99 Successful Stanford Essays
Updated for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.
About Stanford
Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University is one of the most storied and prestigious institutions in the world. With an endowment of nearly $40 billion, Stanford offers students the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in academia, while also providing access to cutting-edge technology and research facilities. This combination makes Stanford a great school for a wide variety of disciplines: from economics to engineering to English, you really can’t go wrong on the Farm! The campus itself is also stunning. Gorgeous Spanish-style architecture and greenery engulf the whole campus, and students are frequently seen basking in the Palo Alto sun. Stanford’s student culture is thriving. Hundreds of clubs—including sports teams, music groups, and community service organizations—are active on campus.
At a glance…
Acceptance Rate
4%
Tuition
$56,169
Average Cost
$12,894
Average SAT
1491
Average ACT
33
Location
Stanford, CA
Real Essays from Stanford Admits
Prompt: Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.
My grandmother moved in. As the oldest grandchild, her health became my responsibility. I meet her every morning with a cup of pills and herbal remedies. I administer injections, her painful shriek as the needle penetrates her skin shatters my heart every time, but her loving hugs always comfort me.
Essay by Jaden Botros
Economics & Political Science student at Stanford University | 800K in Scholarships | Profile includes Resume and Summer Research Email Templates
Prompt: Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford
Stanford’s research opportunities at the Hopkins Marine Station near the Monterey Bay appeal to me; more specifically, Professor Barbara Block’s project examining unregulated fishing with new technology. Using my understanding of bycatch gillnets as the main threat to Hawksbills, I aspire to learn more about the consequences of unsustainable fishing.
Essay by Erick Angelo Ramirez
CS Major, Bio Minor, FGSS Honors Thesis, FLI @ Stanford
Prompt: What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?
The youth mental health crisis necessitates action, not just from governments and legislation, but from local communities. The greatest challenge society faces is to center marginalized groups when designing equitable solutions to support the mental health of young people in community settings.
Essay by Mango
Healthcare Equity, Mental Health, and Music @ Stanford
Prompt: How did you spend your last two summers?
I started going gray getting ready for college (scholarships, SAT, AP, college tours) and self-studied precalculus (which didn’t help). I learned that turn signals aren’t optional (Driver’s Ed). I played sports (offseason training, club basketball). I volunteered, failed at investing, and finished several books by my favorite author, Robin Hobb.
Essay by Isabella Allydice
Future ChemEng at Stanford | First-Generation | Low-income Public HS | Procrastination Expert
Prompt: What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?
1843: A third wheel to William Rowan Hamilton and his wife. I watch as he etches his new
noncommutative four-dimensional algebra equations into Broome Bridge near Dublin. I feverishly transcribe our conversation and happily explain my future use of quaternions through our FIRST
Tech Challenge software development kit.
Essay by Olivia
Pickleball fanatic studying electrical engineering at Stanford :)
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.
Dear Roommate,
My bedroom is my refuge, and I hope ours will be the same. Through immersive design, there are countless possibilities to personalize our room. All it takes is the simple command: “Alexa, it’s Christmas time,” and we teleport from a hot, stuffy room in June to a winter wonderland. The ceiling lights turn red and green, Christmas lights begin to sparkle, “Jingle Bells” bounces through the speakers, and The Christmas Story is cued. My friends giddily sing along to Christmas carols, and we joke about Alexa’s unquestioning loyalty. When my friend [Name Redacted] got dumped last summer, he asked for “Christmas time” in my room to cheer him up. And, when my basketball team won the semi-finals, we said “Alexa, it’s party time” and celebrated as disco lights whirled and “Bohemian Rhapsody” blasted. We have a command for (almost) every occasion. Rigging my room has brought laughter and joy into the lives of friends and family and is something I look forward to doing with you. We can learn about each other while we set up our room. Whether it’s our music, lights, jokes, or auto-stocked products, I’m excited to create a room that reflects both of our identities, cultural backgrounds, and humor. In our spare time, I also look forward to taking a hiatus from indoors to head out to surf, play basketball, or plan spikeball matches on the oval. Whether we’re indoors or out, I can’t wait to get to know you. “Alexa, it’s Cardinal time.”
Essay by StanfordStudent
Mechanical Engineering @ Stanford
Prompt: Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why.
My breath caught in anticipation. My grandfather, affectionately known as Pop Pop, flipped the card over.
A six.
I could peg out.
We both exhaled, me in triumphant relief and him like a deflating balloon. He knew I had won.
Pop Pop taught me cribbage when I was eight and it became our game. Through it our relationship flourished, he taught me about the world through card strategy metaphors and nudged me to gain confidence in defending myself through teasing trash talk. Every year I joked about “Pop Pop rules”, playfully accusing him of shifting the rules to counteract my progress. I suppose we each have our own outlook on how to play the cards we are dealt.
A signature move of mine is to always take the crib second. The initial crib-holder gets those extra points first while the other player is in a perpetual state of catching up. Playing like I am more behind than I truly am, I work that much harder to win. While I love card games and competition, I most appreciate the resolve and creativity that stems from adversity and pushes me towards success.
Cribbage with my grandfather has taught me much more than strategic gameplay. I’ve grown from a young girl struggling to add seven and eight together to a confident young woman who knows that hard work and level- headedness are the keys to success.
This time, it was him who asked, “How about one more game?”
Essay by StanfordStudent
Low-income, disabled pre-med Human Biology major/Creative Writing minor with additional interest in humanities
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