<p>Read this about the 2010 Graduate school rankings</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064626619-post1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064626619-post1.html</a></p>
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<p>I’ve heard many students say the exact opposite of this statement. The athletes are still smart, but with respect to the general Stanford student body, I would say Stanford compromises academics to the same extent that the other schools you listed do. It’s just that at other schools the compromise leaves athletes at a lower point because the general student body statistically is at a lower point. </p>
<p>What I meant is that Stanford doesn’t have the same big time cultural sports atmosphere that Michigan or Duke or Notre Dame or USC has. For many people who choose Stanford this isn’t a big deal, but for other students who come in expecting something like those schools they’re going to be disappointed. This is likely a consequence of the fact that few people are “raised” on Stanford sports in the same way people are raised fans of the other schools.</p>
<p>To chopeful1: The OP was dishonest in presenting himself in his first post as being an undergraduate. This section is an undergraduate forum for presenting information that would be helpful to undergraduate students. In his first post, the OP talks about the number of students in his classes, but only later claims to be a grad student when I challenge him. The OP also then seems to admit he was never a Stanford undergraduate. Many of the things he presented as factual were simply exaggerated to the point of being inaccurate. </p>
<p>I have no problem with presenting both sides of an issue. The other posts on this thread are fine with me. I understand some people will never be satisfied no matter where they are. I would assume that to be the case on any college campus. Their opinions are worth hearing as long as they are presented with the intention of honestly informing others. </p>
<p>I do not accept dishonest statements and make no apology for calling out a ■■■■■ with an agenda.</p>
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<p>True. Stanford is not a football or basketball factory.</p>
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<p>False. Stanford “compromises” its academic standards for student-athletes no more than the ivies and not nearly as much as these other non-ivies, including Michigan:</p>
<p>"The U-M message of academics trumping athletics, smoothly spinning along, was rocked last year when former Michigan football standout Jim Harbaugh said U-M admits academically borderline students and then keeps them eligible for sports by steering them into specific academic areas. The former quarterback, now the Stanford University football coach, said that he wasn’t even allowed to major in history because the courses required too much reading.</p>
<p>It was a significant moment. For the first time in a very long time, one of the most cherished mantras of the athletic department was called into question - and it was done by one of their own, an iconic “Michigan man.”</p>
<p>Harbaugh’s comments opened the door to a possible discussion about whether Michigan is a place where academics come first, or something substantially less.</p>
<p>Yet, criticism from within the athletic department lacked thoughtfulness and never really responded to the possibility that Harbaugh’s comments might be true. Martin, for example, said he was looking forward to playing Stanford in football."</p>
<p>[Editor’s</a> Column: Image and reality of University of Michigan athletics and academics | Wolverines Academics - University of Michigan Academics and Athletics - MLive.com](<a href=“http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/academics/stories/index.ssf/2008/03/opinion.html]Editor’s”>Editor's Column: Image and reality of University of Michigan athletics and academics - mlive.com)</p>
<p>cardfan, I never claimed to be an undergrad. I’m around undergrads all day though. There are more undergrads in my graduate classes than graduates. Stanford is weird that way…</p>
<p>My take on Stanford admissions with respect to recruited athletes is that it definitely compromises less than some of the Ivies (Brown, Penn, Columbia)–probably about the same as H. D met a number of athletes in her sport for whom their final decision was between Harvard and Stanford. Since these are super accomplished kids, it makes sense that they’d be torn between the top dog academically and the top dog athletically. Something else interesting was that Stanford seemed a little pickier about other aspects of the application. Personality maybe? The Stanford coach mentioned a couple of cases of strong athletic prospects with superb scores who were nonetheless rejected and they have no idea why.</p>
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<p>This is because Stanford undergraduates are fully capable of doing graduate work.</p>
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<p>This is true for athletes and non-athletes.</p>
<p>^ Is that a conjecture or do you have evidence to support it?</p>
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There are some co-term students too. They get into the programs after junior year and finish B.S. and M.S in five years.</p>
<p>It is very common at those research universities that seniors and first-year graduate students take the same lower level graduate courses.</p>
<p>I feel luck that the lowest level undergrad courses are not taught by TAs, like in Michigan and even Yale.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you’re asking me or iamtbh, jersey13. Of course this is conjecture, since none of us knows what goes on in the admissions office at Stanford. Also, recruits will compare notes about their qualifications like SAT scores, but in the end you have no proof if they’re telling the truth or not. </p>
<p>What I’m working with to draw my conclusion are a fair number of comments from Ivy coaches and Stanford coaches in my daugher’s sport regarding their experiences with admissions decisions, their assessments of how much clout they believe they have with admissions, and from their experience what it takes as far as stats to get admitted with their support. For example, one coach may say “Admissions pretty much gives us who we want once kids clear the pre-read stage,” while another will tell you that it’s quite unpredictable who admissions will approve and that athletes they want that seemed golden as far as SAT scores and transcript were nonetheless rejected.</p>
