<p>Did she meet other athletes? I know a few Stanford athletes and they sound just like your friend. Great kids. I cannot imagine there isn't a group for her--but that would be the situation anywhere. That's what happens at a diverse university. You look for a friendly group. </p>
<p>There is a danger in visiting a 'foreign' place as a tourist if you're looking to move there. The negatives jump out. I've moved overseas twice and didn't visit either place beforehand--for that reason. In a survey, the negatives loom large. It can take away your nerve. </p>
<p>When I actually moved to those countries, I put on a game face and made the best of the situation--and had an absolute ball.</p>
<p>I think she got nervous when she heard the Rhode Scholar. Intimidating.
She has a friend at Stanford who told her she is overthinking. Her friend loves the school.</p>
<p>sluggbugg--Wisconsin has managed to have top cross-country teams (m+w) for many years despite the weather. They do plow the roads and it really does not snow that much anyway. They even manage top crew teams with a lake that freezes from late Dec-March most years. Only Californians are that psycho about the weather.</p>
<p>This discussion just shows you how it takes all kinds of colleges to make a world. I am "wowed" by Stanford every time I go to the campus--every single time, and I have been on that campus thousands of times over a period of 30 years by now, as a law student, as an athletic fan, as a runner using its running trails, as a museum and concert-goer, as an alum, and now as a parent. Closeness definitely does not breed contempt in my case. I know many, many others who feel the same way.</p>
<p>I also, contrary to fundingfather's experience, am much closer to that as my grad school than to my undergrad school (Harvard). But it never bothers me that others don't necessarily feel the same way. Whether thedad or I are or are not "wowed" by a campus has absolutely zero relevance for this girl. What counts for this girl is how SHE really feels. I hope that she takes a bit more time to visit at least two campuses--whatever her top two choices are. If one of them is Michigan, I really, really strongly encourage that she go in February when it is still cold. </p>
<p>She also has plenty of time to decide! My son got in EA to Stanford and decided on it as his school on about April 29th :D (that was a fun wait ;) ). Now he says he can't believe he hesitated for a split second. But it is definitely worthwhile to take your time, do as much talking and research as possible, and really try to visit, and visit the cold campuses in the wintertime, really!</p>
<p>my cousin almost turned down stanford for a better financial aid package but ended up going to stanford in the last few moments. he graduated last year and said going to stanford was the best decision he made thus far. stanford has something for everyone. it is a very diverse school, a healthy mixture of strong academic kids and devoted athletes. i visited stanford for 3 days and really loved it. staying thursday-saturday seeing classes and experiencing weekend life is truly what it is about. i would tell your friend to reconsider and visit once more. ur friend also was speaking to a RHODES scholar....obviously rhodes scholar would be rather intimidating and nerdy-ish, but i can guarantee you that stanford is really not all that nerdy =D</p>
<p>I second Patient's opinion that she has plenty of time to investigate and decide. Our son decided against Stanford on May 1, and we had to tear up the check we had already made out to it.</p>
<p>I understand why the campus, the weather, the landscape would be a "wow" to people from other parts of the country. But it is suburban and not in a college town -- unlike both Berkeley and Michigan -- and that is a negative for some kids while it is a positive for others. Sure, there is a museum, and there are concerts. But compare the posters for upcoming events to either Berkeley or Michigan. There are benefits to size, and that includes a huge variety of events and organizations, an audible buzz of activity on larger, more urban campuses. Again, that is a negative for some and a positive for others. I find it completely reasonable ( and without consideration for difference in cost) that a kid could be more drawn to Berkeley than to Stanford, or vice versa. It makes less sense that a kid could be equally drawn to both.</p>
<p>Jmmom, those cows at Stanford are trained to recognize and trample Cal alumni, so I have never had the opportunity to run around the Stanford dish! :) </p>
<p>Dstark, if she enjoys a good school rivalry, she'll love the Cal-Stanford Big Game. I was at THE GAME on November 20, 1982. My diploma from UC Berkeley is buried somewhere in a box in my closet, but the front page of the December 1982 California Monthly is in a frame on the wall. :D</p>
<p>sluggbugg - those cows must be blind, or at least nearsighted, as I have degrees from both Berkeley and Stanford, and already had the UCB degree before I went to Stanford. :p</p>
<p>Sluggbugg, I'm an Old Blue myself, but my sister was in the Stanford band that day. Needless to say, we don't talk about it much. As in: ever. [tee hee]</p>
<p>dstark - I am still in psychoanalysis over my Big Game "issues." A soft-hearted tendency toward underdogs made it Cal for a long time. Now that Cal has been "dissed" by the BCS bigwigs, that adds another sentimental point in their favor. But a firm answer to your question? Not ready to "commit."</p>
<p>To further complicate matters, I was previously married to a Harvard, thus having to debate the relative importance of "The Big Game" vs. "The Game."</p>
<p>How can anyone be expected to cope with such earth-shaking (oops, I think there's a pun there) matters? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I think the thing that got me about Stanford--can't speak for D--was the relative isolation, the sense of being in a bubble. Compared to UCLA, with which we're very familiar, and our visits to H, Y, Sm, Col, Ba, Grg, GW, etc. it was very different and not at all appealing. Come to think of it Mount Holyoke and American were schools we also disliked and had some "bubble" tendencies as well.... And for final decision, Wellesley is more "bubbled" than Smith. Hmmm..... Hmmmm.......</p>
<p>dstark - now really, don't you think we need to leave The Big Game/The Game ranking issue to a true expert? Ie, someone who went to Harvard or Yale AND Cal or Stanford? :D<br>
Or all four? :rolleyes:</p>