* GPA: A high GPA in challenging high school courses is crucial.
* Course rigor: The difficulty and number of AP, IB, or honors courses taken are important.
* Essays: Compelling and well-written essays are essential to showcase the applicant's personality and potential.
* Letters of recommendation: Strong recommendations from teachers and counselors who know the applicant well.
* Extracurricular activities: Demonstrated involvement and leadership in extracurricular activities.
* Talent and skills: Unique talents, skills, or achievements that set the applicant apart.
* Background and context: The applicant's background and life experiences.
While the average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students are extremely high (typically in the top 1% nationally), a single number isn't a guarantee of acceptance. Focusing solely on achieving a specific score is less effective than focusing on developing a strong and well-rounded application in all areas.
In short, aim for the highest possible scores you can achieve, but understand that they are just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Stanford's admissions process is highly competitive.