Purpose of small questions on Stanford supplement

<p>The Stanford supplement has these seven short questions:
1.Name your favorite books, authors, films, and/or musical artists. (Required. 200 character with spaces limit. Paste in).
2. What newspapers, magazines, and/or websites do you enjoy? ( Required. 200 character with spaces limit. Paste in).
3. What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (Required, 50 word limit, Paste in).
4. How did you spend your last two summers? (Required, 50 word limit. Paste in)
5. What were your favorite events (e.g., performances, exhibits, sporting events, etc.) this past year? (Required, 50 word limit, Paste in.)
6. What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?(Required, 50 word limit, Paste in.)
7. What five words best describe you?</p>

<p>I understand the purpose of their essays, but how much of role do these questions play? Telling admissions what you did the last two summers is important, but the five best words to describe you??</p>

<p>Every year, Stanford receives thousands of over-qualified applicants. </p>

<p>You have 2400 SATers, 4.8 GPAs+, students who iterned at Fortune 500 companies, students with 2000 hours+ of community service, students who have part-time jobs at hospitals, students with extraordinary talents in music, film, photography, comedy, etc… and even, some students who are all of the above.</p>

<p>The essays are one of the largest factors of your application. They determine who crosses the line from “ordinary applicant” to “extraordinary applicant”.</p>

<p>Just to give you an idea: an e-mail my (admitted) kid received from the regional admissions person made a reference to a couple of responses to these small questions. Makes you think they made a difference. </p>

<p>When I was admitted my admissions rep also referenced a lot of my answers to the short questions and she said she loved how I answered them. For me they definitely made a difference!</p>

<p>guccigirl, I see how you can write something interesting for the short questions with 50 word limits, but for something likewhat newspapers, magazines, and/or websites you enjoy did you just list all the ones you liked in those 200 characters or just put one and try to explain it briefly?</p>

<p>Ds just listed his.</p>

<p>Hoggirl, where?</p>

<p>never mind, stupid question</p>

<p>I don’t understand question 5. What were your favorite events (e.g., performances, exhibits, sporting events, etc.) this past year? (Required, 50 word limit, Paste in.)
Do I have to put something that I actually did or can I put any event that happened this past year like discovery of super-earth? (it is not my favorite event but just as an example)
Also, what is the definition of this past year? Is it talking about year 2013 or 2013-14 school year or year 2014?</p>

<p>@anon123student‌ where did you find these questions? I could not find supplement questions on Stanford website although I did find supplement essay prompts.</p>

<p>

It can be an event you viewed on TV, attended, or participated.

I don’t think there is a firm rule on this; I’m using the preceding 12 months.</p>

<p>OP. You have received some excellent responses thus far…the reason why these 7 short questions are so important to Stanford’s admission process is simple…along with your 3 supplementary essays and one CA essay…they want to hear your GENUINE VOICE…they want to see your PERSONALITY…and most importantly, they want to see what makes you TICK…</p>

<p>…it’s important to note…a good number of applicants will not be interviewed (especially the Californians)…and this is your only opportunity to be YOURSELF and SHINE…and it is here where they will separate the students who will become the Class of 2019…</p>