@websensation - I have to disagree. I find Stanford’s campus to be quite beautiful – I like the Spanish style architecture, the many courtyards, outdoor sculptures, fountains and green spaces. It’s very different than the traditional neo-Gothic style architecture of a Duke, or a Princeton, but it’s not un-pretty.
In San Diego we have a beautiful park with Spanish-style architecture that was built to house the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. When my daughter took one look at the Stanford campus, her first reaction was “Wow – I feel like I’d be living in Balboa Park!” She also thought that MemChu (Memorial Church) was so beautiful it makes one want to convert (she said the same about the Sainte-Chappelle church in Paris).
That said, some of the engineering and science buildings on the west side of campus near the Medical Center are not quite as attractive as those around the Main Quad or the Oval, but, overall, I think Stanford has a lovely campus. And, compared to UCSD, for example, it’s paradise.
I can’t comment on Harvard’s campus one way or the other, but D decided that it was going to be too urban for her taste (Yale already had too many city streets running through it and she had heard that Harvard was even more urban than Yale).
As for DE/AP credits, D didn’t fare quite as well, I’m afraid. No biggie, she’s not in a rush to get out of there – there are too many amazing classes she wants to take!
lol, I find that I disagree with both @websensation and @LoveTheBard …
First, I think that the Stanford campus is beautiful. The green spaces, gathering areas, and gardens all very pleasant. The ability to hike the Dish enables students to immediately change their surroundings. So disagree with @websensation and agree with @LoveTheBard.
Where I disagree with @LoveTheBard is when it comes to the engineering buildings (quad I assume) and Med center. I think that Stanford has done an excellent job in bridging original Spanish style architecture to a more modern look. They’ve managed that newer look while echoing the many of the features in original buildings: roof lines, color pallet, arches, etc. Well done.
@Rivet2000 - I think I’ll reserve further comment until I get to know that side of campus better. Right now, there’s a lot of construction going on, and I only got to see those buildings either in a drive-by or from a distance. The first time was right before move-in when we took a wrong turn from the Cantor and started to see a lot more glass and metal and a lot less sandstone that we had remembered. My daughter started wondering if she had misremembered how pretty she thought the campus was; the second time D had a medical appointment and the buildings lacked charm in my view. Again, maybe I wasn’t looking at the architecture in context or getting the overall gestalt.
I will say, however, that some of the other new construction (the Bing, the McMurtry Art building, etc.) are pretty cool looking, so perhaps they are doing something right on that campus architecturally speaking.
I found Stanford to be quite beautiful and pleasant, definitely compared to Harvard. However, Stanford is beautiful in a hygienic and sanitary way, i.e., boring. The combination of balmy weather and the uniform Spanish architecture made me feel like I was in a sprawling sanatorium for the wealthy. Harvard, on the other hand, is ugly and disjointed yet with some character; certainly never boring. If someone were to offer me an all expense paid trip for a week to either, I’d choose Harvard without any hesitation.
How did this thread get going again? The OP that started this thread was a “supposed” international student that hasn’t been back since April 11th and should’ve already committed to and be attending one of these schools. Consequently, we’re just debating amongst ourselves. If this person does exist it would be nice to know where they finally attended and if any of the supporting arguments on here made a difference.
Harvard architecture looks like it came out of the Preppy handbook circa 1970… Sperry docksiders, polo shirts.
now frankly a lot of the architecture looks outdated and backwards.
Stanford’s architecture could use some variation and agree it can be too uniform.
However the quad and church along with the oval and mile long Palm drive are magnificent and definitely the center point for the campus. You will not find a grander entrance of any campus in America.
@LoveTheBard I agree Stanford campus is definitely not un-pretty; I just don’t find the entire campus very beautiful. Yes, some parts of the campus is beautiful. I would give it a 7 out of 10, with Cornell and Oxford being 9 or 10. I just meant it lacks variation and reminds me of a grander version of Southern CA shopping center. Lol I admit that for those who are not familiar with Southern CA buildings, they might find the Stanford campus very beautiful. I have to say that SF architecture is very beautiful.
Overall, I would put UCLA campus on par with the Stanford campus. Stanford campus is better than all other UC campuses including Berkeley campus. I would rate Berkeley campus a 5. I would choose Harvard campus but only during summer, definitely not during winter. Stanford, given their land size, definitely could make their campus a lot better imo. Many dorms and cafeteria food should be better. Not saying they are bad at all; they could be better. Tressider Union definitely could be a lot better. The main library is beautiful though.
@Rivet2000 I agree with you regarding the engineering and medical building; I actually liked them a lot for the variety they offered. And they did not disrupt the flow imo. As for hiking in the Dish, I hiked there but did not find the area at all beautiful. The hikes near me are actually a lot prettier, where as the Dish hike trail felt like many small hills with horse hays. lol I then understood why they call Stanford the Farm. Frat houses leading up to the Dish hike trails looked very pretty to me.