Transfer Requirements & Process

Overview

Transfer applicants should be aware that transfer admission is considerably more competitive than freshman admission.  In recent years, the admit rate for transfer students has been between 1-2%. Between 20 and 40 transfer student spaces are typically available each year, depending on our freshman to sophomore retention rate (usually 98%) and the number of freshman admitted students typically accept our offer of admission.

All applicants must apply on-line using the Common Application's Transfer Application and the Stanford Supplement. Paper application forms will not be mailed to you (unless approved by the Director of Admission).  Other application documents may be submitted electronically or downloaded for paper delivery. Unapproved paper copies of the Common Application’s Transfer Application and the Stanford Supplement will not be accepted.

• The Common Application's Transfer Application and the Stanford Supplement are made available in early August.
• We only offer admission for the fall term, which begins in September.
• You must use the Stanford mailing labels when mailing supporting documents such as the School Report, College Transcripts, Instructor Evaluation Forms, etc.
• Applicants must submit both the Common Application and the Stanford Supplement online by the appropriate deadline. Applicants must receive confirmation from the Common Application that both documents have been successfully submitted (and not just completed) online; selecting Stanford from the “My Colleges” tab in the Common Application will provide the status of both pieces of the student’s application. Proof of application fee payment does not ensure that successful submission of these documents has occurred.
• Supplementary credentials are strongly discouraged (with exceptions noted in the application instructions document PDF and on this site).  Applicants should never submit application materials in binders or folders and should not submit newspaper clippings, magazine articles, research abstracts, awards or certificates.

Step 1. Download the Instructions PDF

Download and keep this PDF document throughout the application process.

Step 2. Complete Required Application Components

Click an item below or choose from the menu at the left to learn more about these required components of a completed application.

• The Common Application'sTransfer Application
• The Stanford Supplement to the Common Application
• $90 Application Fee or Waiver
• Official Test Scores (see Testing Requirements)
• College Official’s Form (and college transcripts)
• School Report (and transcripts)
  • International Supplement to the School Report (overseas secondary schools using a non-U.S. educational system)
• Instructor Evaluation Forms
• Application Mailing Labels (PDF)

Step 3. Submit Arts Supplement if Necessary

The Arts Supplement (PDF) may be submitted if you have extraordinary talent in the arts.

*PDF documents require the free downloadable Adobe Acrobat Reader software for viewing.