stanford university essay prompts 2021

How to Write the Stanford University Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

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Learn how to write an awesome essay for your Stanford application.

Elias Miller will provide an in-depth breakdown of each of the Stanford essay prompts, discussing how to write a great essay in response to each one. He'll also share his take on the essays and topics you shouldn't write about for each prompt.

Finally, he'll open up the floor for a Q&A session, where he'll answer any and all questions about the Stanford essays.

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August 8, 2021

Stanford University 2021-2022 Essay Prompts

Stanford University has released its 2021-2022 essay prompts for applicants to the Class of 2026. Traditionally, Stanford has one of the longer college supplements, asking students a host of essay prompts — and this year is no different. Applicants to Stanford’s Class of 2026 are asked to respond to five 50-word essays and three 250-word essays. While the essays aren’t as long as, say, the University of Chicago, eight essay prompts is quite a bit however short some of them might be. So what sorts of questions is the Stanford admissions committee asking applicants this year? Wonder no more! They are the same essay prompts as for the Class of 2025 .

The 50-worders read: “What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?” “How did you spend your last two summers?” “What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?” “Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.” And “Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford.” The 250-worders read: “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.” “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.” And “Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why.”

Have a question about the Stanford University 2021-2022 essay prompts? Post your question below and we’ll be sure to jump in on the conversation!

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Learn about application requirements and the National College Match on Stanford’s QuestBridge College Partner page .

Stanford QuestBridge Supplement

In the supplement, we ask several short questions (limit 50 words each), and because the QuestBridge Application is so comprehensive, we ask just one essay question: 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-word maximum)

Frequently Asked Questions

If i participate in questbridge, do i need to apply for financial aid from stanford.

Yes; all applicants to Stanford, including those participating in the National College Match, must submit financial aid application documents to Stanford in order to receive a financial aid notification.

If you ranked Stanford in the Match, please submit the CSS Profile and federal tax forms by November 1. Please complete the FAFSA as soon as it is available and submit it no later than February 15. Visit Stanford’s  National College Match Scholarship Package page   and Stanford’s  QuestBridge College Partner page   for more information.

I submitted a QuestBridge Application to Stanford. Do I also need to submit a Common Application?

No; If you submitted a QuestBridge Application to Stanford through the National College Match or QuestBridge Regular Decision, there is no need to submit a Common Application. Your QuestBridge application is your Stanford application.

We will not review an additional application. If you need to provide us with significant updates, you will have an opportunity to do so on your student portal.

I am a QuestBridge Finalist, but I am not participating in the Match. Can I apply to Stanford under Restrictive Early Action?

Yes; however, you must submit a Common Application. Your application fee will be waived when you select the “QuestBridge Finalist” option in the Stanford fee waiver section.

Since the ACT or SAT is not required for Stanford this year, how can I let Stanford know if I want my scores considered?

In your Stanford QuestBridge Supplement there is a question asking whether you would like Stanford to consider ACT or SAT scores in the review of your application.

If you are not able to take the ACT or SAT, your application will not be at a disadvantage. If you have already taken the ACT or SAT, and you feel that your scores are a positive reflection of your academic preparedness, then you are welcome to self-report them. Your application will not be at a disadvantage if you choose not to report your scores.

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Is stanford’s match binding.

Yes; Stanford’s Match is binding. If you are matched with Stanford, congratulations and welcome! We look forward to having you join our community. As a reminder, under QuestBridge guidelines, Finalists who match to a binding institution through the National College Match are to withdraw their applications from other colleges and universities.

Does Stanford have a maximum number of students they accept through the Match?

No; the Match is a partnership to provide access and opportunity for high achieving, low-income students. Stanford reviews applications holistically and works to create a strong and diverse cohort of Match Finalists. In previous years we have matched anywhere between 65-90 students, the number of matches can vary each year. Stanford’s partnership with QuestBridge is more than just the Match. Many outstanding QuestBridge Finalists and non-Finalists are admitted in Regular Decision.

Will Stanford consider Finalists for the Match if their Parent Contribution (PC) is above $0?

Stanford's financial aid is need-based; therefore, we are focusing our Match efforts on students whose families are determined to have a Parent Contribution (PC) of $0.

However, Stanford is committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of all admitted students seeking financial aid, including those who apply through Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision. You can estimate your financial aid using Stanford’s Net Price Calculator .

Can I rank Stanford in the Match and apply to other schools through their early action or early decision rounds?

No; similarly, you cannot apply to Stanford under Restrictive Early Action and at the same time apply to other colleges through the Match. Please see QuestBridge's Early Application Policy .

Can I submit an Arts Portfolio if I am applying to Stanford through the Match?

No; the Match timeline does not align with the Arts Portfolio review process.

If I participate in the National College Match will I have the opportunity to participate in an optional alumni interview?

No; the Match timeline does not align with the Alumni Interview schedule.

Stanford admission interviews are optional, assigned randomly according to local alumni availability and can be declined without negatively affecting the application. Finalists who rank Stanford but do not match to a binding college will automatically be considered in Regular Decision and may be offered an interview at that time.

Can I submit an additional letter of recommendation in addition to the letter(s) included in the QuestBridge application?

It is not a requirement or an expectation that students will submit additional letter(s) of recommendation in addition to the two letters we receive with your QuestBridge application.

If you would like to send an additional letter from a school official please have them email it directly to [email protected]

I am an undocumented/DACA student. Can I apply to Stanford through the Match?

Yes; Stanford welcomes applications from undocumented/DACA students through the National College Match. Visit our How Aid Works page for undocumented applicants.

I am an international citizen studying in the U.S. with a visa. Can I apply to Stanford through the Match?

No; Stanford does not review applications from international citizens through the National College Match. We encourage international citizens to apply to Stanford through QuestBridge Regular Decision.

Withdrawing Your Application

How do i withdraw my application from consideration.

To remove Stanford from your rankings for the Match, contact QuestBridge. After the Match, if you would like to withdraw your application from consideration in Regular Decision, log in to your Stanford portal and submit the "Withdraw Application" form.

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How To Answer Stanford's 2023/24 Supplemental Essays: Tips & Insights

What's New in 2023/24

What Are Stanford's Essay Prompts?

Short Answer Questions

Short essay questions.

General Guidelines

Navigating Stanford University's supplemental essays for the 2023/24 admissions cycle? This guide offers step-by-step advice on tackling each question, from the short answers to the more complex essays. We also include general guidelines to help you craft compelling narratives that answer the prompts, showcase your unique character, and fit with Stanford's community. It is ideal for anyone aiming to make their application stand out in a highly competitive pool.

Stanford’s 2023/24 Supplemental Essay Updates: What's Changed?

Gaining admission to Stanford University , with its acceptance rate of approximately 4% , is an unparalleled accomplishment. In the fiercely competitive world of college admissions, your supplemental essays play a pivotal role in showcasing your unique story and alignment with Stanford's values.

Every academic year, prestigious institutions like Stanford fine-tune their application process to ensure they capture a comprehensive view of their potential students. For the 2023/24 admissions cycle, Stanford has implemented a few notable changes to its supplemental essay questions.

In the short answer section, while four prompts remain consistent with previous years, the question about anticipating an experience at Stanford has been substituted with a prompt asking applicants to "List five things that are important to you." This shift indicates a desire to understand applicants' priorities and values on a more personal level.

The short essay section has also seen adjustments. While the prompts about reflecting on personal learning and penning a note to a future roommate continue to feature, Stanford has amalgamated the questions about defining family and discussing something significant. Now, applicants are invited to describe how their life experiences, interests, and character would contribute to the Stanford undergraduate community.

These revisions highlight Stanford's evolving admissions approach, emphasizing understanding the diverse life experiences and intrinsic values applicants would bring to its dynamic undergraduate community.

What Are Stanford’s Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2023/24?

For the 2023/24 application cycle, Stanford University has thoughtfully designed specific supplemental essay prompts to delve deeper into the profiles of its applicants, complementing the Common App questions. These prompts aim to uncover your societal concerns, personal experiences, academic passions, and how you envision your journey at Stanford.

Stanford's short answer questions provide a snapshot into your perspectives, experiences, and values.

• Societal Challenge : What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 words)
• Summer Activities : How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words)
• Historical Witness : What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words)
• Extracurricular Elaboration : Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50 words)
• Personal Priorities : List five things that are important to you. (50 words)

These essays provide a deeper insight into your intellectual curiosities, personal experiences, and how you'll contribute to Stanford's vibrant community.

• Passion for Learning : 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. (100-250 words)
• Roommate Introduction : 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. (100-250 words)
• Distinctive Contribution : 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)

With an acceptance rate hovering around 4% , Stanford's application process is undeniably rigorous. These prompts offer applicants a unique opportunity to showcase their societal insights, personal growth, and the distinct perspectives they'll bring to the Stanford community.

Looking for inspiration? Dive into these Stanford essay examples to see what successful applications look like!

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How to Answer Stanford’s Short Answer Questions?

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today, - 50 words max.

Stanford seeks students who are not only academically adept but also socially aware and proactive. This question aims to gauge your awareness of global or local challenges and your perspective on their significance . It's an opportunity to showcase your critical thinking and ability to prioritize issues based on their impact.

