In one of my essays, I mention a few of Stanford’s Libraries. However, instead of listing their official names, I feel like it would better if maybe I could incorporate some student lingo. For instance, just like how the John D. Rockfeller building at the University of Chicago is just known as ‘The Rock’, do Stanford students have any informal nicknames for the different buildings?
It seems as if almost everything at Stanford has a nickname. Memchu, FroSoCo, CoHo, etc. If you have specific buildings in mind you should ask about them.
I would not try to get too slangy. Referring to the “Cecil H. Green Library” as “Green Library” is fine. Referring to “Stanford Memorial Church” as Memorial Church" is fine; calling it MemChu might be too informal in this context.
^^ I agree. I doubt AO’s will be impressed in the slightest that you know some Stanford slang words. They’re more interested in how you’ll contribute to campus community and in what ways you will be able to take advantage of all that they offer.
I disagree. It depends on where you want to use the slang. Could look good in the “roommate essay”
That’s exactly what I had in mind^. I was hoping to use the student lingo for the future roommate essay. Specifically, the context that I had in mind is somewhat similar to: “Perhaps we can spend a night in __________ and solve the problems of the world” (paraphrasing because I don’t want to post any part of my essay in the open). So, I was thinking that maybe the slang name of one of the libraries (if such a nickname exists) or of any other places where Stanford students would commonly study would be a nice little insertion into that blank. That said, is there any well known nicknames for any of the major libraries i.e. Cecil Green Library, Hoover Institution Library, or Tanner Philosophy Library? Thanks for the help!
I still stand by my original advice above. If you don’t know the lingo, why would your hypothetical future roommate know it? It just seems contrived.
You think the admissions people will like you more because you know the lingo? On the contrary they will probably wonder why you were so obsessed.
Admissions is like dating. Don’t come across as being so desperate.
As a current student, I don’t think there are any slang terms for the libraries. Most undergrads study in either the Green Library or the Lathrop Library, so I would just say “Green” or "Lathrop"if you want to use some special lingo.
Some lingo is better saved for once you’re part of the community. The letter is for adcoms. It feels like you’re trying to create the pretense that you’re oh so savvy. IMO, rethink.