Stanford University Inside Colleges
The Princeton Review
While Stanford is academically on par with the Ivies, here’s something it has that
they don’t: palm trees on campus.
Perhaps those are emblematic of the possibilities that accompany Stanford studenthood.
One senior told us: “At Stanford, anything is possible.
I’ve lived on a schooner with faculty studying sharks, snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef,
hiked in the Australian rainforest, studied Antarctic phytoplankton with world-class scientists,
and spent countless nights discussing philosophy, politics, film, and art until sunrise."
It’s no wonder that of the nearly 12,000 students and parents we surveyed for our College
Hopes & Worries survey, the #1 dream school among BOTH groups was none other than Stanford.
While the university is by all accounts academically rigorous, in one student’s words — at
the forefront of nearly every field of study — it also features dynamic and, very often,
accessible professors.
A mechanical engineering major told us that he plays basketball on Friday mornings with
his advisor, often bringing his homework to discuss problems afterward.
While students — like their professors — are known to be incredibly accomplished and smart,
many reported to us that their peers are humble and down-to-earth.
One characterized Stanford students as “ridiculously friendly.”
What unites this diverse group of achievers?
One student put it this way: “everyone fits in because we’re united by a fire that drives
us all to be excited about what we do.”
Plus, besides having a beautiful campus (did I mention palm trees?), Stanford also has
an active one!
“It’s pretty much impossible to be bored” at Stanford — is a refrain we hear a lot.
Plus, Palo Alto’s proximity to San Francisco and nearby beaches means that there is plenty
to do both on campus and off.
I would be remiss if I didn’t touch on Stanford’s strong ties to Silicon Valley.
Tech Crunch once described the relationship as a “self-perpetuating cycle of innovation,”
and indeed many of the most significant innovations of the 21st century can be tied directly to
research done on campus.
Tech advancements aside, Stanford’s vaunted sports program is another cause for celebration.
Stanford’s record shows that the Cardinal has won at least one NCAA championship during
each of the last 43 years.
Stanford’s varsity teams have won 123 NCAA championships and 149 national titles.
Superlative indeed.
The hardest thing about Stanford is — you guessed it — getting in.
Stanford currently holds the distinction of being the toughest school in the country to
gain admission to.
Just about 3.6% of the 47,451 students who applied to be members of the class of 2022
were offered admission.
That’s the bad news for prospective applicants.
The good news?
Stanford practices holistic admission, meaning that each piece of every application is considered
as part of an integrated and comprehensive whole.
Stanford admission teams care deeply about all the factors that make you, well, YOU — your
background and life experiences, your high school, your academic achievements, your character,
your interests, and so on.
Plus, there’s more good news for prospective Stanford students — Stanford makes a generous
promise to its students:
We meet the full demonstrated need, without loans, for every admitted undergrad who qualifies
for financial assistance.
What that means is you could potentially graduate from Stanford debt-free.
And speaking of graduation, Stanford ranks among the top schools for graduate employability.
(No surprise that Stanford ranks #2 on our Best Value Colleges list.
It’s also a top-ranking school for best alumni network and best career placement,
among other distinctions.)
Check out Stanford’s profile on PrincetonReview.com to find out more.
Becoming a Stanford student means a lot of things — intellectual riches, an inspiring
peer group, access to world-class faculty, and promising job prospects.
Not to mention palm trees.
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