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Bulletin Archive

This archived information is dated to the 2008-09 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Matriculated Study (Undergraduate)

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Undergraduate Admission

Stanford's undergraduate community is drawn from throughout the United States and the world. It includes students whose abilities, intellectual interests, and personal qualities allow them to benefit from and contribute to the University's wide range of teaching and research programs in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering. The University admits students who derive pleasure from learning for its own sake; who exhibit energy, creativity, and curiosity; and who have distinguished themselves in and out of the classroom.

Stanford welcomes a diverse community that cuts across many dimensions. The University does not use quotas of any kind in its admission process: it does not favor particular schools or types of schools, nor any geographic region, nor does it have any racial, religious, ethnic, or gender-related quotas. The University believes that a student body that is both highly qualified and diverse in terms of culture, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, work and life experiences, skills, and interests is essential to the educational process. Applications are encouraged from those who would take the initiative and responsibility for their own education and who would provide additional dimensions to the University and its programs.

In order to preserve the residential character of the University and to maintain a favorable student-faculty ratio, Stanford has a limited undergraduate enrollment. The anticipated size of the freshman class is approximately 1,600-1,700 students. Approximately 20-40 transfer students, entering either the sophomore or junior class, are also typically admitted for Autumn enrollment if space allows. Each year, the University receives many more applications from qualified students than there are places available.

Stanford is committed to meeting the University-computed financial need of each admitted student, and admission decisions are made without regard to the applicant's financial status, except in the case of international students who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents.

Application procedures, requirements, and deadlines vary from year to year. See the Undergraduate Admission web site at http://admission.stanford.edu for the most recent information and to begin an application online; or call the Office of Undergraduate Admission at (650) 723-2091.

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