<p>just did :D</p>
<p>Thanks by the way :)</p>
<p>I just wanted to pop in and thank all my fellow 13’ers (what DO we call ourselves?) for helping out the applicants. You guys make me proud to be a part of this class!</p>
<p>^ Awww this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!! I love you guys too :)</p>
<p>I’m not 100% sure, but I think we might be OH-Thirteen?</p>
<p>@sociallyanxious, no probs, good luck on your app!</p>
<p>I have a question! I know that freshman aren’t allowed cars on campus (which sucks imo). Did that affect any of you during your first year?</p>
<p>I’m very interested in working while I go to school and I know that San Francisco is close by, so is there ways to get in and out of the city? Or are you pretty much bound to the campus?</p>
<p>I checked my “Approaching Stanford” book and it says that roughly less than half of the total student population at Stanford actually bring their cars to campus. When I went up there to visit, most people I saw either walked or biked.</p>
<p>And San Francisco isn’t terribly near (I think it’s like an hour’s drive). So maybe students take a bus and go there on the weekends?</p>
<p>There is Caltrain to go to SF, but there are not much to do there anyawys</p>
<p>In my opinion and from what I’ve seen a few friends go through, you don’t need a car. There’s so much to do on campus and you’ll be tied down by all the work you have anyway. The best option is to rent a Zipcar, which actually has a “dealership” at Stanford. They’re awesome.</p>
<p>Freshman aren’t officially allowed cars but if you want to it really isn’t hard to get one on campus. What you do is ask an upperclassmen who doesn’t have a car to buy you a parking permit (which run for ~$200) and which should be super easy to do. All they would need is the license number of your car. Then after that you’re set for the year. </p>
<p>Now as for it being necessary no it definitely isn’t. I only bought a car this year (my Junior year) and I have tons of friends who don’t have cars (probably more that don’t then do). A car is helpful and useful if you plan to go off campus often which is something I did not do as a freshman. San Francisco is a caltrain’s ride away but honestly it is a decent amount of hassle so most people end up not using it too often. However I know people who use it all the time and several people who interned in SF who took the caltrain a few times a week. </p>
<p>Hope that helped!</p>
<p>Speaking from experience, it’s easier/quicker to take the CalTrain into downtown SF than driving a car.</p>
<p>Hi! This is a fantastic thread! Thanks!
I have a question about the “Tell us what makes Stanford a good place for you” essay… Should I focus on the academic benefits like the quarter system and the student to teacher ratio and maybe mention a specific professor I want to study with? Or do you think I should talk more about the atmosphere and the people? (I did EPGY, a summer program at Stanford.) Did you '13ers answer this question, too?</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>@remicy I think focusing on student to teacher ratio and the quarter system is way too limiting. If you could come up with a well-written essay on why Stanford is the ONLY place for you… and somehow demonstrate how Stanford could complete the puzzle of your life (bad metaphor, i know), you’ll have a pretty damn good essay. Give your adcom a strong reason to admit you in these essays.</p>
<p>Hmm. That must be new question on the essay. Just make sure somehow Stanford can relates to you personally and don’t be cliche like Stanford has always been my dream school</p>
<p>No, they had that prompt last year. It’s basically a “Why Stanford?” essay. It shouldn’t matter what specific aspect about Stanford you choose to discuss–just make it clear WHY you want to go to Stanford (the more specific, the better)</p>
<p>Good thing I didn’t have to answer this question my year</p>
<p>So… It doesn’t really matter what I write as long as I express that that unique aspect of Stanford means a lot to me, and that I’ll fit it?
What were your favorite things about Stanford?=]</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>^ Yes, unique aspect = good. In general for “Why ____?” essays it’s better to have one or two things that go into depth than 10 things you like about a school but don’t elaborate on.</p>
<p>Okay. I see. Thank you so much!!=]</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>This thread is really helpful, thanks for starting it! I wanted to ask one question - a few pages back it was mentioned that the applications are an opportunity for us to show our passion, and it’s nice to have some ECs to back it up.</p>
<p>My passion is photography and I wish to write about it in my essays, but I don’t have any concrete ECs to back it up. I sell my photography on stock websites - basically photography is something that became an interest that was completely self initiated and self driven. I haven’t, therefore, signed up for any photography clubs (they don’t exist) or won a national competition, but selling my photographs is something that I love doing in my own time. Since I probably wouldn’t put down “stock photography” as an EC, is it ok just to mention this activity in my essay, or do I need other evidence in other areas of my application to back it up?</p>
<p>Also, I’m an international student and looking at other internationals that have been accepted is quite intimidating - they all seem to be experts in their “field” or in their passion. In other words, they rank nationally or have achieved notable awards in their field. I don’t claim to be the best photographer, nor do I have evidence to show it, but I truly have a passion for it. Will it put me at a disadvantage not to be able to show that I’m really good at what I love?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>You certainly can list it as an activity, and you should talk about it in your essay.</p>
<p>If someone buys your photos, that’s an evidence that you are not the only one who thinks you’re good at it ;).</p>
<p>This thread is really helpful–thanks to all those involved. I have a few questions to add to the mix:</p>
<p>How important is race? Will it hurt me to apply as Native Alaskan/white rather than just the former?</p>
<p>How common is it for counselors to make calls to the admissions office? Mine apparently knows the Dean of Admissions fairly well and would be willing to put in a call to him, but would it make much of a difference?</p>
<p>Finally, how is the balance between the sciences and the humanities? My passion is writing, and I’m applying under that banner. After looking at other applicants, it seems that the overachieving math whizzes/physics kids are far more common, and, therefore, more competitive. Is this accurate?</p>
<p>Thanks for your time. :)</p>