If you’re thinking about applying to Stanford, here's how you can write the best responses to its supplemental prompts! The prompt: What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 words) What the Prompt is About: In the following 50-word responses, Stanford wants you to concisely answer questions that are actually quite complex. By limiting your response to 50 words, Stanford is probably trying to get you to eliminate all the fluff and be as sincere as possible. In this prompt, they want you to discuss a current issue (social, political, environmental, economic, cultural, etc.) that matters to you, as well as society. Tips: Relate your response to your major. If you’re applying to Stanford as a Computer Science major, maybe you want to discuss a significant challenge related to Artificial Intelligence. Be passionate. If the challenge you write about is something you are invested in solving, let your passion show in your response--do your research and show off your understanding of it! The prompt: How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words) What the Prompt is About: This one is straightforward: Discuss any academic programs, trips, internships, or exciting things you did the past two summers. Tips: Highlight the most important events. Remember, you have just 50 words to describe six months, so focus on the most impressive things you did (colleges care about independent projects, academic programs, travels, or other life-changing events) and share them here. Be positive. Even if you spent two months hanging out at home one summer, try to think about what you gained from the experience. Were you preparing for the upcoming academic year? Were you expanding your reading horizons? Spin it positively! The prompt: What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words) What the Prompt is About: Stanford is essentially asking you to pick a historical moment or event and explain why it is important to you. Tips: Pick a unique event. Rather than saying you wish you could have witnessed the assassination of JFK and prevented it from happening (mostly everyone would agree), try to pick a niche historical event not everyone would come up with. Relate it to your major. So, if you’re hoping to major in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, maybe you might have wanted to see the invention of the bicycle in the 1880s and been the first woman to move freely without a chaperone. The prompt: Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50 words) What the Prompt is About: Stanford wants you to pick your most meaningful activity outside of school and describe it. Tips: Be sincere. If you joined an extracurricular just for your resume but aren’t that into it, don’t describe it here. Maybe you’re a caring older sibling responsible for cooking for your younger brother every Tuesday night—talk about that, instead! Stick to the most important details. Remember, you can’t say everything in 50 words, so try to mention just the key details in your response. The prompt: List five things that are important to you. (50 words)What the Prompt is About: This challenging prompt is asking you to describe your personality by listing five things that are meaningful to you. Tips: Give variation. Try to list a variety of things, from family members or role models to academic interests, the things you Google, and your favorite foods. Be bold. If trying every new drink on the Starbucks menu is important to you, great—list it! After all, it shows off your open-mindedness and adventurous spirit! The prompt: The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (250 words) What the Prompt is About: In this longer prompt, Stanford wants you to you to explain what sparks your spirit of academic inquiry; it could be a teacher or an independent project you worked on—anything! Tips: Mention your major. Try to relate your love of learning to an event that led you to academic subjects that have to do with your major, or expanded your understanding of subjects related to it. Don’t make it up. Stanford can tell if you’re pretending, so don’t just say what you think they want to hear. Instead, be honest—maybe getting a lower grade on a chemistry test actually inspired you to get more involved with the subject, which you ended up falling in love with! The 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. (250 words) What the Prompt is About: This is a fun, creative prompt where you can be yourself and pretend you’re talking to your future roommate. But remember, Stanford is reading the letter, too! Tips: Explain yourself. Try to introduce yourself to someone you want to be friends with by explaining helpful, unique details about yourself that will help them better understand your quirks. Be super-friendly. Stanford doesn’t want to know that you want your roommate to take out the trash. Instead, think about activities you want to share with your roommate or introduce them to. The prompt: Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University. (100-250 words) What the Prompt is About: This is Stanford’s “community” prompt, where they are asking how your life experiences, interests, or values would help you positively contribute to the Stanford community. Tips: Focus on your strengths. If you’re an excellent writer who has founded your own literary zine, this is a great place to explain how you might want to enlist your peers and explore this project further at Stanford. Think big. If you’re passionate about mental health, maybe you can start your own peer counseling group at Stanford! Discuss your dreams in detail!
