DEADLINES:
R1 – 10 September, 2024
R2 – 8 January, 2025
R3- 8 April, 2025
All deadlines are by 4.00 p.m. Pacific time
Mandatory Essays
Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?
Tips from Adcom: For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?
Essay B: Why Stanford?
Tips from Adcom: Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.
Length: Both essays combined may not exceed 1,000 words. Stanford recommends up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 350 words for Essay B.
OPTIONAL ESSAY:
Think about a time in the last few years when you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? You are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example).
Tips from adcom: we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. Using these optional spaces, perhaps you would like to expand upon a bullet item from your resume and tell us more about the “how” or “why” behind the “what.” Or maybe you have had an impact in a way that doesn’t fit neatly in another part of the application.
Other application components
Resume:
Stanford requires a one page resume and asks applicants to not submit more than a single page resume unless they have more than 10 years experience.
Recommendations:
Stanford requires two letters of recommendations. One is required from a current direct supervisor and the second from another supervisor (like a past supervisor). Do not send recommendations from family members or your reports.
Recommendation questions are:
1. How does the applicant’s performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in
similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (Up to 500 words)
2 Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant.
Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (Up to 500 words)
3 (Optional) Is there anything else we should know? Please be concise.
Recommenders also have to fill a grid of characters or competencies (Similar to GMAC’s). Download this here.