<p>each college certainly has something they always care more (impt. factor that they consideR) a little more than other factors such as essays, grades, ec's, and recomm.</p>
<p>what does stanford see a lot that is usually a deciding factor for admisissions.? showing yourself very thoroughly? (i just heard this somewhere)</p>
<p>If I had to choose one, I'd say essays. Of course the other factors (especially high school record) are very important, but compared to the other top-tier schools, Stanford seems to place more weight on the essays.</p>
<p>ooh ok thanks jimmyeatworl711. btw, i've heard about the topics you choose and how it affects the quality of the eessay. for example. if you write about your childhood or your hero or your best movie or book, it would seem very "boring." so it's better to chosse a unique topic that maybe nobody has written before.</p>
<p>so basically, write extremely well with the so-called "boring" or "usual" topics or write creatively with a very unique topic. </p>
<p>true?</p>
<p>no way, the transcript far out weighs anything else in admissions. then the essays at stanford (and sats at other top schools)</p>
<p>Any subject can be an interesting one. It's hard to explain, but the essays just have to show who you are and where your passions lie. They have to show that you're honestly excited or feel strongly about something.</p>
<p>That's what I think they're looking for, anyway, but don't write with that in mind. Write what you want to write about.</p>
<p>kevster, whyd you make another thread, when you already asked this same question?</p>
<p>ditto to what everyone said above. the essays should be you as a whole. if you're most important experience was a summer camp (as was mine), it doesnt matter how cliche that is, its you. Every sentence you write should say something about you, directly or indirectly, and its stanford's decision to decide whether you'll fit or not at stanford. that's the point of admissions. i could speak generally for a while, but you just gotta make the application work, and thats that.</p>
<p>ok thanks everybody</p>
<p>ajimmykid- i don't r emember if i started a thread similar to this before</p>
<p>I actually think the most important factor is the intangible factor of "fun". According to the Vice-provost who showed up at the Boston reception for early-admits, Stanford carefully analyzes teacher recommendations, essays and basically the whole application to seek academically-motivated, talented students who are also happy with their lives and will be happy at Stanford too. Stanford wants students who are sociable, collaborative and happy to be at Stanford. It's no wonder Stanford is #1 for having the happiest students.</p>
<p>ooh... really? no. 1 with happiest students?! that's cool!</p>