<p>Hi everyone!</p>
<p>I'm a recent admit this year and I'm having major trouble deciding between this and the four ivies I made it into (H, Y, C, B). So to any current stanford undergrad or those who have made their choice already: What do you love most about Stanford?</p>
<p>Warm Weather</p>
<p>(Made my choice)</p>
<p>The biggest draw for me is the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that is so tangible around Stanford. It’s a breeding ground for innovation, and given my previous experience with and passion for entrepreneurship, it’s a great fit for me.</p>
<p>Oh and warm weather.</p>
<p>
ewww gross.</p>
<p>Anyways I love the energy here. It would be hard for me to answer this question with specifics, so I’ll leave it at that.</p>
<p>senior0991, why do you feel it’s appropriate to say “ewwww gross” in response to an incoming student’s interest in an aspect of Stanford’s atmosphere that he finds appealing? That would be like someone responding with “ewww gross” when you say that you think there should be more interest in sports at Stanford. Lots of people think there’s plenty of emphasis on sports at Stanford, and would wonder why you didn’t choose a big state school if you wanted even more of a sports culture, but IIRC no one with a different viewpoint issued a put-down in response to your statement. </p>
<p>As I’ve mentioned before, there is nothing inherently incompatible about entrepreneurial leanings and intellectualism. Got both, know many others who also do. It’s not an either/or proposition.</p>
<p>This sounds fuzzy, but I’d say what I love most is how engaged everyone is, in every sense of the word. People are really really into their interests, and on top of that, people are generally pretty involved outside of class (with everything from a cappella to public service to building a solar car). That whole “intellectual vitality” stuff that Stanford emphasizes in its applicants–it shows through in the students who attend. I hate to use the word, but they’re just “passionate” about what they do. It creates a high-standard environment that inspires or even forces you to go out and do something, and more than anything, to find what it is that engages you the most. If you hear someone describing their work on a story they’re writing or a solar cell they’re designing, and they seem so into it, you feel lame if you don’t have something that you’re just as jazzed about.</p>
<p>We could all say that awesome things about Stanford are weather, location, professors, etc. but for me, none of that would matter if nobody had any interest in what they were doing / were apathetic.</p>
<p>Senior0991,</p>
<p>I’m sorry I get really excited about things like this: [Best</a> Courses 2011: Mayfield Fellows at Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.inc.com/magazine/20110401/best-courses-2011-mayfield-fellows-at-stanford-university.html]Best”>Best Courses 2011: Mayfield Fellows | Inc.com)</p>
<p>Credit: Jasonvdm</p>
<p>The entrepreneurial spirit and the marriage of high-tech with every discipline. Trivia: Stanford was the first university to create publish an iPhone app when iPhone came out.</p>
<p>Facebook, Inc. is literally in Stanford’s backyard right next to faculty housing.</p>
<p>
You’re right, I was way out of line. I apologize to all those I have offended. </p>
<p>
I never said it was. Rather, my statement came from the fact that I have seen up close what this entrepreneurial spirit does to people. It has made my best friend significantly more detached and stressed out. It has made other friends virtually inaccessible. If you truly love it that’s cool, but from what I’ve seen it is easy to get sucked up into this world and regret it when it’s too late to get out. Because it will close a lot of doors. If one sacrifices enough it will open a lot of doors too, but you have to ask yourself beforehand if that’s what you want out of your four college years. Because once you get deep enough into it, there’s really no easy way out.</p>
<p>Great weather, academics, and how different an environment it is from what I’m used to. :D</p>
<p>EVERYTHING! xD
But really, Stanford is such an amazing place. The outstanding academics, the diverse student body, the weather, the sports and school spirit, the beautiful campus, the opportunities, etc.
Also the attitude: I think what Stanford has that the ivies don’t is a laid-back love for learning. Many of the ivies have such an obsession with social climbing, and Stanford just doesn’t seem to have that. Stanford students seem engaged, motivated and passionate, but there are no final clubs or eating clubs like they have at other places.
All your choices are great, so congratulations! But there’s no place like Stanford. Harvard may be #1 as parents choice for college, but Stanford is #1 for students choice for college.</p>