Selecting a Challenge

The first step is to identify a challenge you genuinely believe is significant. This could be:

• Environmental issues like climate change or deforestation.
• Social challenges such as racial inequality, gender discrimination, or mental health stigma.
• Technological challenges like data privacy concerns or the ethical implications of AI.
• Economic challenges such as income inequality or unemployment.

Articulating the Significance

Once you've chosen a challenge, delve into why you believe it's the most significant:

• Scope of Impact : Is it a global issue affecting millions or a local challenge with profound implications?
• Long-Term Implications : Does the challenge have potential long-term consequences if not addressed?
• Personal Connection : Perhaps you've witnessed the effects of this challenge firsthand or have been personally affected by it.

Being Concise and Specific

With a 50-word limit, precision is key. Avoid generic statements. Instead, focus on specific aspects of the challenge and its implications.

• "The digital divide is society's most pressing challenge. As technology advances, those without access are left behind, widening educational and economic disparities."
• "Mental health stigma is a silent crisis. Many suffer in silence, fearing judgment, which exacerbates the issue and prevents early intervention."

Stanford's first short answer question tests your awareness, perspective, and ability to articulate complex issues succinctly . Choose a challenge you're passionate about, explain its significance, and ensure your response is concise and impactful.

How did you spend your last two summers?

Stanford is interested in how you utilize your free time, as it provides insight into your interests, priorities, and work ethic. This question aims to understand what activities or experiences you value and how you engage with the world when academic commitments are less pressing.

Being Specific and Honest

The key to answering this question effectively is being specific and honest. Instead of saying, "I spent time with family," you could elaborate with, "I explored local hiking trails with my family, fostering my love for environmental science."

Balancing Variety and Depth

You can mention a variety of activities, but remember to be concise. If possible, connect the activities to your intended field of study or personal growth:

• Academic Pursuits : Did you take any courses, attend workshops, or engage in self-study that aligns with your academic interests?
• Work Experience : Did you have a job or internship? What skills did you gain, and how did it shape your understanding of a particular field?
• Volunteering : If you engaged in community service, what impact did it have on you and the community?
• Personal Interests : Did you engage in any hobbies or personal projects? How did they contribute to your skills or well-being?

Appropriateness

Ensure that the experiences you share are appropriate for an academic application. They should be experiences you'd be comfortable sharing with a teacher or in a professional setting.

• "Last summer, I interned at a local tech startup, honing my coding skills and understanding the dynamics of team collaboration. The previous summer, I volunteered at a food bank, which deepened my awareness of food insecurity issues."
• "I spent one summer taking a creative writing course, which fueled my passion for storytelling. The other was dedicated to a family road trip across historical sites, enriching my love for history."

Stanford's second short answer question seeks to understand how you use your free time to engage in meaningful activities or personal growth . Be specific, honest, and appropriate in your response, and if possible, connect your activities to your broader goals or interests.

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?

Stanford is keen to explore your intellectual curiosity and how you relate to history, whether it's a globally recognized event or a personal moment in time. This question aims to understand what you find significant or intriguing in the tapestry of human experience .

Unleashing Your Imagination

Don't limit yourself to textbook historical events. This is an opportunity to showcase your unique interests. Whether it's a monumental event like the signing of the Declaration of Independence or something more personal or niche, like a family event or a lesser-known cultural phenomenon, the key is to pick something that genuinely interests you.

Exploring the 'Why'

Once you've chosen the event, delve into why you wish you could have witnessed it.

• What do you think you would learn or gain from the experience?
• Would it offer insights into contemporary issues, personal growth, or your field of study?

The 'why' is as important as the 'what' in this question.

Timing and Context

Consider the timing of the event. Would it be a moment that lasts a few minutes, like witnessing a groundbreaking scientific discovery, or something more prolonged, like being present during a significant cultural festival? The duration and setting can add another layer of depth to your answer.

• "I wish I could have witnessed the Women's Suffrage Parade of 1913. Seeing the courage and unity of women fighting for their rights would deepen my understanding of the struggles that paved the way for the freedoms I have today."
• "I'd love to have been in the audience at the premiere of Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring.' The riot it incited speaks volumes about the power of art to challenge societal norms, something still relevant today."

Stanford's third short answer question is an invitation to share your intellectual or personal interests through the lens of history . Be imaginative and specific, and focus on the event and why witnessing it would be significant to you. This is a chance to offer a glimpse into what excites your curiosity and how you relate to the world and its history.

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.

Stanford wants to see a fuller picture of who you are beyond academics . This question explores another facet of your life you're passionate about or committed to. It's an opportunity to showcase your skills, values, and contributions in a different context.

Choosing the Right Experience

Select an experience you haven't elaborated on in other parts of your application. It could be an extracurricular activity , a part-time job, or even family responsibilities. The key is to choose something that has significantly impacted you and ideally contrasts with your intended major to show the breadth of your interests.

Narrative Over Summary

Instead of listing what you've done, focus on a specific anecdote that encapsulates the essence of your involvement. Describe a moment that was pivotal or enlightening in that experience. This makes your answer more engaging and provides a deeper insight into your role and its significance.

What You Bring to the Table

Discuss the skills or values you've gained from this experience. Whether it's leadership in a club, responsibility in a family setting, or problem-solving in a job, highlight how these skills have shaped you and how they could be applied in a Stanford context.

• "As the editor of our school newspaper, I once had to navigate a controversial article submission. Balancing freedom of speech with the potential for harm taught me the delicate art of ethical journalism."
• "Working in a family-owned restaurant taught me the value of hard work and customer service. It also fueled my passion for business analytics, as I started to see how data-driven decisions could improve our operations."

Stanford's fourth short answer question is a window into your life outside the classroom. Focusing on a specific anecdote and the lessons learned can provide a more vivid and meaningful picture of your extracurricular involvement or responsibilities . This is your chance to show Stanford another layer of who you are and what you could bring to their community.

List five things that are important to you.

This prompt is a straightforward yet revealing way for Stanford to understand your priorities, values, and interests . It's a snapshot of what matters most to you, from personal beliefs to hobbies, relationships, or aspirations.

Selecting Your Five Things

Choose items that genuinely resonate with you and ideally offer a well-rounded view of who you are. The list can include a mix of the profound and the seemingly mundane as long as they are genuinely important to you.

Be Authentic, Be You

This is not the time to list what you think Stanford wants to hear. Authenticity is key. Your list should reflect your true self, as it offers another layer of understanding about you that might not be evident in other parts of your application.

• Family: The cornerstone of my life and my biggest support system.
• Environmental Sustainability: A cause I'm deeply committed to, both in lifestyle choices and activism.
• Music: A universal language that brings me joy and emotional expression.
• Intellectual Curiosity: The driving force behind my academic and personal endeavors.
• Humor: A necessary tool for navigating life's ups and downs.

Stanford's fifth short answer question is a quick but insightful look into your values and interests. By carefully selecting the five genuinely important things to you, you offer Stanford a glimpse into what drives you, what you care about, and what kind of community member you would be .

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How to Answer Stanford’s Short Essay Questions?

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., - 100 to 250 words.

Stanford is looking for students who are both academically competent and passionately curious. This essay aims to delve into what genuinely excites you about learning , whether it's a specific subject, a method of inquiry, or an experiential learning opportunity.

Identifying Your Idea or Experience

Begin by pinpointing the idea or experience that genuinely excites you about learning. This could be:

• A subject matter that you are passionate about but haven't had the chance to explore in a formal educational setting.
• An experience that sparked your curiosity and led you to further exploration or research.
• A methodology or form of inquiry that you find particularly stimulating.

Narrating the Discovery Journey

Discuss how you came across this idea or experience. Was it through a book, a mentor, an internship, or perhaps a personal experience? If you faced any obstacles or discouragement in pursuing this interest, this is a good place to discuss it.

Connecting to Stanford's Learning Environment

Now, consider how you would continue to explore this interest at Stanford. Would it be through specific courses, research opportunities, or clubs? Are there professors you're excited to work with or facilities you're eager to use?

Formulating Questions and Research Approaches

Discuss the kinds of questions this topic raises for you and how you might go about answering them. Whether it's through lab experiments, fieldwork, or theoretical analysis, indicate how you envision your learning journey unfolding at Stanford.

Collaborative Learning

Stanford values collaborative learning. Briefly touch upon how you see yourself engaging with peers, professors, or even external communities to deepen your understanding of the topic.

Stanford's first short essay question is an opportunity to showcase your intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. By detailing an idea or experience that excites you and connecting it to Stanford's resources and community, you demonstrate not just your passion but also how you would contribute to the intellectual vitality of the campus. Approach this essay with a focus on specificity, authenticity, and a clear vision of your academic journey at Stanford .

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.

Stanford wants to get a glimpse of who you are outside of your academic and extracurricular achievements. This essay is a chance to showcase your personality, quirks, and the unique traits that make you, you .

Setting the Tone

Approach this essay as if you're writing a letter to a friend. The tone should be conversational; you can incorporate humor, vulnerability, or even self-deprecation to make it engaging and relatable.

Sharing Personal Anecdotes

Instead of using adjectives to describe yourself, share specific anecdotes or experiences that reveal something about you. This could be:

• A ritual or tradition that's important to you.
• A hobby or interest that you're passionate about.
• A challenge you've faced and how you dealt with it.

