What is meant by the requirement for an "outstanding academic record"?
That means you have to have demonstrated that you're a really good student. Your &quot;academic record&quot; is what your undergraduate career says about you (transcripts, letters of reference, publications, awards). It must be &quot;outstanding&quot; - top of the heap.
Only very select schools (or those that think very well of themselves) can ask this explicitly of their applicants, though many require it.