Stanford accepts around 3.6% of applicants, placing it in the most selective tier alongside Harvard. For students in Italy, the process runs through the Common App with SAT scores, eight supplemental essays (five short answers of 50 words and three longer essays of 100-250 words) and financial documentation. Unlike Harvard, Stanford is need-aware for international students, which means requesting financial aid can affect the admissions decision.
In brief
- The acceptance rate is 3.6%, with 2,067 admitted out of 57,326 applicants for the Class of 2028.
- SAT 1510-1570 (middle 50%) or ACT 34-35, TOEFL 100+ or IELTS 7.0.
- Deadlines are 1 November for Restrictive Early Action (REA) and 5 January for Regular Decision (RD).
- Eight supplemental essays are required, including the well known "What matters to you and why?" of 100-250 words.
- Stanford is need-aware for international students, meaning requesting financial aid can lower your chances of admission.
What are the academic requirements
Stanford does not publish a minimum GPA, but the average admitted student has a GPA close to 4.0 (straight A grades) and an SAT between 1510 and 1570 or an ACT between 34 and 35. For international students, an IB diploma with 42+ points or A-levels with AAA are common profiles.
Language requirements are a TOEFL minimum of 100 or IELTS 7.0. The Class of 2028 speaks 81 languages and comes from 70 countries, with around 14% international students.
For students in Italy finishing an Italian secondary school without an international programme, you need to sit the SAT or ACT and demonstrate outstanding results in competitions or other areas to compensate for the lack of an internationally recognised qualification.
What are the key deadlines
The Common App opens on 1 August, and that is the moment to create your account and start drafting your essays. During September and October you finalise your essays, sit the SAT if you have not already, and work on the supplemental essays.
The deadline for Restrictive Early Action (REA) is 1 November. REA means you can hear back in December, but you cannot apply early to other private American universities. You can still apply early to public (state) universities and to universities outside the US.
The deadline for Regular Decision is 5 January (not 1 January as with Harvard). Results arrive in early April, and you make your final enrolment decision by 1 May.
What are Stanford's supplemental essays
Stanford asks for eight additional pieces of writing alongside the 650-word Common App essay: five short answers of 50 words and three longer essays of 100-250 words.
The five short-answer questions cover: five things that are important to you, the most significant challenge in society that you would like to address, how you spend your free time, what you want your future roommates to know about you, and a brief description of an experience.
The three longer essays are: "What matters to you and why?", a letter to your future roommate, and a reflection on ideas or an experience that defines you.
How to write "What matters to you and why?"
This is the most important Stanford essay, testing authenticity and depth of thought. The limit is 100-250 words, so every word needs to carry weight.
Do not write what you think Stanford wants to hear, write what genuinely drives you. Instead of a generic claim like "I love helping people," write a concrete story about the moment you realised why something matters to you.
Stanford values traits like intellectual curiosity, contribution to community and original thinking. Connect your personal values to how you will contribute to the Stanford community.
The process of finding a topic for the "What matters to you" essay starts with an in-depth conversation with the student about their values, experiences and the moments that shaped them. We guide them to avoid grandiose topics and focus instead on concrete, personal stories that reveal who they really are. From our work with students in Italy, the strongest essays came from everyday experiences that shifted a student's perspective, not from major achievements. Stanford values authenticity above all, so we coach students to write honestly rather than trying to impress.
How to answer the five short-answer questions
The five 50-word short answers demand precision and specificity. For the question about five things that are important to you, avoid generic answers like "family, friends, music." Instead, be specific: a particular recipe that takes you back to childhood, a specific book that changed your perspective, a concrete project you are working on.
For the question about the most significant challenge facing society, many applicants will write about climate change or artificial intelligence. Add a personal angle or focus on a specific aspect of the problem that particularly interests you.
For the question about free time, show passion and depth. Admissions officers want to see how you spend your time when you are not under pressure to impress anyone.
How does financial aid work
Stanford is need-aware for international students. This means that for international nationals requesting financial aid, that need can be a factor in the admissions decision. This makes the process more selective for international students who require aid.
If admitted, Stanford covers 100% of demonstrated financial need through grants, with no loans. For families with income below $65,000, Stanford covers tuition, housing and food. For families with income below $125,000, tuition is free.