Examples for Inspiration

• If you have a religious practice, you could talk about how you adapted it during a school trip, perhaps waking up early to pray without disturbing others.
• If you love aesthetics, you might mention how you can't resist picking flowers from your neighborhood to make your space more beautiful.

Incorporating Humor or Poignancy

Feel free to incorporate humor or poignant moments to make the essay memorable. Whether it's a funny story about a family vacation gone wrong or a touching moment from a community service trip, these details help paint a fuller picture of who you are.

Living Together

Since this is a letter to a future roommate, consider mentioning how you approach shared living spaces. Are you neat or messy? An early riser or a night owl? This adds another layer of personal insight.

Stanford's second short essay question offers a unique opportunity to showcase your personality in a more informal setting. By sharing specific anecdotes and experiences, you not only help your future roommate get to know you but also give Stanford a more comprehensive view of what you'll bring to its community . Approach this essay with authenticity, vulnerability, and a dash of humor to make it memorable.

Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

Stanford wants to understand how you will contribute to its diverse and vibrant community. This prompt allows you to showcase the unique qualities, experiences, and perspectives you bring to the table .

Defining Your Community

Start by identifying a community you are a part of . This could be anything from a school club, a sports team, a religious group, or even a community of hobbyists. What binds this community together? Is it a shared goal, a common interest, or collective challenge?

Your Role in the Community

Once you've defined the community, focus on your role within it. Are you a leader, a supporter, a motivator, or perhaps a creative mind? How have you contributed to this community, and what impact have you had?

• If you've been part of a mentoring program, you could discuss how you nurtured that relationship over the years, the challenges you faced, and the growth you observed in yourself and your mentee.
• If you started a club in school, you could talk about how it originated from a common interest, how it grew, and what steps you've taken to ensure its continuity after you leave for college.

Connecting to Stanford

Now, tie these experiences back to how you will contribute to Stanford.

• Will you bring your leadership skills to a student organization?
• Will your creative thinking contribute to classroom discussions?
• Will your commitment to service find a new avenue on campus?

Character Traits

Don't forget to mention character traits that enable you to make these contributions. Are you empathetic, resilient, innovative, or collaborative? Use specific examples to demonstrate these traits.

Stanford's third short essay question is your chance to showcase how your unique life experiences, interests, and character will enrich the Stanford community. Focusing on your role in a specific community and how you've contributed to it provides a glimpse into how you'll engage with the Stanford community. Approach this essay with introspection and authenticity to effectively convey your potential contributions .

General Guidelines for Answering Stanford's Supplemental Essay Questions

• Research and Specificity : Stanford's essay prompts are designed to gauge your fit within its diverse and intellectually vibrant community. Be specific about courses, professors, or extracurricular activities that excite you. Mentioning these details shows that you've done your homework and that you're genuinely interested in Stanford.
• Show Self-awareness : Stanford values students who are reflective and self-aware. Whether you're discussing a societal challenge, your summer activities, or your future roommate, always tie it back to what these experiences or thoughts reveal about you.
• Diversity of Thought : Stanford prides itself on a diverse student body that brings many perspectives to campus. Highlight how your unique experiences, viewpoints, or background will contribute to this diversity of thought.
• Be Authentic : Authenticity is crucial. Don't write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. Your genuine interests, challenges, and aspirations will always make a more profound impression.
• Quality Over Quantity : With strict word limits, focusing on depth rather than breadth is essential. Choose a few points and explore them fully to give the admissions committee a more detailed picture of who you are.
• Narrative Storytelling : A compelling narrative can make your essay stand out. Whether you're describing a historical event you wish you'd witnessed or explaining what brings you joy, storytelling techniques can make your essay more engaging and memorable.
• Proofread and Revise : Your essays should be well-crafted and error-free. Beyond grammar and spelling, ensure your essay flows well and effectively communicates your message. Consider seeking feedback from teachers, mentors, or friends.
• Connect to the Bigger Picture : Always relate your answers back to your potential contributions to the Stanford community and how Stanford will help you achieve your personal and academic goals. This shows that you're not just thinking about admission but also about how you'll fit into the Stanford community long-term.
• Embrace the Challenge : These essays are your opportunity to present a fuller picture of yourself beyond just grades and test scores. Use them to show why you and Stanford would be a mutually beneficial match.

Stanford's supplemental essays provide a platform to express your individuality, aspirations, and suitability for the university. By carefully crafting your responses and connecting them to Stanford's resources and ethos, you can effectively demonstrate why you would be a valuable addition to the Stanford community.

For more inspiration, you might want to explore examples of successful Stanford essays to understand what makes an application truly stand out.

Final Thoughts

Embarking on the journey to Stanford is about more than just academic excellence; it's about crafting a narrative that deeply resonates with Stanford's unique ethos and the admissions committee. Your supplemental essays offer a unique lens into your character, aspirations, and the distinct contributions you'll make to the Stanford community.

Every Stanford hopeful has a unique story to tell. This is your golden opportunity to narrate yours. Approach your essays with authenticity, introspection, and a genuine enthusiasm for your narrative.

If you're uncertain whether your essay truly encapsulates your essence or if it will distinguish you amidst the sea of applications, our essay review service is here to assist. Our seasoned experts will meticulously review and provide feedback, ensuring your essay strikes a chord with Stanford's admissions officers.

Want some helpful inspiration? Explore our ebook and discover essays from students like you who have secured places at elite institutions. And for those aiming for Stanford, our collection of successful Stanford essay examples will offer invaluable insights.

For those at the onset of their college application journey, consider booking a free consultation with our experienced college counselors. We're committed to guiding you in crafting an application that amplifies your chances of walking through Stanford's iconic arch. Your dream of becoming a Stanford Cardinal is attainable, and we're here to support you every step of the way.

What Makes Crimson Different

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Everything you need to know about US Application Supplemental Essays
• Acing your College Application Essay: 5 Expert Tips to Make it Stand Out from the Rest
• How to Tackle Every Type of Supplemental Essay
• 2023-24 Common App Essay Prompts
• What are the Most Unusual US College Supplemental Essay Prompts?

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Stanford University Essay Guide 2020-2021

In this Stanford University Essay Guide, CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts Michele, Becky, and Matthew will cover how to approach the 2020-2021 Stanford supplementary essays. For more guidance on personal essays and the college application process in general, sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

Introduction

Matthew: Stanford University’s application is notoriously long and demanding, with four essays and seven short answer prompts . While the length of the application discourages many highly competitive individuals from applying, Stanford’s application provides applicants with ample opportunity to communicate their extracurricular pursuits, interests, passions, and personality at a depth other, shorter applications simply do not allow.

With this in mind, Stanford’s application best serves students who will “put in the hours” and write well-thought-out, intentional essays. In this essay guide, we will discuss how to best respond to Stanford University’s supplemental essay prompts.

Becky: Though Stanford University recently made the decision to stop releasing its acceptance rate, it’s no secret that the number is low—low enough that every component of your application needs to be as strong as possible to make your case for admittance.

If you’re reading this post, you’re probably far enough into high school that your GPA isn’t moving much and your activities are going to be your activities. This means that your essays may be the last big factor to optimize your chances of getting in. So without further ado, let’s talk about how to make these the strongest essays you’re capable of submitting.

The Extracurricular Essay

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work or family responsibilities. (150 words).

Matthew: The extracurricular essay prompt is one that you’ll see when applying to schools such as Harvard University, Brown University, Pomona College, and, of course, Stanford University. When writing this essay, it’s best to avoid reiterating what you’ve already stated on your resume. Doing so would waste an opportunity to contextualize your work for your admissions officer.

In this essay, discuss how your work has impacted your community as a whole or you as an individual. Think about what stories an admissions officer has likely heard before. Try to frame your extracurricular, work, or family engagements in a novel way that’ll help you stand out in a sea of other applicants.

Michele: The primary difficulty of this prompt comes from the choice of topic. You may have an overwhelming number of different extracurriculars and work experiences that could be used to answer this question. If the choice is not immediately obvious, this may be a prompt that you want to skip and answer last in order to use it strategically to fill in any gaps.

Once you get back to it, think through a few considerations in your selection. What might be missing from your application as a whole, considering both your Stanford supplement essays and your Common/Coalition app essays? Which important learnings from your extracurriculars or work experiences have you yet to communicate in your application? Which extracurricular or work experience holds a compelling story that you haven’t told yet?

Once you’ve chosen, be focused on the “So what?” of your experience. For example, don’t simply describe the number of hours you dedicated to basketball or list the places you traveled for tournaments. Rather, explain what you learned about commitment during those hours or the new perspectives you gained through your travels. Ask, “Why does this matter?” and then make sure you include the answer to that question within your response.

Short Response Questions

Matthew: Similar to schools such as Princeton and Yale, Stanford University’s short answer prompts provide applicants with an opportunity to highlight aspects of their personality, experiences, or interests that might not be evident in their resume or longer essays. While a single short answer question may not make or break your application, Stanford’s short answer prompts are invaluable for humanizing your extracurricular activities, grades, and test scores.

Some general words of advice for answering short answer questions:

• Avoid repetition. Short takes won’t help you if you share parts of yourself represented in other parts of your application.
• Consider what might be missing from your application. Do you have any interests/passions that you haven’t already discussed?
• Don’t rush the writing process , and don’t expect to finish Stanford’s short answer prompts in one sitting. Allocate ample time to brainstorming, crafting, and editing your responses. Every word matters.

