Freshman Requirements & Process

Overview

All applicants must apply online using the Common Application's First-Year Application and the Stanford Supplement. Paper application forms will not be mailed to you (unless approved by the Director of Admission).  Other application documents may be submitted electronically or downloaded for paper delivery. Unapproved paper copies of the Common Application’s First-Year Application and the Stanford Supplement will not be accepted.

• The Common Application's First-Year Application and the Stanford Supplement are made available in early August.
• We only offer admission for the fall term, which begins in September.
• We recommend using the Stanford Application Mailing Labels (PDF) when mailing supporting documents such as the School Report, Teacher Evaluation Forms, etc.
• Applicants must submit the Common Application and the Stanford Supplement online by the appropriate deadline. Please complete each of these submission steps in the same sitting.
• Applicants must receive confirmation from the Common Application that both the Common Application and the Stanford Supplement have been successfully submitted (and not just completed) online; selecting Stanford from the “My Colleges” tab in the Common Application will provide the status of both pieces of the application. Proof of application fee payment does not ensure that successful submission of these documents has occurred.
• Supplementary credentials are strongly discouraged (with exceptions noted in the application instructions document PDF and on this site).  Applicants should never submit application materials in binders or folders and should not submit newspaper clippings, magazine articles, research abstracts, awards or certificates.

Step 1. Download Application Instructions PDF

Download and keep this PDF document throughout the application process.

Step 2. Complete Required Application Components

Click an item below or choose from the menu at the left to learn more about these required components of a completed application.

• The Common Application's First-Year Application
• The Stanford Supplement to the Common Application
• $90 Application Fee or Waiver
• Official Test Scores (see Testing)
• School Report (and transcripts)
  • Midyear Report
  • Final Report
  • International Supplement to the School Report
    (overseas secondary schools using a non-U.S. educational system)
• Teacher Evaluation Forms
• Application Mailing Labels (PDF)

Step 3. Submit Arts Supplement (Optional)

The Arts Supplement (PDF) may be submitted if you have extraordinary talent in the arts.

*PDF documents require the free downloadable Adobe Acrobat Reader software for viewing.