<p>Stanford - along with almost all other colleges - looks at all aspects of your application, but what they weigh most heavily on are your essay, grades/scores/course rigor, exracurriculars, community service, and rec letters. Most importantly, they look for people who not only excel academically and intellectually, but socially as well. They look for people who have a passion for something, who stand out from all the rest not just because of their smarts but their personality and hobbies. What you need to remember is that these people are basing their decisions on whatever YOU put on your application, and unless you have an interview, that’s all the info they get. In other words, you need to make yourself shine through, essentially, a paper application. It’s difficult, yes, but it’s what separates the average from the extraordinary.</p>