<p>Since this thread has gotten sidetracked on athletics, there was an interesting article by Coach Harbaugh after his first season of coaching the football team. He expressed a real frustration that a multitude of players he put so much effort into recruiting were denied admission. Since then Harbaugh has learned his lesson and only goes after the players he knows have a good chance of being admitted. </p>
<p>But make no mistake about it, the academic requirements for admission to Stanford for star athletes (in any sport) are less than the general student population.</p>
<p>Now, getting back to the “hate” that started this thread. Stanford with all its “things to hate” must be doing something right. My son just got an email today that because a record number of admitted students have registered for “admit weekend” they desperately need more Stanford students to host prospective students.</p>
<p>To further digress on this topic, I would say that if you already have made up your mind to go to Stanford it is not really necessary to attend the admit weekend. It is a great experience that you will enjoy but really not vital that you be there. Freshman students have an orientation week prior to the first quarter where you get acquainted with the campus, your dorm-mates, etc. The admit weekend is more important for those students who are undecided….Just my opinion.</p>
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It is important to remember that this thread was started to complain about some things at Stanford. Stanford does do plenty of things “right.” It’s one of the world’s, not just the U.S.'s, premier universities. UGs have unparalleled opportunities there. </p>
<p>TheGFG, I’m sure your D is weighing her choices carefully. Congratulations to her! Stanford is a terrific place for athletes. Consider the breadth of supported sports. How many schools have a Stanford-class golf course? Or a student equestrian center like Stanford’s? (For that matter, how many schools have cattle grazing on the back side of campus? But I digress…) Anyway, if it were me and prevailing weather patterns were one deciding factor, I wouldn’t think twice about choosing between Palo Alto and Cambridge. (I grew up in the Northeast with its brutal winters.)</p>
<p>Thanks, Mudder’s_Mudder. I must confess I was disconcerted that the complaints on here seemed to be about what we viewed as Stanford’s strengths! But I guess I’m feeling the strain of too many people telling me that my D is crazy to have turned down her other second choice school for Stanford. 
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<p>Regardless of what some say about Stanford weather, 15 inches is still only 15 inches. I live near one of the other cities whose rainfall stat was cited on this thread, and I don’t feel we get a lot of rain. My S went to Dartmouth, and there you have to traipse through deep slush on a regular basis! So my D will probably think the weather in Palo Alto is excellent. </p>
<p>As for the “everyone is always happy” issue, I guess there are much worse things…like if everyone is always depressed? Studies have shown that motor movements produce emotions; they don’t just reflect them. So while we smile when we’re happy, the act of smiling actually makes us feel happier!</p>
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<p>Like what?</p>
<p>^ The weather, the sports scene, and quality of undergraduate teaching</p>
<p>I don’t how someone can refute the quality of Stanford UG teaching</p>
<p>[Best</a> Colleges - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-ut-rank]Best”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-ut-rank)</p>
<h1>4. Says it all</h1>
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<p>I am a Stanford undergrad who does not have an issue with anything you just mentioned, probably because I had realistic expectations coming in.</p>
<p>I am from Wisconsin and I think the weather here is great. The only people who complain about the weather are the people from southern California.</p>
<p>Duh, sports are not a huge part of the universities identity we are Stanford. Most of us are not avid sports fans. However, sports are a big part of the undergrad population identity. One in 7 undergrads is a varsity athlete. It is kind of an interesting dynamic but I like it.</p>
<p>As for teaching I have been happy. Some profs are great, other ok, others not so much. However, nearly all my profs have been accessible and explained stuff pretty well, and with only one exception I have liked all my TAs (no, I have not had classes taught by TAs, just sections).</p>
<p>I still don’t understand why some people seem to make major decisions such as choosing a college based on one or two random posts by anonymous screen names on a message board. That particularly applies to topics that are easy to independently verify. Things such as weather, class sizes, instructor/student ratio, etc are all easily accessible from credible, published sources.</p>
<p>I will elaborate on the example of rainfall to make a general point that might be of importance to young viewers evaluating opinions on CC. Some people’s perception (including my own) is that it really doesn’t rain that much in Palo Alto. Some people’s perception seems to be it rains a fair amount in Palo Alto. Based on Namaskar’s research it rains 15.71 inches/year (average) in Palo Alto. That’s factual info, not someone’s perception. Compared to the Southwest Desert USA, 15 inches is a good amount, but compared to most other places in the USA it is not so much. And compared to most places in the Northeast USA, it is not much at all. Plus if weather is really a focal point for you, there are many websites (Weather Channel) that provide a day-by-day description of the weather in Palo Alto and any city for the past several years. </p>
<p>My point which I have made countless time on this message board is that you should not accept anything posted on CC (including anything I post) unless you verify it with a known, objective published source.</p>