<p>I am contemplating applying to Stanford, but I have reservations about life at Stanford. I mean what is it like?
I am a little wary of the fact that is does not snow and being form texas I really want snow, but is it at least cold? I looked up the weather for San Fransico and it does not snow. But is it good living at Stanford? I mean I have trepidation about California being from texas and conservative, but politics doesn't really affect everyday life. I guess I am just concerned about the life, is it really expensive? Are there places to go surfing nearby and stuff? Can anybody offer input?</p>
<p>That's a really broad question. And you're rambling worse than a televangelist.</p>
<p>All I can say as that I am also originally from Texas, I also thought snow would be cool, but after hearing my buddy in Boston **** and moan for 4 years I can safely say that, at least location-wise, I made the right choice.</p>
<p>youre not in SoCal at stanford, youre near sf. you dont want to go surfing in that water... if you dont know why you truly want to go to stanford then why apply? also, how do you plan on answering the third supplement question?</p>
<p>Expensive? You bet!</p>
<p>Palo Alto is the nation's most expensive college town (based on real estate) (Palo</a> Alto is nation's most expensive college town - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:). Downtown and Stanford shopping center are upscale and pricey but there are eateries good for college students around the area. Crime is very low and the streets are really clean.</p>
<p>If you prefer an active college town Palo Alto will disappoint, it's mainly suburban and local businesses mainly cater to the affluent residents. But don't worry, that 50K tuition pays for all the services you'll ever need on-campus.</p>
<p>Trust me... you don't want snow at Stanford. It's a huge campus and if it snowed biking would be impossible and walking would be even more painful. It gets to a low of ~30 degrees overnight a few times during winter.</p>
<p>Surfing... sure it's doable. Palo Alto/Stanford is within 8-10 miles of the Pacific Coast. It's getting there that's the problem. It helps to either have a car or know people who do. But why would you want to? The water temp must be 50 degrees or less at this time of year. </p>
<p>This isn't SoCal it's hella NorCal.</p>
<p>^^Man, that Palo alto is expensive as heck, how do any college students stand it?
What is with the whle SoCal NorCal thing? Obviously I am not from Cali, but what is the deal?</p>
<p>@GimmeStanford, I want to apply bc it is the numer 1 in the country in my potential major (materials science), but I want to pick a wholistic college. I am not applying to Cornell (which is also good in Materials science) bc I do not want to live in Ithaca (and the financial aid is no where near Stanford's level). </p>
<p>I have seen all the virtual tours and I visited San Fran (they had a restauant called the Houston which is ironic bc I am from Houston), but I did not like San Fran bc it seemed small and I was alone at the time. </p>
<p>Does the student life revolve around campus, since Palo Alto is expensive?</p>
<p>Hella Hella NorCal!! Freaking NorCalians... lol</p>
<p>SoCal refers to Southern California (ie Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego). NorCal refers to Northern California (ie San Francisco Bay Area and maybe Napa/Lake Tahoe)</p>
<p>All the stereotypes about Calif. probably came from SoCal: sandy beaches, sunny weather, palm trees, 24 hr rush hour traffic, etc.</p>
<p>NorCal has beaches but they're freezing except during summertime, and the weather is more diverse (fog in SF, snow in Tahoe, and rainy season for Bay area). Plus use of the word "hella".</p>
<p>There's debate about which region is better... but of course NorCal is hella cooler.</p>
<p>You would be surfing in a wetsuit most of the year, but there are plenty of places to surf within an hour's drive of campus. You will need a car (or a friend with a car) to get to the ocean...it's really not accessible by public transportation.
Students frequently head up to San Francisco, either by car or Caltrain.
There are plenty of conservative students on campus, although it is true that there were far more Obama bumper stickers last month than McCain.
You will find that you will make friends with people who are just like you and people who are very different from you, and that is the whole point of college, wherever you choose to go.</p>
<p>Stanford's campus is huge!!! like huge! Stanford used to be it's own city and even now, while Stanford is officially part of the city of Palo Alto, the address of Stanford is still "Stanford". So ya, campus life. But it's only like a 30 minute ride to San Francisco on the Caltrain.</p>
<p>By the way, Palo Alto is one of the most liberal cities. it's 60%+ Democrat (mostly liberal ones not even moderate) and only 30ish% Republican. Luckily, Palo Altans are most socially liberal and financially moderate.</p>
<p>But since Stanford offers housing for students at a reduced rate, I think the housing will be fine. Also, Palo Alto housing per square foot is more expensive then Beverly Hills. It's just that Beverly Hills has such huge acreage.</p>
<p>Siliconvalley, to be honest there were more Obama stickers in here texas than there were McCain stickers.</p>
<p>Oh I have another question, can you see water from campus? It is an odd question, but i love water and rain and cold, pretty much the exact opposite of what most ppl enjoy.
And do you have to send SAT 2's to Stanford?</p>
<p>no and no, but you really should</p>
<p>Maybe Lake Lagunita could count when its not dry. Plus Hoover Tower can see the bay.</p>
<p>SAT II's are "recommended", basically. they are required.</p>
<p>If you love water and rain and cold, why not apply to MIT or Northwestern?</p>
<p>cause MIT is not well rounded and Northwestern? um.. please..</p>
<p>wow you people are so bias about people in palo alto;
that is now how they are at all.....................</p>
<p>Bias?... What bias?</p>
<p>Palo Alto has been my hometown for 19 years... a lot things people said on this forum were pretty much true.</p>
<p>It's mainly liberal and has been for several decades. Democratic politicians have always been re-elected by Palo Altans. Joe Simitian (State Senator) re-elected 4 times... Anna Eshoo (US House of Rep) re-elected 8 times.</p>
<p>Almost every corner house has Obama and No on 8 lawn signs... far outnumbering the Yes on 8 signs.</p>
<p>Sure it's not as liberal as Berkeley, but Palo Alto is still a democratic stronghold.</p>
<p>dude, i reside in palo alto also; and no i dont agree, while yes there are a damm high number of people who wear obama stickers, there are alot of mc cain people, like myself (dont get me wrong, obama's election made me happy, it was a win win for me), and forget this, politics aint my arena</p>
<p>Which part?</p>
<p>I do have to add that Palo Alto has been conservative when comes to local citywide issues... but national/state politics the masses seem to be liberal (and green)... including the city council.</p>
<p>I live in the south side, you know mitchell park right?</p>