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 words)

Becky: There are plenty of problems you can write about in response to this essay. The trick is, it’s really not about what problem you choose; it’s about how you choose to talk about it. Stanford is looking for empathy, as well as awareness of the world and society at large.

Of course, you should still take this essay as an opportunity to teach your reader something about yourself. As an example, I spoke about the rise of mental health conditions and how I’ve seen it impact those close to me. This gave me an opportunity to share something personal to my life while demonstrating an awareness of a problem that faces society as a whole.

Remember: you only have 50 words to do it, so concision is key.

Matthew: Stanford University prides itself on being a training ground for the next generation of writers, activists, scientists, and entrepreneurs. In this prompt, Stanford asks you to consider your experiences as a member of your community and a global citizen more broadly.

Is there one issue you are particularly passionate about? Perhaps discuss why you have dedicated your time to this cause specifically. Another route you can take is examining why certain societal problems exist. Additionally, you can use this short answer prompt as an opportunity to propose problems that go under other people’s radar. Regardless of how you choose to approach this essay, the word count will be an obstacle you’ll have to overcome.

Michele: With this question, Stanford University wants to know that you are both socially conscious and also personally passionate about at least one social issue. With that in mind, think about a challenge that is both objectively significant and also personally meaningful.

The personal factor could be that you, your family, or your community directly experienced that challenge. The challenge could also be something that you have worked on solving, or plan on using your Stanford education to contribute to solutions.

The COVID-19 pandemic and our national reckoning on systemic racism and police brutality are societal challenges that are currently most prominent in our news cycle. Don’t feel pressure to choose or not to choose these challenges. If you do plan to discuss either of these topics, think about intersectionality and the more nuanced implications of these issues. How does our education system perpetuate anti-black ideology? Where does gender play a role in COVID’s impact? How do race and COVID-19 intersect and what unique challenges stem from that intersection? Your response should show that you’ve thought deeply about the subject matter and also considered solutions.

How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words)

Michele: I promise, this is not a trick question. Stanford genuinely wants to know how you typically spend your summers in order to get to know you better. With this question, don’t solely focus on launching your new app or your part-time job or volunteering with young kids. Include these accomplishments, yes, but also include any travel you did, or family reunions you attended. While Stanford cares about your achievements, admissions officers also want to know that you maintain balance in your life and take time for self-care (and fun!).

Becky: This prompt is one of the more straightforward ones. They’re looking for a show of initiative here: in about two or three sentences, tell Stanford University what you do when you have more free time on your hands. You can list off the highlights or pick your biggest undertaking from each summer. Either way, remember that the goal here is not to talk only about weekends on the beach or five-hour Netflix marathons.

Matthew: This essay is an excellent opportunity to discuss opportunities, passions, or commitments not listed anywhere else on the application. Did you spend your summers circumnavigating the globe? Getting to know your grandparents? Teaching yourself photography? How did you grow as an individual from one summer to the next? Remember that you have the agency to determine the structure that best suits the idea/experience you are trying to convey. Your response to this prompt could look like a list or take the form of a one paragraph or two.

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words)

Becky: Just as with the first prompt, the trap here would be picking an obvious answer —something you know hundreds of other applicants are also writing about — that sheds no light on who you are as a person. Don’t go for the cliches.

Spend some real time doing research for moments you may not have even thought of before, but that speak to you. You’ll know you’ve found the right moment when it shows how the way you think is different from the way every other applicant thinks. Perhaps you are a gymnast and wish to go back to the moment a human did a flip for the very first time. Or you are a musician and wish you could go back to the moment mankind played its very first note and invented music.

Remember: the goal is always to teach the reader about you while still answering the prompt.

Matthew: Exactly. Like with all of our short answer prompts, we should provide our admissions officer with an essay they haven’t seen before; ergo, it is advantageous to avoid historical events that are “low hanging fruit” that other students will likely use. Writing about the Great Emu War might make for a fun essay, it also might be one your admissions officer has read several times before.

If you are struggling to find a topic, think about what you want to reveal to your admissions officer with this essay. Work backwards. Is there a subject in school —unrelated to your prospective major — that you’ve absolutely loved? Scour the web for historical events related to that subject. Is there a language you’ve studied or want to take up? Find events significant to that respective culture or community. Is there a way you can explore a social issue through the lens of another culture, way of thinking, society, or time period? History is often where disciplines intersect.

Michele: This prompt is ripe for storytelling, so think about how you could put yourself in that moment. What dialogue would be going on? What would the sights, sounds, and smells feel like? Instead of telling Stanford University what historical event you wish you could have witnessed, consider showing them through descriptive language.

What five words best describe you? (5-10 words)

Michele: The simplest of questions can sometimes be the most daunting. Don’t stress! To tackle this question, I started by asking those that knew me best to describe me in 5 words. That provided me with a robust list of options, and from there, I was able to strategically select my starting five.

When making this selection, make sure you choose words that are colorful (i.e. replace “kind” and “helpful” with “affectionate” and “proactive”) and words that are unique from one another. Each word should reveal something different about who you are. Further, keep in mind that you have a 10-word limit for a 5-word prompt. Feel free to add adverbs to your five words to enhance your descriptions with even more nuance. Play around with it and seek feedback from others.

Becky: This question asks you to pick five adjectives to describe yourself to the reader. Your list should not look like this:

Kind, friendly, smart, hardworking, curious.

The reader will forget this list immediately after reading it. Those words could be copy-and-pasted to every single other Stanford University applicant. Moreover, words like ‘smart’ and ‘hardworking’ and ‘curious’ can be seen implicitly in your grades and extracurriculars. Make the words uniquely you, and make them words that are not otherwise obvious from your application. Here’s a better example:

Bookworm. Traveler. Old-fashioned. Lyrical. Sleepless.

These words are all distinct yet cohesive. They each tell the reader something different, while contributing to a holistic understanding of who the writer is. Moreover, they are probably not qualities you can infer from other components of the application.

Matthew: There are a couple directions you can go with this essay. You can come up with a five-word phrase that represents you, or choose five individual words that communicate the kind of person you are. Enlist the help of friends, teachers, mentors, and other people who know you well.

Word to the wise — do not try to be too edgy with the word count. Avoid responses such as “can’t be described in five words” or “smart, cool, handsome, passionate, kind, rebellious.” Your admissions officer has seen submissions like these many, many times before. Individuality is key with this short answer prompt—if you think your five words might have been done before, it might be a sign that you’re not done with this short answer response.

When the choice is yours, what do you read, listen to, or watch? (50 words)

Becky: Just as in the second question, Stanford is not asking to hear about your latest Netflix marathon. While there is room to mention your undying love for The Office or Friends, it is not the main objective for this essay.

Stanford University is looking for a demonstration of your intellectual vitality. Books, podcasts, websites, music, television — there are many different reasons for consuming all of this content. It can be driven by preference, culture, a desire to educate oneself, etc. The key is to show why this content means something to you; go beyond just listing off your favorite shows.

Matthew: This prompt is a valuable opportunity to humanize your application. Reveal your fascination with 19th century English literature, love for bad animated tv shows, or passion for podiatry podcasts. Some people answer this prompt by listing their interests; others select a few things to talk about and use the remaining words to explain their choices.

Similar to the historical moment question, if you are struggling to answer this prompt, reverse engineer your response. Think about what interests, passions, or aspects of yourself you want to convey that you have not conveyed elsewhere.

Michele: You could approach this question in a couple of different ways.

You could use your space to name your favorite books, musical artists, podcasts, TV shows, and/or movies in list-format. If you take this route, make sure you leave space for some brief commentary on your selections in order to add context to your responses.

You could also select only one or two of your favorites, and use your space to focus on why these choices are meaningful to you. Maybe there is a story behind a song or a book that would provide the admissions officer more insight into who you are and what you care about.

For either strategy, make sure you are being genuine! If you’re addicted to telenovelas, write that down. If your music taste ranges from DaBaby to Taylor Swift, let them know! Again, Stanford admissions officers are using this question to get to know who you are outside of your resume.

Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (50 words)

Becky: You are probably familiar with the ‘why this school’ essay prompt. Well, this is Stanford’s version, condensed down to a mere 50 words. And because they don’t give you much room to share why Stanford University is your dream school, you need to do so with laser focus.

Pick one or two things to discuss, and make sure they are the most specific examples you can possibly think of. They should not be able to apply to a single other school — and ideally not to a single other applicant — in existence. Don’t, for example, discuss how prestigious their program is — so are many other programs. Do, for example, talk about how you have dreamed (pun intended) for years of learning from Stanford’s famous Sleep and Dreams professor, because you are going to cure insomnia one day.

Matthew: Unlike most ‘Why “X” School?’ essays, you have only 50 words to articulate why Stanford. The word count severely limits your ability to convey your love for the school; however, my advice for answering this prompt is largely the same as answering any ‘Why “X” School?’ essays: do your homework, discuss specific programs, professors, and opportunities, and show how you will grow at Stanford University.

Your answer doesn’t need to be specific to academic programs. When I was writing my application, I realized that I had talked a lot about academic research and activism already in my application. Thus, I decided to use this essay as an opportunity to highlight my desire to perform stand up with the student organization Stand Up, D.

