I thought about this for a while : You will go to Stanford for post-graduate study, so enjoy your life now and go to ASU-like colleges for undergraduate!
What do you think about it?!
I wanna have a good social life in my youth years, and don’t wanna sacrifice it in places such as Stanford or Harvard (I will get accepted to both of them! =)) ). Do you think its a good idea or not?
Also, another question. I want to apply to need-aware financial aid. Will it hurt my chances drastically? I thought if I get accepted to Stanford with financial aid I will go there, but If I get accepted without any financial aid, I’ll not attend it. Am i idiot? Do you have any merit-based scholarships in satnford for international folks?
I think this is a terrible idea. The idea that you can automatically go to Stanford for post-graduate study, especially if you spend your time partying at a state school, is ludicrous. Stanford and Harvard are the types of schools that are so prestigious, you don’t even necessarily need a post-graduate degree.
Furthermore, as a Stanford senior, I have had an infinitely better social life than you’re making it seem like a Stanford student has. Sure, there may not be quite as many 500+ person parties, but drop by campus on any thursday, friday, or saturday night and you will find plenty of basement frat parties, drunk adventures, and overall fun.
I couldn’t ask for anything better than being able to have stimulating and wonderful conversations with my best friends, and still being able to go out with them on a Friday night. There’s a reason that Stanford, especially, has some of the highest ratings from students regarding quality of life.
As for need-aware aid, most of the ivy-level schools, including Stanford, are need blind. That’s not the case for international students though, but at Harvard I believe it is. It shouldn’t hurt your chances drastically but there may not be a great deal of financial aid.
I think Stanford has a few merit-based scholarships for international students, but here’s the real truth: Paying out of state tuition at a state school won’t actually be that much of a difference in cost to paying Stanford tuition. However, the value of your degree cannot be overstated
We have an essay question that has been on our supplemental application for years now: What matters to you and why?
Think about that. Think about that long and hard. And then when you’re done thinking about it, go to bed, and then think about it some more when you wake up. And then, when you wake up the next day, think about whether your answer is still the same. And once you’re done with all that thinking, think about what will matter to you in 10/20/30/40/etc. years and why. And if the answer to all of those questions revolves around the ability to attending ASU-like parties, then perhaps you are not a good fit for Stanford.