Stanford ---> East Coast

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I was just accepted to Stanford '18, and I'm from the East Coast NY area. Stanford has always been my dream school, but I'm also considering Yale and Princeton among others right now. </p>

<p>Being from the East Coast, I have always loved the California laid-back vibe, and the great weather that California/west coast has to offer. I also LOVE the techy/entrepreneurship vibe that the bay area (and especially Stanford) seem to boast, as well as Stanford's awesome athletics programs. </p>

<p>So Stanford seems like an easy choice for me, but one major concern is that I feel that as a Stanford grad, it seems very likely that I will live on the West coast for my adult life, or at least most of my connections will be on the west coast. That's not exactly a bad thing, but I just feel at 18, I'm not ready to make that decision. (Of course, I understand there are many Stanford grads who do come back east)</p>

<p>What if I decide when I graduate I want to come back to the East coast? Will I wish I went to Princeton/Yale for better east coast connections? Does anyone have any kind of insight into this? </p>

<p>Thanks in advance! </p>

2

<p>I don’t think that is a valid concern.</p>

<p>Your connections will be the people you meet at Stanford, the summer jobs you get and the first several jobs you get out of college and the people you meet there.</p>

3

<p>Your connections are what you make of them. Your best friends in college may never live anywhere close to you after you graduate.</p>

4

<p>You many not want to come back east - there is a lot going on the west coast lately. Your friends may come to you. I’ve know of many from our area (Northeast) that went to local schools that now work on the west coast. </p>

5

<p>Stanford has very strong alumni networks in many areas of the country, including back east. There are many grads who stay in the bay area, and many who don’t. I didn’t stay, and lived back east for 10 years after graduation. Looking back, I wish I had never left California! But your choice of college is not a decision for where you live the rest of your life, I guarantee it.</p>