Michele: The key to this essay is to be specific, specific, specific. Do your research and name names! If you are looking forward to experiencing the diversity of Stanford, look up specific groups on campus that would broaden your horizons, such as the Black House, Hillel at Stanford, or El Centro Chicano y Latino. If you can’t wait to dive into Gender Studies, find specific professors and class names that you’re interested in taking, such as Intro to Queer Theory with Maxe Crandall. If engineering is your passion, check out the Stanford Solar Car Project or the Stanford d.school.

Focus on an experience that you can only find at Stanford University, and make sure you explain why you are looking forward to this experience.

Imagine you had an extra hour in the day—how would you spend that time? (50 words)

Becky: The main goal here is to convey your dreams and passions . If you had an extra hour of free time, what incredible thing would you pursue? Perhaps you would train harder, study harder, run further to reach the goals that you already strive toward. Perhaps you would learn a new language or pick up that hobby that you’ve dreamed of starting for years.

You can also choose to be whimsical. If you had an extra hour of time, would you walk through New York City and see what it was like for time to stand still?

Matthew: In an ideal world, how would you spend your time? What in your current life do you wish you could spend more time doing? What hobbies/activities do you want to take on? Avoid generic answers such as “I would use that extra hour to sleep more.” Doing so might seem mildly amusing at first, but it wastes an opportunity to bring your personality to the limelight.

Michele: For a question like this, you may feel pressured to choose what I like to call the “world peace” answer. That is, an answer that makes you look particularly generous, or hard-working, or studious. In reality, the rest of your application likely highlights these qualities about you already, based on your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

If you genuinely would use the extra hour to work on marketing materials for your start-up, then write about that. But if, in reality, you would use the extra hour to go on more bike rides by the lake near your house, mix a new song with friends, or try out new cookie recipes with your little brother, then write about that! Just make sure that you are specific and that the activity/activities reveal something new about you to the admissions officer.

Short Essay Questions

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).

Matthew: The intellectual curiosity essay provides an opportunity to discuss your intellectual interests and pursuits on a deeper level. Move beyond surface-level accounts of your experiences. Don’t simply describe what you learned. Talk about how your pursuit of the subject has affected you, your extracurricular engagements, and prospective life path.

Additionally, consider why you are interested in this topic. What exactly about this makes it so exciting to learn about? What will keep you motivated to study and engage with this topic? These questions can help you elevate your essay and discuss your passions beyond merely scratching the surface.

Becky: Stanford University admissions cares so much about intellectual vitality that they use a separate metric to track this quality when they’re reading through applications. And this essay, at its core, is about intellectual vitality.

Was there a time when you were so excited to learn about a new topic that you stayed up all night for a week reading about it? Or maybe ever since you wrote your first line of code at 12 years old, you’ve realized you’re at your happiest learning new languages and writing new programs. Whatever it is, you know what topic is so exciting to you that it makes your heart beat faster to learn about it. And now Stanford wants to know about it, too.

The only trick with this essay is the words, “in and out of the classroom.” It’s great if math is your favorite topic in school, but if the only time you engage with math is through mandated class assignments, then that is not a sufficient answer to this prompt. Show that you don’t need deadlines and school readings to fall in love with learning. Prove that you love learning for the sake of learning.

Michele: I love this question because it allows you to explore your curiosity. What do you geek out about? What’s an “Aha!” moment that you’ve had in the classroom? What’s a conversation you’ve had with a friend that you were reflecting on for a long time afterward?

When I answered this question, I wrote about a quote from a book I had read that I could not stop thinking about for weeks. Think about how this idea or experience could inform your decisions at Stanford University, whether through your coursework, career pursuits, or relationships. This idea or experience makes you genuinely excited about learning, so what do you plan on doing with that excitement?

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)

Becky: This essay is a chance to have fun. You wrote the rest of your essays with an admissions officer as your audience, and that lends itself to a certain kind of voice. But for this essay, your audience is a peer, and that lends itself to a different kind of voice.

Here, you can laugh about your battle with your alarm clock, or talk about how excited you are to have someone to Primal Scream with before finals week (and yes, this is also another opportunity, should you choose to take it, to demonstrate your knowledge of what makes Stanford different from other schools). You can take a more informal voice and relax a little.

And as hinted at by the prompt, this is also an opportunity to demonstrate what makes you unique. You can tell your roommate that you’ve been playing violin for as long as you could hold the instrument, and that you’ll likely be spending long hours at the Braun Music Center. Or mention your dreams to be a film director and how you have a camera in your hand more often than not. Whatever your story is, tell it like you’ve just met your first friend at college and can’t wait for the next four years.

Matthew: Like asking a stand-up comedian to “say something funny,” this prompt puts applicants in the hot seat by ordering them to show how exactly cool they are in a 250-word essay. If you are struggling to come up with ideas, think of your niche interests or quirks, and then work off that. Expand on your love for Starbucks or lemon-flavored beverages or your stuffed animal collection. There is no incorrect structure for answering this prompt. You can write a letter or create a list or a mix of both.

Michele: This question is meant to allow your personality and humor to shine through. Think about any quirks or unique traits that haven’t come up in other parts of your application. Do you have a favorite snack that your roommate can expect to find stocked at all times? Do you have tons of siblings that you’re excited to introduce to your roommate when they visit? Are you a die-hard Lakers fan (shoutout LA), and plan to have all purple and gold everything on your side of the room?

You may want to crowd-source this info from family and friends if you’re having trouble coming up with ideas on your own. I wrote about my simultaneous love of singing and my objective tone-deafness. Like I said, bonus points if you can make the admissions officer smile!

Tell us something that is meaningful to you, and why. (250 words)

Michele: Similar to the first question about extracurriculars and work experiences, this prompt is broad and can be answered in many different ways. As you go about answering this question, think about what hasn’t yet been covered in the rest of your application. In this prompt, you can talk about an item, a person, a book, a tradition, a memory…think more on the personal side rather than the abstract. You may want to look back at a journal or a photo album for ideas. When answering this question, think about what story you could tell that would be able to answer both the “what” and the “why” of the prompt.

Matthew: When I was applying to Stanford University, this essay prompt was terrifying because of how broad it is. I was unsure of where to start. The prompt forces you to think critically about each of the communities you are a part of, the relationships you value, and the experiences you’ve had. After reflection, you can only choose one to write about as the topic of your essay.

Despite this, the “tell us about something meaningful to you” essay is my favorite essay prompt in Stanford’s application. No where else do you have an opportunity to go in-depth and discuss the impact of the personal impact of the work you have done. No where else do you have an opportunity to discuss the personal impact of attending an African American Affinity Group meeting or how much you loved sitting on the bench for your high school soccer team.

Don’t shy away from taking a risk when crafting this essay. If you believe your essay could have been written by someone else, rewrite your essay. Make sure your “angle” is one that someone hasn’t written about before.

Becky: For this prompt, you can either talk about something beyond your own life and why it matters to you — global warming, for example, and your weekend beach clean-ups — or you can talk about something specific to your own life, like the secret recipe that’s been handed down through generations in your family.

As you can tell from my two examples, there is a huge range in appropriate answers to this prompt. Just as with all of the other essays, it’s really not the topic that matters but how you choose to discuss it. The topic should be as specific to you as possible, helping to convey the ongoing story of what makes you unlike any other applicant.

And once you’re done with that, you have officially answered all of Stanford University’s essay prompts!

This essay guide was written by Michele Charles (Stanford ‘15), Becky Weinstein (Stanford University ‘ 22), Matthew Yekell (Stanford, ‘24) . If you want to get more help writing your application essays from Michele, Becky, Matthew or other CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

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How to Approach the Stanford Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

Padya Paramita

August 3, 2020

If you’re a top student excited by the combination of academic challenges and pleasant California weather, you probably have your heart set on applying to Stanford University. As one of the most well-regarded universities in the country, Stanford is many students’ go-to when it comes to identifying a school that values intellectual curiosity. But it would be wise to put your best foot forward when completing the Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021 and let the school know that you’re not just applying to this Palo Alto university for its consistently high ranking.

You might be in it for Stanford’s unique majors such as “Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law” or “Music, Science, and Technology.” Or you might want to pursue activism through participation in student organizations like "Transgender Task Force" or "Promoting Women’s Health and Human Rights." Use your essays to highlight your eagerness and passion when it comes to the specific opportunities that Stanford has to offer. To help you understand each of the prompts better, I’ve outlined all of them, the do’s and don’ts for your responses, and additional tips for answering the Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021 .

Prompts for the Stanford Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

When reading the application and essays, admissions officers consider your potential to succeed academically, your commitment to expanding your intellectual horizons, and whether you’ve participated in a few extracurricular activities with exceptional depth. Make sure these characteristics shine through in your writing. Remember to think honestly about your approach, and not just choose generic or predictable routes in your responses. Without further ado, let’s look at the prompts that lie ahead of you.

Short Answer Questions

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 words)

50 words is extremely short and it’s not the easiest thing to make a strong impression so quickly. When planning your Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021 , consider that admissions officers will want to know how you think and what makes you tick. Are you a student who is willing to participate in conversations about current events or attend lectures featuring the eminent guest speakers that Stanford regularly hosts? Instead of trying to figure out what you think the school might be looking for, ask yourself if there’s an issue that you’re genuinely concerned about. 

