The primary criterion for admission to Stanford is academic excellence. The university looks for students who have selected the most rigorous academic program available to them, demonstrated intellectual vitality and achieved distinction in a variety of academic courses.
All applicants submit references, essays and standardized test scores.
The second most important criterion is involvement outside the classroom, where Stanford seeks evidence of sustained commitment and leadership in school and community activities or an indication of exceptional talent and achievement in the arts or athletics. Stanford recommends that prospective students take a minimum of four years of English, four years of mathematics, three years of laboratory science, three years of the same foreign language and three years of history or social studies. Each year, many more highly qualified students apply than the university has places for in the freshman class of 1,600 or the transfer group of about 100. Financial aid was provided to 70 percent of undergraduate students from a variety of internal and external sources in 1998-99. The application deadline for early decision is Nov. 1, and the application for regular admission is due by Dec. 15.