Arjun’s Take on Stanford

Beautiful Scenery and Great Weather

My first impression of Stanford University was that it felt like a picturesque country club. Coming from the east coast, I had rarely ever seen a large field of open land, filled with grass, palm trees, and other greenery. The weather is almost always sunny and warm, and the dining halls have a large buffet of delicious food. 

What stuck out to me most about Stanford is how genuinely important each student seems to the university. The staff emphasized the mental health and counseling resources available to students, and each student received a personalized note from their admissions officer after being accepted, saying why they got into Stanford, which really made me feel like they care. 

I visited Stanford twice: once in February, when there were no other admitted students on campus and once in April during admit weekend, when there were loads of activities for admitted students. I attended two electrical engineering classes during my visit in February, and these classes cemented Stanford as a top school in my mind. The students interacted with the professors during the classes which consisted of mostly lectures, and even though I was just a high school student attending a course for upperclassmen, I was able to understand the basics of what the professor was teaching and follow along with the lecture, which left an overwhelmingly positive impression on me. Additionally, I have been assured by current students that there is hands-on work for STEM courses, which is very important to me.

Gaining Admission 

Getting into Stanford is no easy feat, and requires being among the top students in the nation. Only 5% of students who apply get into Stanford. An average Stanford admitted student has an SAT score between 1420 and 1570 or an ACT score between 32 and 35. Many students with perfect test scores aren’t admitted, as Stanford holistically reviews both academic and non-academic lives of their applicants in their admission process. It's important to note that 94% of students graduate Stanford, so while it’s very hard to get into the school, most students are able to keep up with the workload and ultimately succeed.

My PathIvy Experience

I wasn't sure where to start in the summer prior to my senior year; I knew I wanted to go to a top engineering school, but didn't know how to balance time and quality to ensure that I got admitted to a top school. I worked with PathIvy to create a list of schools and a plan on how to get all application materials finalized. My counselor helped me decide to apply to Stanford for early action. We started working on the applications over the summer, and with their help I had an almost-final draft of my Stanford application before my senior school year even started. PathIvy also helped me convey emotion in my essays, as I had to switch from my usual technical writing style to a storytelling style to convey why I deserve to be accepted to Stanford. With PathIvy's help, I was accepted to Stanford early in December as part of the restrictive early action application timeline.

PathIvy can help you achieve your college dreams, too! Get in touch with a PathIvy counselor today to start your success story.

Written by Arjun Oberoi, PathIvy Alumni