Pick a challenge that resonates with your background or academic interests. The personal connection, the more meaningful your essay. You’ll be able to talk much more genuinely about something you’re actually familiar with, rather than exaggerating your knowledge on a topic you’ve decided you care about on a whim. Add a brief anecdote exemplifying your personal connection to the matter. If you have space, you might be able to dedicate a sentence or two to how you would use your education and work towards a resolution. 

Download Every Supplemental Prompt Here!

How did you spend your last two summers? (50 words)

Stanford wants to know how you spend your time without the restrictions of a school schedule. You only have 25 words to dedicate to each summer. That’s barely anything! Don’t waste space rambling about a new TV series you might have discovered last June. Think about the most meaningful parts of your summers and activities or experiences that you might have not had the chance to mention in the rest of your application. Is there a new hobby you picked up? With such a tight word limit, you should only discuss one activity per summer in order to fit in both years.

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words)

Make sure that you carefully divide the 50 words to set up the context for the event, what happened, and why you have chosen to write about it. Avoid common answers such as the French Revolution or World War II because, odds are, multiple students will do so. Don’t forget the importance of a personal connection and why it matters to you. If you have a personal connection to a historical event - such as your family being deeply impacted by its occurrence or aftermath, this could add a unique perspective to your writing. 

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50 words)

You shouldn’t spend any more than 25 words naming and describing the activity or responsibility. Admissions officers want to know less about what you do daily as part of the involvement, and more on how you’ve made an impact and how much the role has shaped your perspective. The key focus of your response should lie in explaining why it holds such importance to you. Has this experience enriched your connection to your community? Is it connected to your interests and goals? Is there a direct connection between your ideal career and the role you played while participating in this particular extracurricular? Anecdotes are important in getting your point across successfully. Think about instances which emphasize why this activity matters so much to you. Why does it stand out over your other experiences?

Your choice of extracurricular should reflect the type of experience that holds the most meaning to you personally, because after all, this is your college application. Admissions officers don’t want an essay outlining seemingly impressive activities that you think they want to hear. The Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021 should provide more information about who you are and what you enjoy. So reflect on how this activity has shaped your perspective and the role it plays in your aspirations.

Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (50 words)

This is an accelerated version of the “why our school” prompt that you might encounter with other colleges’ supplemental essays. You get one choice and 50 words, so you better make it good. Think about how you can frame your answer as personally as possible. Do you have a specific plan to take advantage of the Bing Overseas Studies Program? Are you excited to bring new ideas to Stanford’s philosophy organization, the Dualist? You should be able to both demonstrate that you’ve done the research on Stanford, as well as tie that knowledge to your unique interests when brainstorming your approach to this response. 

Short Essays

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.

When writing your Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021 remember that the university strongly values students who challenge themselves and approach learning with enthusiasm and curiosity. Stanford wants to see “commitment, dedication and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons in what you write about yourself.” When brainstorming your answer to the question, remember that you don’t have to limit yourself to abstract ideas. You can talk about a person or a place that encourages curiosity in you as well.

Don’t forget to show, with anecdotes, why you’re so interested in the idea or experience. Dive deeper into the why’s and how’s of the way your excitement increases at the thought of the topic. Since you have the words, talk more in depth about the ways in which you have explored the issue and how your knowledge has developed over time. The reader should come out of your essay knowing that you’re a student who wouldn’t be afraid to contribute to the Stanford classrooms and wider community as well as ask probing questions. 

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.

The key to answering this particularly famous question among the Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021 is to keep your tone informal. Of course, you shouldn’t start using slang, curse words or emojis, but your style of writing shouldn’t be highly academic either. It’s also a good idea to throw in facts about you that you’d actually want your roommate to know. Do you enjoy attending concerts and want to know if your roommate would like to see your favorite artist with you? You could also use this essay as a chance to mention activities you want to try out at Stanford. What makes you most excited about moving to campus and joining the community?

While you are writing to your “roommate,” don’t forget that you’re also providing the college with more information on what kind of Stanford community member you’re likely to be. Your answer to this prompt is a way to portray a more fun side of yourself and reveal information such as hobbies and unusual interests that you won’t have the space to discuss in comparatively serious questions. Take advantage of this opportunity to show what you’re really like.

Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why.

When looked at as a standalone question, this is the most open-ended prompt among all of the Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021. But since it’s the final one, your focal topics can be narrowed down simply by the fact that you should not repeat activities and information that you’ve already mentioned in your personal statement and the other prompts. There’s no correct answer or level of depth you must reach - the point of these essays is for the school to learn more about you. 

You could write about a photograph, a movie, or even something abstract such as your faith. Is there a family member you love spending time with more than others? One thing to note is that you should avoid writing about cliché topics such as love or time, as you’re attempting to stand out among a very tough applicant pool. Don’t spend too many words rambling about what is meaningful, and focus more on the why. Admissions officers want to understand your reasoning behind placing value on certain ideas or experiences over others.

Additional Tips for Writing the Stanford Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

• Think about what Stanford offers beyond the name - Even though the Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021 don’t ask an extended “why Stanford” essay, your responses are still used to determine whether you’ve done your homework and whether you’re a good fit for the school. Admissions officers want to be confident in their decision. If your essays depict you as someone who knows what you’re talking about when it comes to the majors, professors, and research opportunities, you will be more likely to gain approval. Carefully research what the college is looking for and frame your interests in a way that accurately captures your academic excellence, intellectual vitality, and extracurricular activities. 
• Don’t waste words - The admissions officers don’t have all day to go through your application considering they have 49,000 to read. This is why you need to think strategically when writing each response, especially the 50-word answers. Don’t waste words beating around the bush or writing general statements. Aim to be as specific as possible, especially regarding how wider issues hold meaning to you and how the college itself can benefit you, and of course, focusing on exactly what the prompt wants to know. 
• Context can make a difference - Factors that Stanford considers heavily when looking at your application are your “background, educational pathway, and work and family responsibilities.” If you believe that the context of your high school community can be relevant in the roommate question among the Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021, for example, definitely mention it. Knowing where you come from and how you’ve taken advantage of the opportunities you’ve had could make a difference in your Stanford application.

As you take on the Stanford supplemental essays 2020-2021 , think about whether it’s clear that you’re a student who would enthusiastically participate in the academic and extracurricular culture at Stanford University. Admissions officers should read your answers and say, “This is a student who can definitely take advantage of our exceptional majors or extracurricular offerings.” Conveying as much information as you can, while maintaining specificity and precision, this is your chance to show who you are and why Stanford is the perfect school for you. Who knows, this could be the deciding factor that puts you in the right pile for that acceptance letter. Good luck!

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Stanford University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

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Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

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Stanford University 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 3 essays of 100-250 words; 5 short answers of 50 words Supplemental Essay Type(s):  Why ,  Community ,  Oddball

Unshockingly, given that Stanford is the most difficult university to get into in the country, this supplement is a doozie. It puts both your writing and creativity to the test in a myriad ways. One of the most important things to remember about this supplement, as with all supplements that lob a host of essays and short answer questions at you, is that each response is an opportunity to reveal something new about yourself to admissions. Think about the tidbits you have to offer up as you pull together your package and make sure you distribute them across the supplement. Try as hard as you can not to be repetitive. And, as much as you can, have fun with these. If you embrace the challenge laid out in front of you, your answers will be instilled with that positive spirit as well. Trust us.

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. (100 to 250 words) 

How hungry for knowledge are you? That’s what Stanford really wants to know. Focus on a subject that stokes your curiosity, a specific concept that has infiltrated your browser history, or an experience that has burned itself into your brain. What homework assignments are you clamoring to complete first? Which topics want to make you open up a new book, google the definition of word you’re not familiar with or hit play on a podcast? Who challenges you to think of issues in new ways? Now consider what about the subject, activity, or experience itself is inspiring your pursuit of knowledge. Are you driven by the pursuit of the truth and nothing but the truth? Maybe more abstract and creative arenas are more interesting to you. Regardless of what floats your boat, Stanford University is aiming to bring self-motivated, deep thinkers into their student body. Admissions officers want to know that you’ll be eager to contribute to lively class discussion and maybe conduct research in your latter years on campus. Show them that you’ll be a valuable addition to any classroom setting.

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 — know you better. (100 to 250 words) 

This, at its essence, is a creative writing exercise. All this time colleges have been asking you to write in a casual but professional voice — until now. Pretend you’re writing an email to a friend. Open your browser window and actually draft in a new message box if it helps you adjust your voice. You are now writing to your peer, not admissions. What might someone you are about to live with want to know about you? And, more importantly, what quirky personal information do you want to convey to admissions that might not be appropriate to reveal in response to a stuffier prompt? Are you a closet botanist who will be bringing 30 plants to your dorm room? Have you been practicing how to make your grandma’s special rice in a dorm room hot pot? This is a great place to inject a little humor in your application — if that’s your style. It is also a great opportunity for you to showcase what it would be like to be friends with you (without the use of emojis and with the addition of perfect grammar).

Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

College applications are rampant with essay questions about community, so this essay is ripe for recycling (how eco-friendly of you!). If you haven’t already written a Community Essay that you plan to adapt and recycle here, we recommend considering the things that make you unique. What about your experiences, interests, or character might be worth highlighting for an admissions officer? And how can the experience, interest, or aspect of your character you choose enrich the learning environment at Stanford University for others? Maybe you have always been an organizer and the glue that holds your summer camp community together during the school year. How will you bring people together on campus? Maybe you were raised on a farm and developed a strong work ethic at a young age as you helped your parents tend to the fields. Will you be a natural leader in group projects and take initiative in the many clubs (be specific!) that you’d like to join? Be sure to connect your personal story to a future vision of yourself at Stanford.

Short Answers

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today (50 word limit).

Fifty words is not a lot of words. This is going to be a recurring thought as you begin to tackle the Stanford app. How do you explain society’s most significant challenge in just fifty words? You boil it down to its essence and rely on the topic to speak volumes. Think about what nags at you on a daily basis. How would you like to improve the world? Where might we be going down the wrong path? What you choose to write about will give admissions an idea of what you truly care about and how you see the world. Are you concerned that as a species we will never achieve true gender equality? Does climate change keep you up at night? What activities have you participated in or books have you read to educate yourself about this issue? Maybe you even have a solution to offer up. Show admissions that you can turn passion into action.

How did you spend your last two summers? (50 word limit)

Fifty words is not a lot of words. For this response, that means you will likely have to add and prune, add again and prune again. Feel free to take a straightforward approach to this question. Stanford really wants to know what you did last summer (and the summer before)! Just make sure to include the unexpected commitments that will not appear anywhere else on the application, like your babysitting job, your road trip with your family, or your backyard photography habit. Anything you can do to add a layer of understanding to admissions picture of you will help.

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 word limit)

Fifty words is not a lot of words. So this answer is really about creating an effective summary of the event in question, and concisely explaining the motivation behind your selection. This is another question in which your selection of topic tells a story. Maybe you want to witness the creation of Gutenberg’s printing press or the swearing in of the first African American president. Whatever you do, try to avoid subjects other students will likely flock to. MLK’s “I Had A Dream” speech is incredible, but it might not make for the best topic here — unless, of course, you have a highly personal story that connects to that moment that you can summarize in 50 words or less. (There are always exceptions to the rules!)

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. (50 word limit)

Like so many other universities, Stanford wants to get a feel for your commitments outside the classroom as well as in. Think about your application as a whole, reading through all of the Stanford prompts before you dig in,  and figure out what you can detail here that hasn’t or will not be addressed in other essays. Also make sure the activity, experience, job, or responsibility you highlight is something you are clearly invested in. Don’t choose to elaborate on a fundraiser to which you contribute five hours of your time, twice a year. This is a good place to feature a work experience if you have one, as that is something that often feels less standard than an internship or activity in which many other students participate. For example, tell admissions about the summer you spent working at a hot dog stand and how it taught you about responsibility, organization, and portable fans. That said, even if you write about a national club or organization that other students may feature, the trick to nailing this essay is personalization. Why is this the activity or experience you have chosen to highlight? How were you a contributor and how will it impact your ability to be a contributor on campus? How has participation made you a more compassionate, assertive, or responsible person overall? And how will this experience impact your future? You don’t have a lot of space here, so make sure you focus on personal and powerful details that other people could not replicate.

List five things that are important to you. (50 word limit)

Write down the first things that come to your mind, then give your brain time to generate some other options. You may be tempted to write “family, friends, football, French fries, and fun,” but answers like those are not going to set you apart in the eyes of admissions officers (even if the alliteration is on point). Make a list (the longer, the better) then try to trim it down by considering the value each “thing” brings to your life and which ones are most likely to add saturation to the artwork that is your application. Remember, your answers should be personal and, if possible, unexpected.

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2020-2021 Supplemental Essay Prompts: Early Releases

• Post author By Top Tier Admissions
• Post date June 29, 2020
• 62 Comments on 2020-2021 Supplemental Essay Prompts: Early Releases

The first day of summer has arrived and with it, a new application season has begun. Colleges across the country are beginning to release their supplemental essays, well in advance of the application deadlines, so that students can get a jump start on their materials. These essays complement the longer Main Essay and provide applicants with opportunities to share additional information about their leadership, meaningful activities, community engagement, and intellectual experiences.

As with last year’s supplements, there is a strong “Why Essay” trend this year. In order to gauge your genuine interest in a particular school, admissions officers want to see that you have done your homework and can make a case for why you would be a good fit. Brown , for instance, asks: “ Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about an academic interest (or interests) that excites you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue it . (250 words)” Other schools, like Cornell , ask applicants to respond to the essay question that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which they are applying (i.e. the College of Arts and Sciences or one of the other six colleges on campus.) The University of Chicago , notorious for the most creative supplemental questions (written by the previous year’s incoming class), offers seven options for the extended supplemental essay. One of the more irreverent options asks, “ What can actually be divided by zero? ”

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your supplements, you are not alone. We are here to help! This summer is the perfect time to work on your supplemental essays, especially now that you have unexpected free time at home due to COVID.

Don’t delay. The more you can do NOW, the more you can focus on your senior year grades without the added stress of college applications. On August 1, the  Common App , the most popular application platform, will officially “go live,” but there’s no reason to wait to start your essays until then. Work one-on-one with one of our senior counselors to craft unique, stand-out essays with our College Essay Program . Or enroll in our trademark  Application Boot Camp  ® , which takes place over the course of four days in August and has a few remaining seats as of today.

THE VARIOUS APPLICATION PLATFORMS

• 2020-2021  Coalition App (now online)
• 2020-2021  Universal College App (will go live on or about July 1 st )
• 2020-2021  Common App (will launch August 1 st )

Note: Some schools, like Georgetown University , use their own application. Students interested in Georgetown must first complete and submit the  Georgetown Application (a short form), which initiates the alumni interview and grants you access to the official application platform. The University of California likewise uses their own distinct application for their nine campuses.

2020-2021 SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY PROMPTS

• AMHERST COLLEGE
• BABSON COLLEGE
• BARNARD COLLEGE
• BOSTON COLLEGE
• BROWN UNIVERSITY
• COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
• CORNELL UNIVERSITY
• DUKE UNIVERSITY
• EMORY UNIVERSITY
• GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
• GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
• GEORGIA TECH
• HAVERFORD COLLEGE
• JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY  (8/1)
• NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
• POMONA COLLEGE
• RICE UNIVERSITY
• STANFORD UNIVERSITY
• SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
• TRINITY COLLEGE
• TUFTS UNIVERSITY
• TULANE UNIVERSITY
• UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
• UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
• UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER
• UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
• UMASS AMHERST
• UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
• UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
• UNC CHAPEL HILL
• UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
• UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
• UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND
• UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
• UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
• UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
• UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
• UW – MADISON
• VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
• WAKE FOREST
• WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
• WILLIAMS COLLEGE
• YALE UNIVERSITY

We’ll continue to update this list as supplements are released. Feel free to note any schools we might’ve missed in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!

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• Tags College Admissions , College Essays , Insider Tips , Ivy League

62 replies on “2020-2021 Supplemental Essay Prompts: Early Releases”

Hello! Emory prompts should be out as well.

What about Williams College supplemental essays

Williams is now included. Thanks!

Caltech is out as well

Done! Thank you.

Amherst College’s prompts are out, too!

Amherst College’s prompts are out

Thanks! All set now.

UNC link does not work

Thanks Sarah! Apparently they updated their site but didn’t forward original links. We’ve updated.

Will this be updated as soon as they come out?

We’re doing our best to keep this up to date but always appreciate a helping hand! If you learn of any that you don’t see on the list please feel free to comment.

The University of Miami has also released a supplement

Columbia is out.

Does Northeastern have a writing supplement out?

They don’t! I believe it was 2018 when they removed the supplemental essay requirement.

Pomona has also released their supplements.

Yes, thank you! It’s included above.

Hi! Northwestern’s essay prompt is also out.

Sure is! See above… thank you!

Barnard is out as well~ https://barnard.edu/barnard-writing-supplement-questions

Thank you! Updated…

Hi! Johns Hopkins’ essay is not out. The website says that it will be out on 1st August.

Yes, thank you! This is our placeholder for JHU.

Notre dame released its essays

Yes, all set!

Swarthmore is out too

Got it! Thx.

Stanford is out, too.

Does NYU have supplements? Thank you for the list by the way.

Out and up on our site now!

Does Smith College have supplements?

Just released today and on our site! Thx!

Posted today!

Does Penn State usually have any supplements

We have the 19-20′ here though it’s an optional question… still waiting on 20-21′.

Santa Clara University is also out, I believe

What about NYU?

We don’t see it yet!

Out now and on our site !

UPenn is out too!

All set! See our Essay Resource page!

Hi! MIT is out. https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/part-2-essays-activities-academics/ and URichmond as well https://admissions.richmond.edu/process/regular-decision.html

Rice University and Washington University (St. Louis) also released their prompts

All set! See our Essay Resource page.

UPenn is also out!

Got it! https://toptieradmissions.com/resources/college-admissions-essay-prompts-top-tier-admissions/

Penn State? Ohio State?

Not yet…

U Texas is out! https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/freshman-admission#fndtn-freshman-admission-short-answers-prompts-summer-fall-2021

Yes, we have it. Thank you! Check out our Essay Resource page .

