for your preparation and potential to succeed. We expect you to challenge yourself throughout high school and to do very well.
The most important credential for evaluating your academic record is your transcript. Please know that our evaluation goes beyond any numerical formula. There is no minimum GPA or test score, nor is there any specific number of AP or honors courses you must have on your transcript in order to have your application reviewed or be admitted to Stanford.
For more complete information on our curriculum guidelines for first-year students, please visit our Academic Preparation page.
Intellectual Vitality
We want to see your commitment, dedication and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons, both in what you write about yourself and in what others write on your behalf. We want to see the kind of curiosity and enthusiasm that will allow you to spark a lively discussion in a seminar and continue the conversation at the dinner table. We want to see the energy and depth of commitment you will bring to your endeavors, whether that means in a research lab, as part of a community organization, during a performance or on an athletic field. We want to see the initiative with which you seek out opportunities and expand your perspective.
Extracurricular Activities
Learning about your extracurricular activities and nonacademic interests helps us understand your potential contributions to the Stanford community. Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in which a student participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. You may also hold down a job or have family responsibilities. These are as important as any other extracurricular activity. In general, we want to understand the impact you have had at your job, in your family, in a club, in your school or in the larger community, and we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.
In some cases, exceptional abilities in athletics may influence our decision if the applicant is otherwise well qualified, but such abilities never, by themselves, ensure admission to Stanford.
It is important to know these variables are not listed in order of importance in our evaluation and selection process.We review applications holistically.No portion of the application is considered without the rest of the application.
Updated on July 25, 2023 1:27 PM
FAQs
The Stanford admissions process focuses on a holistic review of each student.
What is the advantage of the holistic admission review process for college admissions? ›
Holistic college admissions creates a more equitable system for evaluating potential students. Rather than placing the bulk of the consideration on traditional academic factors (namely, GPA and test scores), a holistic approach includes a number of factors that may not be captured in a traditional admissions process.
What is the lowest GPA Stanford will accept? ›
GPA Requirements
Stanford University does not have a strict minimum GPA requirement for undergraduate admissions. However, admitted students typically have very high GPAs, ranging from 3.8 to 4.0, with an average GPA of 3.9.
What is one reason why many colleges use a holistic evaluation when admitting new students? ›
Holistic evaluation allows colleges to see the applicant as a whole person, not just a set of numbers. This can help colleges make more informed decisions about who would be a good fit for their school.
How do you increase your chances of getting into Stanford? ›
In order to get into Stanford, high school students need to have the following:
- High GPA. ...
- Rigorous Course Load. ...
- Extracurriculars and Leadership Outside of School. ...
- Essays. ...
- Recommendation Letters. ...
- Standardized Test Scores (optional) ...
- Apply Early.
Holistic review is a university admissions strategy that assesses an applicant's unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades and test scores.
What is the difference between holistic admission and regular admission? ›
Rather than focus exclusively on SAT scores, class rank, and high school GPA, holistic college admissions consider additional factors, such as personal statements, supplemental essays, extracurricular activities, student potential, and college letters of recommendation.
How many universities use holistic admissions? ›
Research shows that 95% of admissions officers claim that they adopt holistic review in their admissions decisions (Bastedo, 2021). However, there is no standard definition of what holistic admissions entail and the practice varies widely across institutions.
What is the difference between holistic and regular admission? ›
Schools that practice holistic admissions look beyond test scores and grades to get a picture of you as a person. Your test scores, grades, and course selections are, of course, incredibly important, but they don't tell the whole story.
Can I get into Stanford with 2.7 GPA? ›
There is no minimum GPA or test score, nor is there any specific number of AP or honors courses you must have on your transcript in order to have your application reviewed or be admitted to Stanford.
Although Stanford has no minimum grade, it won't hurt you to have higher grades. Particularly when 56 percent of successful Stanford applications have a GPA of 4.0 or above. Make sure you have stellar GPA. Remember that the harder your classes, the more positive consideration you are given.
Why is Stanford so hard to get into? ›
Stanford University says that its primary criterion for evaluating applicants is their academic records. The school says that it does not have a cutoff GPA score. However, given that tens of thousands of students apply every year, many applicants apply who have perfect or near-perfect GPAs, and many are not accepted.
Why is a holistic assessment important? ›
Holistic assessment is a comprehensive approach to evaluation. It takes into account the cognitive, emotional, and communication skills of learners and trainees. Its primary purpose is to get a complete understanding of the learner's strengths, weaknesses, and interests.
What does it mean when a college uses a holistic admissions process what are all the sorts of things they consider? ›
"Holistic" can be defined as an emphasis on the whole person, not just select pieces that make up the whole person. If a college has holistic admissions, the school's admissions officers consider the whole applicant, not just empirical data like one's GPA or SAT scores.
What are the benefits of holistic assessment? ›
In holistic assessment, educators assess students using a variety of methods, such as portfolios, projects, presentations, and observations. This allows for a more diverse range of evidence to be collected and evaluated, giving a more comprehensive representation of the student's skills and knowledge.
What colleges use a holistic approach? ›
Some colleges with a strong reputation for holistic admissions include:
- Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, Penn, and Cornell)
- Liberal arts colleges (e.g., Amherst, Swarthmore, Williams, Haverford, Pomona, Bowdoin, Wellesley, and Carleton)
Holistic Review allows admissions committees to consider the “whole” applicant, rather than disproportionately focusing on any one factor.” Your lived experience is the center of a holistic admissions process.
Does UCLA do holistic review? ›
We perform a holistic review of all applicants to UCLA in which all your achievements – both academic and nonacademic/personal – are considered in the context of your educational circ*mstances, with an emphasis on the opportunities or challenges presented to you and your response to them.
Does UCLA have holistic review? ›
Our application review process is a holistic one. We take into account all aspects of your application, including your GPA, your MCAT score, your personal essay, your letters of recommendation, and other essays that you will write for your application.
