Stop founding nonprofits. Before you found a nonprofit to get into Stanford, here are five questions you need to answer. Because as a skeptical admission reader, I’m thinking you only did this to get into college. #1 Was there a genuine need? Make sure there’s not already someone addressing the problem. If there is, I’d start by connecting with them. #2 Why did you feel compelled to create a non-profit? There are many ways to organize a group of people with a cause and give it a name. Why did you create a legal entity? And why a 501(c)(3) or a “non-profit”? I’m an attorney, I can think of reasons. But you’re a teenager, what are yours? #3 How did you create it? If you don’t tell me, I’ll assume your uncle the lawyer did the work for you. That doesn’t mean you can’t get help. Worked with a pro bono clinic? Nothing wrong with that. #4 Have you helped people? You can’t just have a website. You need evidence of impact. Have you partnered with 10 hospitals? Helped 1000 students? Provided 10,000 meals? #5: What happens when you go to college? Your nonprofit can’t disappear. What’s your plan? Younger students taking over? Will you stay involved? If you have good answers, then starting a nonprofit might make sense. But if not, a nonprofit can backfire. There are many other ways you can show initiative and impact and leadership without founding a nonprofit—or founding anything at all. #collegeadmissions #stanford #collegeapplications #fyp #teachersoftiktok