Hi everyone! I'm planning to apply to Stanford and I'm wondering how many supplemental essay questions they typically have. Also, if anyone has any general advice or tips for tackling the supplemental essays, that would be much appreciated!
Stanford typically has several supplemental essay questions, which include a mix of short answer questions and slightly longer supplemental essays. While the prompts can change from year to year, they often involve similar themes.
For a breakdown of how to tackle Stanford's supplemental essay prompts for the current applications cycle, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-stanford-university-essays. There are also some general tips on how to tackle these supplemental essays:
1. Be yourself: Stanford values authenticity and wants to know who you are beyond your academic achievements. Be honest in your responses and share experiences that genuinely matter to you.
2. Show your intellectual curiosity: Stanford is looking for students who are excited about learning, so make sure to demonstrate your enthusiasm for exploring new ideas and experiences.
3. Be specific: Avoid generic or clichéd responses. Dive into the details of your experiences, and show why they matter to you and what you learned from them.
4. Be concise: With limited word limits, being concise is essential. Focus on the most important points, and avoid unnecessary information or filler words.
5. Revise and proofread: Make sure your essays are polished and free from typos or errors. Get feedback from others—like teachers, peers, or mentors—to help ensure your essays are clear and effectively convey your personality. And if you want to get a more objective set of eyes on your essay, remember that CollegeVine offers both a free peer essay review service and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors. Sometimes, having someone who doesn't already know you take a look at your essays can give you a better sense of how they'll come across to actual admissions officers, who also don't have much prior knowledge of your background.
Good luck with your Stanford application!
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