Stanford - getting in. . .

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

Currently, I’m in Grade 11. And I’m really worried about how and where I will go to College. I’ve searched a lot and my number one option is Stanford. I have a lot of question in my mind however I do not have someone to ask, and now I’ve found my way here. First question is, when should I submit my application if I’m Class 2023? Will it be on year 2018 or 2019? Second, do I have a big chance of getting full scholarship? Note that I’m from Philippines, and I can say I have pretty good grades. Not that really high though but I don’t have low grades. Please, please help me, I really want to get in. I’d be choosing Materials Science and Engineering.

Thank you. :slight_smile:

2

Fall 2018 (before Jan 1, 2019).

Stanford doesn’t give academic scholarships. Financial aid for international students is extremely little and it will likely not be affordable for someone who needs a full scholarship.
https://financialaid.stanford.edu/undergrad/how/international.html

All students admitted to Stanford have outstanding grades and test scores. Have you registered for the SAT or ACT? Have you considered taking TOEFL? https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/international/index.html

Stanford is extremely competitive and 95% of applicants are rejected. If you’re looking for a school in the US, apply to other schools as well.

3

Why Stanford?

If you want to have a good chance to get into Stanford as an international student then you pretty much need to be one of the top 2 or 3 students from your country, with great grades, very strong SAT or ACT scores, great references, and something else. Stanford is probably the most difficult university in the world to get accepted to.

As such, I would recommend that you put most of your effort into other universities.

4

In 2016-17, Stanford enrolled 640 degree-seeking undergraduate non-resident aliens (about 9% of the undergraduate student body). 169 of them received financial aid. The average dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to them was $56,083. What I take away from these (and other) numbers is that, if you’re admitted and if you are determined to have financial need, then Stanford likely will take care of you about as well as any other American college.

However, the huge challenge is to get admitted at all. Stanford is not one of the 6 (or so) colleges that are need-blind and also claim to meet full demonstrated need for both U.S. and international students. So, the admission rate for high-need international students may be even lower than the overall 4.8% rate. The admission rate for high-need Asian STEM students may well be lower still. Many rejected applicants are very well qualified.

Realistically, “pretty good grades” won’t be enough. Think unemotionally about what attracts you to Stanford, then try to find similar features in a less selective college. The USA has many good alternatives.