Supplemental essays · 2026–27 application
Stanford University supplemental essays.
All 8 essay questions Stanford University asks this year, word for word, with the word limits and how to approach each one.
Checked against admission.stanford.edu on October 17, 2026
What you write: Answer all eight: five short questions and three short essays.
Society's biggest challenge
What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?
How to approach it
- Every word counts. Cut warm-up phrases like “I believe that”.
- Specific beats impressive: a real song, a real food, a real place.
- It’s fine to be funny if that’s you.
Your last two summers
How did you spend your last two summers?
How to approach it
- Every word counts. Cut warm-up phrases like “I believe that”.
- Specific beats impressive: a real song, a real food, a real place.
- It’s fine to be funny if that’s you.
A moment in history
What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?
How to approach it
- Every word counts. Cut warm-up phrases like “I believe that”.
- Specific beats impressive: a real song, a real food, a real place.
- It’s fine to be funny if that’s you.
An activity, job or family role
Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.
How to approach it
- Pick one activity, not your whole resume.
- Show one moment of what you actually did.
- Say why it matters to you, not only what it is.
Five things that matter
List five things that are important to you.
How to approach it
- Each item should say something about you that the rest of the application doesn’t.
- Mix serious and small. A list of only big ideals reads like a poster.
- Use the exact format asked for. Don’t write sentences if it wants a list.
Excited about learning
The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.
How to approach it
- Start with the moment the interest began.
- Show what you’ve already done about it: a class, a project, a book, a job.
- Say where you want to take it, even if you’re not sure yet.
Note to your future roommate
Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.
How to approach it
- Take the question seriously enough to play with it.
- Let your answer show how you think.
- Keep it honest under the fun.
Your distinctive contribution
Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.
How to approach it
- Say plainly what the community is.
- Show your place in it with one real scene.
- End with what you’d bring to campus.
Want a mentor on your essays?
Clarity Prep members get a mentor who reads every draft with them, knows their whole application and checks in every week until it’s done.