Stanford, MIT and UPenn are out. I can’t see the essay for Northwestern.

It’s there. Thanks.

Did Vanderbilt’s prompts come out yet?

Not that we’re aware of…

Did Washington&Lee’s prompts come out yet?

We don’t see it yet.

They’re out now and up on our site !

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Shortlist Announced for the 2024 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing

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The Stanford University Libraries is pleased to present the shortlist for the eleventh William Saroyan International Prize for Writing (Saroyan Prize), a Prize intended to encourage new or emerging writers and honor the Saroyan literary legacy of originality, vitality and stylistic innovation. The Prize recognizes newly published works of both fiction and non-fiction. $5,000 will be awarded in each category. Winners and finalists will be announced in late summer/early fall. The 2024 Saroyan Prize shortlist is as follows:  

In the Fiction Category:

A Nearby Country Called Love (Viking, 2023) by Salar Abdoh

Carmen and Grace   (William Morrow, 2023) by Melissa Coss Aquino

The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land (Random House, 2022) by Omer Friedlander

Here Lies (Grove Press, 2022) by Olivia Clare Friedman

Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century (Tin House, 2022) by Kim Fu

A Down Home Meal for These Difficult Times   (Restless Books, 2022) by Meron Hadero

Enter Ghost   (Grove Press, 2023) by Isabella Hammad

Light Skin Gone to Waste (University of Georgia Press, 2022) by Toni Ann Johnson

8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster (Harper, 2023) by Mirinae Lee

An Olive Grove in Ends (Little, Brown and Company, 2022) by Moses McKenzie

Call and Response (Viking, 2023) by Gothataone Moeng

Beautiful Beautiful (Nightwood Editions, 2023) by Brandon Reid

Company   (Graywolf Press, 2023) by Shannon Sanders

A Map for the Missing (Penguin Press, 2022) by Belinda Huijuan Tang

Dearborn (Tin House, 2023) by Ghassan Zeineddine

In the Nonfiction Category:

The Hunger Book: A Memoir from Communist Poland (Mad Creek Books, 2023) by Agata Izabela Brewer

A Living Remedy: A Memoir (Ecco, 2023) by Nicole Chung

The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance   (Viking, 2023) by Rebecca Clarren

A Coastline Is an Immeasurable Thing: A Memoir Across Three Continents   (Ecco, 2022) by Mary-Alice Daniel

The Hungry Season: A Journey of War, Love, and Survival  (Little, Brown and Company, 2023) by Lisa M. Hamilton

Uncommon Measure: A Journey Through Music, Performance, and the Science of Time   (Bellevue Literary Press, 2022) by Natalie Hodges

I Would Meet You Anywhere: A Memoir   (Mad Creek Books, 2023) by Susan Kiyo Ito

The Wreck: A Daughter's Memoir of Becoming a Mother   (Viking, 2023) by Cassandra Jackson

Farewell Transmission: Notes from Hidden Spaces (Dzanc Books, 2022) by Will McGrath

Orphan Bachelors: A Memoir (Grove Press, 2023) by Fae Myenne Ng

Hardship Alaska: A Memoir (Epicenter Press, 2023) by Donald Proffit

Ma and Me   (MCD, 2022) by Putsata Reang

All Water Has Perfect Memory: A Memoir (Jaded Ibis Press, 2023) by Nada Samih-Rotondo

Sink: A Memoir (Grand Central Publishing, 2023) by Joseph Earl Thomas

Beyond Innocence: The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt  (Grove Press, 2022) by Phoebe Zerwick

Congratulations to the authors and publishers!

The Saroyan Prize is a biennial competition jointly awarded by the Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation . It commemorates the life, legacy and intentions of William Saroyan - author, artist, dramatist, composer - and is intended to encourage new or emerging writers, rather than to recognize established literary figures. The 2022 winners were Claire Oshetsky ( Chouette , Ecco, 2021) for the fiction category, and Wayétu Moore ( The Dragons, the Giant, the Women , Graywolf Press, 2020) for the non-fiction category. "Over 240 enthusiastic Stanford alumni and friends volunteered as readers and judges for the eleventh awarding of the Saroyan Prize," said University Librarian Michael A. Keller. "We join with them in encouraging the creativity of new and emerging authors and in congratulating those whose works were selected for the 2024 Shortlist." This year's distinguished judging panel for fiction consists of authors Sumbul Ali-Karamali and Elizabeth McKenzie, and Scott Setrakian, President of the William Saroyan Foundation. The non-fiction panel includes authors and past Saroyan Prize winners, Mark Arax and Lori Jakiela, and musician and bibliophile Fritz Kasten. More information about our judges can be found on the Saroyan Prize website . Literary fiction, including novels, short story collections, and drama, are eligible for the Saroyan Fiction Prize. Literary non-fiction of any length is eligible for the Saroyan Non-fiction Prize, most particularly writing in the Saroyan tradition: memoirs, portraits and excursions into neighborhood and community. Entries in either category are limited to English language publications that are available for individual purchase by the general public. William Saroyan, an American writer and playwright, is a Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award winner best known for his short stories about humorous experiences of immigrant families and children in California. Much of Saroyan's other work is clearly autobiographical, although similar in style and technique to fiction. Saroyan was the fourth child of Armenian immigrants. He battled his way through poverty and rose to literary prominence in the early 1930s when national magazines began publishing his short stories, such as The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze , My Name Is Aram , Inhale & Exhale , Three Times Three , and Peace, It's Wonderful . Saroyan soon moved on to writing plays for Broadway and screenplays for Hollywood, including: My Heart's in the Highlands , The Time of Your Life , The Beautiful People , and The Human Comedy .

A New Way for Educators to Think About School Segregation

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In the last 15 years, students in the nation’s large school districts have become much more isolated racially and economically. A national longitudinal study of schools suggests less court oversight and more parental choice may be to blame.

Researchers Sean Reardon and Ann Owens of the Stanford University Center on Poverty and Inequality tracked the racial and economic demographics of a nationally representative sample of schools from 1967 to 1990 and every public school in the country from 1991 to 2022. This allowed them to measure how much exposure a student of one race or income level would have to students of other racial or socioeconomic backgrounds.

Schools and districts have become much more racially integrated than they were before the Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that racially separate school systems were unequal and unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education . However, the researchers found that students’ exposure to students of other races and income levels regressed since 1991.

In 533 school districts serving at least 2,500 Black students—64 percent of all Black K-12 public students—Black-white segregation has risen by a quarter since 1991. Hispanic and Asian students also attend more segregated schools than they did in 1991.

School segregation between students who qualify for free meals and their wealthier peers has also risen 30 percent since 1991 in the highest-poverty districts. Likewise, in the hundred school districts with the highest concentration of students in poverty, racial-economic segregation—the share of students who qualify for free meals in the average white versus Black students’ schools—has risen 60 percent over the same time.

In 2012, Michael Lomax, then president of the United Negro College Fund, told Education Week that the drive for equality that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called “the fierce urgency of now” had birthed the charter school movement as a potentially better alternative for students of color in urban districts. But Owens and Reardon said the expansion of urban charter schools and other choice programs, with the rollback of court oversight, explain the deepening of segregation in these districts.

In most large school districts, Owens and Reardon found neighborhood segregation and inequality declined since 1991, and the researchers said changing residential segregation has not driven racial and economic isolation in schools.

“School systems became more segregated, but that increase in segregation isn’t because neighborhoods got more segregated,” Reardon said. “It’s because school systems stopped trying to create schools that were more integrated than neighborhoods, and let them kind of revert to their neighborhood patterns.”

For example, in 1968, when courts ordered Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., public schools to integrate, the average white student in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools in North Carolina attended a school that was 90 percent white and 10 percent Black, while the average Black student attended a school where more than three-quarters of students were Black and only a quarter were white. By 1971, after court-ordered bussing, magnet programs, and race-based school assignment policies, both Black and white students attended schools that were roughly one-third Black and two-thirds white.

School integration stable until court relaxed desegregation order

School integration remained generally stable until the late 1990s, when the court began to relax its desegregation order. In 2001, a federal appeals court ended the desegregation order and ruled schools could no longer use race-based attendance policies. Segregation has risen significantly in the district since then.

Owens noted that most active integration policies, such as bussing students among schools or rezoning attendance boundaries, are costly and without court pressure, “some districts have voluntary programs ... but the sort of real carrots and sticks that came with desegregation orders, you know, those tools just aren’t available to districts anymore.”

“Simultaneously, we had this introduction more broadly towards market-based solutions: this idea of choice systems being a preferred student-assignment policy in a lot of districts,” Owens said. “I wouldn’t want to say it’s entirely about expansion of the charter sector, but as an indicator of broader choice, we see that association between that expanded choice and segregation.”

Owens cautioned that segregation between different districts accounts for more of the overall racial isolation than segregation among schools within individual districts. For example, about 3 in 4 students in Los Angeles Unified schools are Latino, while neighboring Beverly Hills public schools are three-quarters white students.

“In places where a metropolitan area is carved up into lots of districts, residential segregation is higher,” she said, “and part of that seems to be families with kids jockeying to live in their preferred school district.”

The researchers advised school districts and states to work to create more regional approaches to integrating schools.

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