Questions?

There are several steps to completing an application: online application form, recent standardized academic test scores (optional), recent grade reports and transcripts, work samples, video essay (optional), and application fee. Students in the program attend only one course, and applications are reviewed for admission to the particular course(s) to which the student is applying. All application materials must be uploaded into your online application to be considered. No materials sent by email, mail, or fax can be accepted. Please see our Admissions page for more information on all of these required components.

Applicants should apply only for courses they are interested in attending. The number of courses listed on an application has no bearing on admission.

Grade level refers to the applicant's current grade at the time they submit their application. Reference for 2025 programs:

No. Applications must be received by the stated deadline in order to be considered. Review the Admissions page to find the application deadline.

No. Due to the intensive, challenging nature of our courses, it is important that the application reflect the interests and abilities of the applicant only—not the parent—as accurately as possible. Therefore, applicants complete all responses in the application on their own and parents only sign after reviewing the completed application. Any misrepresentation in application materials is grounds to revoke an offer of admission to our programs.

Applicants should submit a work sample that fulfills the requirements described on the application for the specific courses to which they seek admission. When deciding between several work samples, the applicants should select the sample that they feel best reflects their abilities as a student.

Students must fully complete the applications before submitting. No changes can be made after submission. Please note that due to the high volume of applications, we cannot accept any materials sent to us through email, postal mail, or fax.

Yes. Applicants must submit a new and complete application, including updated supplemental documents, each year.

As we are committed to providing exposure to as many students as possible, preference will be given to applicants who have never participated in a course previously. However, we welcome your application to other courses you have not taken previously.

There is no test score or grade point average "cut-off" or percentile requirement. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies seeks students who demonstrate overall academic excellence. All application materials (such as work samples, written responses, test scores, etc.) are considered together.

Standardized test scores are optional for all applicants. 

Standardized test scores are optional. Applicants may choose to submit their most recent standardized exam score, but it will not be a deciding factor in the admissions evaluation process. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies only accepts specific tests: Middle SSAT or ISEE, Upper SSAT or ISEE, PSAT 8/9, PreACT 8/9, PSAT, PreACT, SAT, ACT, and AP Exams. We do not accept any test score older than September 2023. We do not advise registering for a test simply to fulfill this requirement.

Yes, standardized test scores are optional for both international and domestic applicants.

No. As Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies applications are fully online, applicants can upload transcripts directly into their applications. Most applicants upload an unofficial transcript to fulfill this requirement.

Students must fully complete the applications before submitting. No changes can be made after submission. Please note that due to the high volume of applications, we cannot accept any materials sent to us through email, postal mail, or fax.

A complete application consists of two parts: a submitted Online Application and receipt of payment for the application fee, if any.

Yes. Applicants may skip around in the application by clicking on any one of the pages listed on the left menu bar. Keep in mind that certain pages are not visible in that menu until the Courses page has been completed and course preferences have been indicated.

Applicants should check their spam or junk folder. Sometimes the instructions email will get filtered into spam or junk. Applicants can also go to the Online Application account login page and click "Forgot Password." This will prompt another email to be sent with temporary credentials so that you can create a new password and access your application. If you do not receive the Forgot Password email, please email our office at precollegiate@stanford.edu and we will check to see if there is an issue in our system. 

No. Students cannot modify applications once they have been submitted. Similar to placing a paper application in the mail, all applications are final once they have been received by the Admissions Committee.

Yes, standardized test scores are optional for both international and domestic applicants.

Yes, aid can be awarded to both domestic and international participants.