Stanford's Fall Applicants Hit All-Time High

Applications for the Class of 2018 -- more than 42,000 -- set a record at Stanford University, according to the Palo Alto institution's officials.

Stanford, which has offered admission to 2,138 high school students for the Class of 2018, received a record 42,167 applications from around the world -- the largest application pool in Stanford's history. 

Last year, Stanford received 38,828 applications, the Office of Undergraduate Admission said.

Stanford sent acceptance letters Friday to high school students. 

The university offered admission to 2,138 students, including 748 applicants who were accepted last December through the early action program, officials said. 

Richard H. Shaw, dean of admission and financial aid, said the Class of 2018 was selected from candidates from 50 states and 71 countries.

"I am simply in awe of the exceptional accomplishments of students admitted to Stanford in the Class of 2018," Shaw said.

"They were selected from a very competitive group of applicants and emerged as quite extraordinary in our review. Of course the beauty of these young people is that they truly represent the broad and deep diversity of the world. We believe they will be spectacular members of the Stanford family."

Students admitted under the early and regular decision admission programs have until May 1 to accept Stanford's offer.