As I’ve asked so many people I know who are applying to college, I’m finding a very similar trend: SO MANY of them state that their dream school is Stanford. I’m getting the same response from underclass men who are looking towards their futures in terms of college admissions. These responses that I’ve been getting aren’t just from people within my school; I know plenty of people across the county who are saying Stanford is their dream. This is pretty surprising, because for what seems like forever, Harvard was everyone’s dream college. This shift from Harvard to Stanford is also reflected in Stanford’s declining acceptance rate, which is now lower than Harvard’s.This begs the question: is Stanford the new dream college?
I respect your question, but caution should be exercised regarding any dream college. Here you will find then candidate, now Massachusetts governor, Charlie Baker’s response when asked to name his greatest regret:
We toured Stanford and it was by far one of the best tours. Everyone was friendly and innovation and collaboration were emphasized. Part of their pitch is that although it’s very difficult to get in, once you do, it’s not “cutthroat” and no one cares about your stats. Who knows if that’s true unless you attend but we felt ‘warm and fuzzy’ after our visit!
I’m not sure how new it is. It’s been highly sought after for quite some time.
As a Stanford alum I cringe a little at the thread title. There are hundreds of excellent academic institutions in this country. Each student has to find the best fit and that becomes their dream school.
I think nowadays Stanford and Harvard are the dream colleges. Saying which one is more of a dream school over the other is pointless but there is no denying these two schools have come to occupy the top spot in higher education, public perception, prestige etc. That said it is sad that there is such a craze with dream schools.
Stanford is the top California Ivy. If a kid wants the prestige of the Ivy League in the California setting/weather, Stanford is that school.
Caltech is also outstanding but it is very STEM-focused – it’s not as well rounded, in terms of majors offered, as Stanford. I would call Caltech California Ivy #2 overall, with the caveat that in STEM they’re tippy-top.
The Claremont colleges are also outstanding, but they are LACs. You could refer to them as the California NESCACs I suppose. Oxy also – NESCAC-level.
The UC system is also outstanding, but they are public schools.
There are plenty of outstanding schools in CA, but in terms of an Ivy-like feel and prestige, I think it’s Stanford, followed by Caltech.
And a lot of kids these days want to go to school in California. That explains the number of applications (and resulting low admit rate).
As a Stanford alum and parent, I find these dream college exercises to be somewhat absurd. To be sure, you may ask; “If you could attend any college, which college would you attend.” You could also ask overweight, middle age men, “If you could start for any NFL team, which team would you choose.”
The problem (as some posters have noted) arises when some kids get their hearts set on attending just one school (be it Stanford or some other school), their dream school. Most won’t get into their dream school, just like most won’t play in the NFL. Life goes on. College is largely what you make of it. If you are fortunate enough to get into Stanford and then do nothing because you have achieved your dream, you will fail. It will be a waste of a great opportunity.
Two pieces of advice; (1) Don’t fall in love with a school until you have been admitted. (2) College is at least 90% what you make of it. I know plenty of people who wasted opportunities at places like Stanford. I also know plenty of people who received great educations at “lesser schools” because they seized the opportunity.
Cringing here as well (ivy grad, dated Stanford while she was an undergrad for 3 yrs). Outsiders make such a big deal of this. Those of us who have actually attended these institutions value them but don’t fetishize them and deplore how others anoint our schools with mythical properties.
Dream – scheam.
Your other sentiment of: “I can’t see myself going anywhere but Stanford.” is grotesque. I hope you out-grow it. Good luck w/your college apps.
T26E4@ why such sarcasm all the time. Stanford is a dream school. My S graduated a year ago and would do it all over again and again. He is very successful and probably would have been regardless of where he attended but the Stanford label has certainly served him well too.
And for the record…Yes it is extremely collaborative. Thats no exaggeration.
Stanford had 5,000 more dreamers than Harvard
Neither Stanford or Caltech is an ivy. Caltech isn’t even close to being an ivy in terms of classes , student body , feel etc
@Dungareedoll I stand by my comments. Here on this site and at almost all the info sessions I give on behalf of my alma mater, i run across people who are clearly fetishizing school X, Y or Z – an outsized glorification.
The OP started another thread entitled “I can’t see myself going anywhere but Stanford.” That and this thread are red flags. Thus my hard tone (“grotesque”) with the poster – to hopefully avert him/her from this path. Ask your son his opinion of a 16 or 17 year old who public declares such a thing.
Yes Stanford is a dream. My long term GF graduated from Stanford and I can fully understand your son’s opinion. I spent lots of time there – its weather sure beat my New England school! But the legions of starry eyed high schoolers – is cringeworthy as @googledrone said.
If the OP is otherwise qualified, I hope he/she applies and gets accepted. But this idolization is immature, IMHO.
No one should ever enter this process feeling that they only have one school that would make them happy. My rule of thumb is that the school is better at determining who is the best fit than the students who are applying. The schools that accept you are accepting you for a reason. Concentrate on the schools that want you.
Governor Baker’s Proust Questionnaire response as recorded by the Boston Globe (re post #1):
Q: What is your greatest regret?
A: Not going to Hamilton College. I never really felt comfortable at Harvard.
Applicants would be advised to exercise discernment when choosing a college.