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How to Answer Stanford's Five Things Question

Five things that are important to you.

3-50 wordsRequiredList2026-27
Stanford University's wording, checked October 26, 2026
“List five things that are important to you.”

How to approach it

  1. 1Five specific, varied items that together show your values.
  2. 2A few words per item is enough. The list form is the answer.
  3. 3Look for five items that show five different sides of you.

A structure that works

One way to shape this answer. It describes moves, not sentences: the words have to be yours.

  1. 1Brainstorm twenty, then keep the five that only you would list.
  2. 2Make each one concrete: a person, an object, a ritual, a place, an idea.
  3. 3Order them so the list has rhythm and ends on the one that matters most.
Concrete items (invented student)
My sister's voicemails. The 6:10 bus. Getting the proof to close. Sunday dal. Telling people when I was wrong.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Abstract nouns only (family, honesty, growth).
  • Five things any applicant could claim.

The checklist our grader uses for this question

When you check your Stanford answers, this answer is read against these 4 areas. Each comes back Met, Partly or Missing with a quote from your draft as evidence, and together with the 3-50 words limit they set its readiness verdict.

AreaWhat a reader looks for
Follows the formatIt is the list the college asked for, in the format it set (items only, the right number, no explanations unless invited).
Specific itemsItems are specific titles, names or things, not categories ("podcasts about science").
The list says somethingRead as a whole, the list reveals range, depth or a pattern that tells the reader about the applicant.
Stanford's askExactly five specific things that, together, say what the applicant values.

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Questions

How long is Stanford's "Five things that are important to you" essay?

3 to 50 words.

Is it required?

Required. Stanford's full set of questions is on the Stanford supplemental essays page.

Can I reuse an essay from another college for this prompt?

You can start from material you have, but rewrite it for Stanford's exact wording: answer every part of this question, and cut what it does not ask for.

Can Statementory write or improve my answer?

We never write or rewrite it: colleges ask you to affirm your essays are your own work. Our checker reviews it against the checklist on this page, quotes your own words, and asks the questions only you can answer.

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