Hi everyone. I'm starting to work on my college applications and I really want to make my admission essay for Stanford University stand out. Any advice or examples of successful essays? TIA!
Hello! Stanford's admissions essays are a great opportunity to showcase your personality, values, and experiences. Luckily for you, CollegeVine's blog has a post breaking down how to tackle Stanford's supplemental essay prompts for the current application cycle: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-stanford-university-essays/.
Do be aware that these prompts can change year-to-year. While you can use this post to get some solid initial guidance, I'd advise against starting to actually write your own responses until August 1st before your senior year, as that's when the prompts for the coming applications cycle are officially released. After all, you don't want to start writing before then only to have your hard work go to waste if the prompts change!
As you wait for August 1st, you can also check out some examples of past essays written by real applicants to Stanford, as well as breakdowns of what they did well and what could have been done even better: https://blog.collegevine.com/stanford-essay-example/. Finally, I'd be happy to provide you with some general tips on how to write standout supplemental essays for Stanford:
1. Be authentic: Write from a genuine perspective, and focus on personal growth, challenges, or unique experiences. Avoid trying to over-impress or pretending to be someone you're not.
2. Engage the reader: Start with a compelling hook or anecdote that immediately grabs the reader's attention. This can be a scene-setting description, a moment of conflict, or an intriguing statement.
3. Show, don't tell: Use concrete examples to illustrate your points instead of just stating them. For example, if you're talking about your love for music, describe a moment when you were completely immersed in composing or playing an instrument, rather than simply stating that you love music.
4. Structure your essay: Organize your essay in a way that clearly conveys your thought process and flows naturally. Use short, digestible paragraphs to break down your thoughts, and avoid long, convoluted sentences.
5. Reflect and analyze: Don't just narrate events or list accomplishments — show insight and self-awareness by analyzing the significance of those experiences in shaping you as a person. Reflection helps your readers understand why this story is crucial to understanding what kind of college student you'll be.
6. Be specific to Stanford: Although you shouldn't force it, try to mention any specific aspects of Stanford that have attracted you. Perhaps that's a particular program, faculty member, or campus resource that aligns with your interests and aspirations.
7. Revise and proofread: Take the time to re-read, revise, and polish your essay multiple times. Run it by a few trusted individuals (like a teacher, counselor, or a friend) for feedback and suggestions. You can also utilize CollegeVine's Free Peer Essay Review tool, or submit your essay for a paid review by an expert college admissions advisor through CollegeVine's marketplace, if you're looking for a more objective perspective on how well your ideas are coming across.
In conclusion, to write a standout essay for Stanford, be authentic, get creative with storytelling, showcase self-reflection, and demonstrate a genuine interest in the university. Good luck with your essay, and I hope you find these tips helpful!
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