Can a student be accepted into stanford just on the basis of his/her essays and extracurriculars.
Without a strong academic record in addition, I’d say the answer is no, sadly.
Remember that even though Stanford reads applications holistically, it’s still a college- stats are important. Those essays gotta be knock-your-socks-off quality… multiplied by 10. And those ECs would have to be nationally-recognized level. Accompany those with a 1400+ SAT and course rigor and honor roll, and you have a much better chance than most.
You do not need national recognition. You do need an idea of what matters to them, the qualities and actions- which is much more than a killer essay.
Stanford shows, btw, that scoring 700-799, 7% of applicants were admitted. That’s no shoo in. All the serious candidates will have rigor and high standing, great ECs. They can cherry pick kids who have it all. Be realistic.
No. The first question they ask is if you can handle the academic work. THEN they want to know what else you’be got.
Stanford accepts under 5% of applicants. Academics are tremendously important
A successful applicant will excel in every area.
And an academically weak applicant isn’t as academically prepared for the high bar, once there. Kids trend to think the competition is just for an admit. Adcoms are looking at your chance of making it through 4 years.
“A successful applicant will excel in every area.”
Really? You must have meant a successful applicant will excel in one or more areas, no? Let’s not make Stanford admitted kids out to be some kind of super achievers in every area. Many admitted kids lack in some areas but are very good in some areas IMO. What every area? Music, athletic endeavor? My kid had zero music except singing badly while taking showers and one semester of running after which he quit because he did not like the coach (many parents didn’t either but didn’t want to speak up) the physical exertion made him too tired to do his HW. lol