Important: if you do not request financial aid during the application, you cannot request it later once you are enrolled. You must decide in advance. The CSS Profile deadline is 15 November for REA and 15 February for RD.
This is a strategic decision we discuss with every family individually. If a family can afford the full cost of study, we recommend not requesting financial aid, since this increases the chances of admission at a need-aware university like Stanford. If a family cannot afford it without aid, we advise applying for aid regardless, because there is no point being admitted to a university you cannot afford. In that case, we direct the strategy towards need-blind universities like Harvard and MIT as priority choices.
How do interviews work
Stanford offers alumni interviews, but they are optional and available to only around 10% of applicants in regions where alumni are available. For Italy, availability is low because Stanford has a small alumni network in the region.
An interview can help your application, but not having one does not hurt your chances. If you are offered one, take it. Interviews last 30-45 minutes and focus on your interests, motivations and how you would fit into Stanford's culture.
Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision
REA lets you hear back in December, but you cannot apply early to other private American universities. You can apply early to public universities and to universities outside the US, including the UK through UCAS.
The REA acceptance rate is traditionally higher than RD (around 8% versus 3-4%), but that does not mean it is easier to get in. The higher rate comes from the fact that REA applicants are largely the strongest candidates who are certain Stanford is their first choice.
If you need financial aid as an international student, think carefully about strategy. The need-aware policy means you may have better chances if you do not request aid, but that only makes sense if you can genuinely afford the full cost.
For students who do not need financial aid, REA for Stanford can be an excellent strategy, since it shows commitment and gives an earlier answer. For students who need financial aid, we recommend considering REA for Harvard or MIT, which are need-blind, and placing Stanford in the RD round. If a student is still strengthening their application by November, RD is the better choice regardless of financial situation, because a stronger application always beats an earlier but weaker one.
What Stanford looks for beyond grades
Stanford looks at the whole candidate package: academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, leadership with impact and potential for change. Its location in Silicon Valley means Stanford particularly values entrepreneurial spirit, innovative thinking and willingness to take risks.
Extracurricular activities should show depth, not breadth. It is better to found an organisation with demonstrable impact or see a project through to completion than to be a passive member of ten clubs. Stanford values authenticity and originality.
Context matters. If you are applying from Italy, explain what you achieved with the resources available to you. Stanford values candidates who made the most of their opportunities.
The difference between Stanford and Harvard
The main difference for international students is financial policy: Harvard is need-blind, Stanford is need-aware. If you need financial aid, Harvard is objectively the easier choice, since your need for aid does not affect the admissions decision.
Academically, both are top-tier and there is no fundamental difference in the quality of education. The location differs: Stanford is in California (technology, startup culture, warm climate), Harvard is in Boston (tradition, East Coast, four seasons).
Stanford has somewhat more focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, while Harvard has a tradition in law, medicine and public policy. Choose based on what suits you better and your financial circumstances.
FAQ
Can I apply to Stanford and Harvard at the same time?
Yes, but Stanford's REA restricts early applications to other private American universities. This means you can apply REA to Stanford and RD to Harvard, or vice versa, but you cannot apply early to both.
How much does the application and studying cost?
The application costs $100. Annual costs (tuition, housing, food) run around $80,000-85,000, but financial aid covers demonstrated need for admitted students. For families with income below $65,000, Stanford is free.
Do I need the SAT if I have the IB?
Yes. Stanford requires the SAT or ACT. The IB diploma is an excellent qualification, but it is not a substitute for standardised tests.
What does need-aware mean and how does it affect admission?
Need-aware means Stanford considers your financial need when making the admissions decision for international students. Requesting aid can lower your chances, but if admitted, you receive full aid.
Do extracurricular activities from Italy help?
Yes, if they show depth, leadership and impact. Stanford does not expect the same activities as American students. Explain the context in the Additional Information section so admissions officers understand what you achieved.
Stanford from Italy is extremely difficult, with an acceptance rate of 3.6% and a need-aware policy for international students. The academic quality is top-tier, but your financial situation must be part of the strategy.
If you are not sure whether your child has the profile for Stanford and how to position them given the need-aware policy, we can walk through the situation together in a free 30-minute consultation.
