@MajorlyPsyched yes, don’t worry. My semester grades wont be finalized until like feburary 2nd. So I’m sure this is not a dealbreaker 
@Govgirl @MajorlyPsyched Yeah, no need to worry, my semester grades are due this week.
@pacnwmomof2 @Govgirl @InvisibleInc Thank you for the information! That is such a relief to hear.
Hi All, Is it necessary to write the 500 character updates with immaculate grammar, and no short cuts? Or, can one abbreviate, and compress the text (while keeping it readable)?
Why would you want your update to be anything less than stellar? It’s your second chance to show admissions that they should admit you. Don’t take shortcuts and yes, your grammar should be immaculate.
@pacnwmomof2 Well the trade-off is that you can fit less details and information into your writing by taking shortcuts. The question wasn’t well written vs poorly written.
Yes, that is exactly what I was asking. And, now the diametrically opposite question Does it look bad if some of the sections are not filled up as there is nothing much to write? Clearly it is hard for 70-100 words (500 characters) to be written in all section each. 100 words worth awards (or unusual situation) in 2 to 3 months? The “Educational Insight” part is easy and there can be genuinely a LOT to write there.
So, in one section student may need to do some abbreviation and then in some others the student may be fighting the blank space.
I suppose this logically begs the question: what is the expectations at this stage? How important is this optional update?
Sorry for rambling
@godparentof66 You are not obligated to complete the form at all, so you are definitely not obligated to write a full answer for each question.
i have heard some advice that said I should write an email/letter to the regional rep just confirming my interest, etc. But is this really necessary given that I’m going to fill out the update form? Also would it come across as annoying/pushy?
@mkm888 Most colleges like students to send emails out to their regional rep, but Stanford views this as unnecessary, or even annoying in most cases. They’d prefer to just have the update form.
Does anyone know how many deferred candidates ended up being admitted RD last year?
You can find the answer in this link:
https://stanford.app.box.com/s/y4abufqg66nte7uax6eq
Some avuncular advice, if I may. Stanford is much better with deferrals than other schools. What HYP do by deferring so many students is simply a disgrace. It is part of the dishonesty that characterizes far too much of college admissions today. At least on this dimension, Stanford is far better than its peers. Stanford also will not wait-list someone who has been deferred. At some point the uncertainty must end.
Having said all of this, last year only about 25% of the deferred students at Stanford were eventually admitted. I assume that most of the deferred students were very strong. I’m not sure how many political deferrals there were. Most of you who were deferred will not be admitted. But I am sure that you will be admitted to a fine school. College is what you make of it. Plenty of kids waste their opportunities at Stanford. It is true at every school. Don’t fall in love with a school until you are admitted. Life goes on.
Thank you so much, @fredthered
I totally agree with what you said about not falling in love with a school until you are admitted. I made that mistake in December, and I was absolutely crushed when I got deferred (even though I knew how hard it was to get into Stanford). Although Stanford is still my top choice, I really like the other schools on my list as well.
@fredthered - what is a “political deferral”?
Perhaps I should have used the term “courtesy deferral.” That is the term admissions people use.
The son of a big donor applies. The kid is pretty stupid and you have no intention of accepting him. You give him a courtesy deferral–almost a recognition that he is “special.”
Schools vary on how much they do this. It’s sometimes done with alumni kids who won’t get in. (This is not to say that all legacies who are deferred will eventually be rejected.)
Almost surely at least a few who were deferred at Stanford fall into this category. I have no idea how many. Certainly, a sizable number on the wait list fall into this category.
Agree with @fredthered. It is more a “courtesy deferral” than a “political deferral” and those who receive these usually “know” who they are. And as @fredthered has pointed out in the senate minutes from 6/2014 last year they actually “published” the deferred numbers actual acceptance numbers which was much higher (24.5% or 145/593) than the oft-quoted baseline 15% in the deferment letter they send out each year. Stanford is very open with publishing their senate minutes each quarter https://facultysenate.stanford.edu/past-senates/past-senates-overview and they have nothing to hide. But, rarely do you get the Dean of Admissions give such insight about the application/admissions breakdown numbers as they did in 6/2014 senate minutes. The admissions staff historically are very hush hush…and generally very tough nut to crack.
So, for those who were deferred…as I have said before depending on the strength of the regular applicant profiles and what areas Stanford admissions is needing to “fill”…your chances will be anywhere between 15% (low end) to 25% (high end)…
…and the reality is…unless you are one of the admitted ones…no matter 15% or 25%…it will seem moot to those not admitted. All I can say is hang in there…you will have wonderful choices regardless whether you get “in” here…come April. 
Have yall sent your update forms
For those deferred planning to submit the update form…I would strongly recommend getting them in ASAP before the end this week…they usually want any important information/awards in before March 1.
Hi all!
I am trying to submit the update form, but when I paste in my text (even from a basic text editor such as notepad), it says I have “typed 0 characters.” Should I submit with this glitch or type directly into the box…?
Thanks!
@Govgirl. I would recommend typing directly into the box and making a copy of the entire form with the information before you click on submit. And just to be on the safe side (because there may be a slight glitch in the update form)…I would strongly suggest sending a fax of the document to the admissions office. Better safe than sorry. Best wishes!