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Admissions

We seek intellectually curious students with a record of achievement inside and outside the classroom. Admission is selective.
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Admissions Rounds

As we transition this summer's program to an online format due to COVID-19, all submitted applications will automatically be considered for the online alternative.

Applications submitted during our rolling admissions round will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the program is full.
Early
Deadline: January 29, 2020
Regular
Deadline: February 26, 2020
Extended
Deadline: March 25, 2020
Rolling
Until full

Application Now Closed

Our application for the 2020 Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes is now closed. Please join our mailing list to learn about future opportunities.
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The Application Process

Students in grades 8–11 at the time of application submission and who will be between 14 and 17 years of age at the start of the program are eligible. For specific age and grade ranges, see the course description. 
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Course Selection

Students may apply to up to four courses. Please rank your top choices on the application. Applicants will be reviewed for admissions to each course separately, and in order of their course preferences.
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Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by a team of Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes instructors in order of the applicant's course preferences. Each applicant is evaluated holistically. If offered admission, an applicant is admitted into one course determined to be the best fit, taking into consideration applicant course preferences and overall suitability for the course.
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Notification of Admissions Decision

Once an application is complete, the applicant will be notified of our admissions decision approximately one month after the stated deadline.

Application Checklist

Step 1: Complete Preliminary Application
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Complete and submit a Preliminary Application, and then you will receive an email with information to access the Online Application.
Step 2: Complete Online Application
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Complete all sections of the Online Application, including demographic information, course preferences, written responses, and work samples where requested.
Step 3: Provide Work Samples (as applicable)
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Some courses recommend samples of student work. Please see Online Application for more detail.
Step 4: Request and Submit Teacher Recommendations
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For the Online Application, we recommend that you request a recommendation from 1–4 teachers qualified to comment on your performance and ability in the subject area(s) to which you are applying. You may submit more than one recommendation form if you are applying to multiple subject areas.

Due to extenuating circumstances around COVID-19, we understand that some applicants may not be able to obtain a recommendation from a teacher. In this case, please note that we will accept recommendations from a tutor, coach, or mentor. Please use the same process through the application as you would for a teacher.
Step 5: Submit Recent Standardized Academic Test Scores
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Any standardized exam administered at the international, national, or state level is acceptable. A standardized exam is an externally administered test which provides both a score report as well as an evaluation of the score relative to other test takers. While any standardized test score is acceptable, if you have recently taken the ACT, PSAT, SAT, or TOEFL, please submit these results.
Step 6: Provide a Transcript & Most Recent Grade Report
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Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If you have multiple transcripts, please combine into a single file for upload with most recent transcript on the first page.
Step 7: Pay $65 Application Fee
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You may submit the $65 application fee online using a credit card. Please see instructions for payment at the end of the Online Application.

Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any differences between the admissions rounds?

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Admissions standards do not differ between the admission rounds; however, more qualified applicants must be wait listed or denied in later rounds due to a lack of space in the program. Applicants are encouraged to apply to the earliest possible application date.

Is there a way to receive an admissions decision early?

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No. Due to the number of applications received by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies programs, we are not able to offer any admissions decisions before the designated notification date. Our admission committee reviews applications in a holistic manner and must review all applications within that pool to determine admissions. All applicants from each round will be notified of their admissions decision on the designated notification date. We cannot make exceptions.

Can the application deadline be extended?

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No. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies is unable to grant extensions. Applications that are received after the intended admissions round deadline will be considered in the next application round. We cannot make exceptions.

Can domestic applicants apply if they do not have a standardized exam score?

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The standardized test requirement may be waived for applicants who have never taken a standardized test. If the applicant does not have any standardized test scores because they are a home schooled student, this requirement can be waived. If the applicant is a student who attends a school in the United States and their school does not administer any standardized exams, please include a letter from the school administration, on official letterhead, verifying the school's testing policy. The applicant must upload this letter into the test score section of the online application and label it "Other" to satisfy this application requirement.

If the applicant attends a school in the United States but does not have a test score for another reason, please send an email to precollegiate@stanford.edu with an explanation and someone in our office can assist.
 

Can international applicants apply if they do not have a standardized exam score?

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The test score requirement will be waived for international applicants.