Help with Stanford's GPA expectations?

Hey everyone! I've been seriously considering Stanford for my future and I'm a little nervous about my GPA. Can anyone tell me what's the usual GPA that they're looking for? Should I be straight A's across the board or do they consider other things too along with GPA? And what about AP or IB classes? Do they view them in a different light? Thanks so much for all the info!

Without a doubt, Stanford is one of the more competitive universities out there, which means they generally are looking for students with high GPAs. The middle 50% of admitted students usually have a GPA between 3.8 and 4.0 on a 4.0 scale. However, it is also important to note that Stanford uses holistic review, which means that they evaluate all parts of your application, not just your GPA.

To put simply, a high GPA doesn't necessarily guarantee admission and a lower GPA doesn't eliminate your chances either. The admissions committee is attentive to the context in which your GPA was earned. For instance, if your high school doesn't offer AP or IB courses, the admissions committee won't penalize you for not taking them. On the other hand, if your high school does offer these advanced courses, the committee will expect that you've pursued the most rigorous coursework available to you.

Importantly, even if you do have high grades in honors, AP, or IB classes, your application must be strong in other areas too. This includes having stellar letters of recommendation, exceptional essays, and meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities. In an academic context, the committee values depth over breadth, so it'll be impressive if you have a highly-developed specialty or "spike" in a particular field.

So, while a high GPA is necessary, Stanford values many factors in addition to academic performance. Best of luck in your applications!