Stanford University (SU)

As one of the preeminent institutions of higher education and research on the West Coast, Stanford University is a magnet for both aspiring and established scholars looking to learn in a place where "the support for students (residential, emotional, academic) is unrivaled." Research opportunities abound for Stanford students. As one student says, "At Stanford, anything is possible; I've lived on a schooner with faculty studying sharks, snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef, hiked in the Australian rainforest, studied Antarctic phytoplankton with world-class scientists, and spent countless nights discussing philosophy, politics, film, and art until sunrise." The location in the Bay Area also puts the school in a prime location for access to Silicon Valley, which is highly populated with Stanford alumni.

The school's reputation for being at "the forefront of [nearly] every field of study" draws talented faculty that are "at the top of their respective fields." And with an extremely low 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students have the ability to forge close relationships with their professors. Even though Nobel Prize winners walk the halls, faculty remain undaunting to students, who find them "engaging and approachable" and "so excited to share their passion for the subject." In giving students access to every resource they need to become lifelong learners and societal contributors, Stanford seeks to "expand your creativity, challenge and deepen your world view, and make you a passionate and informed citizen of the world."

While students are adamant that "there really is no typical Stanford student," it is generally agreed that they are all "very driven, independently motivated and willing to seek out opportunities," making for an ambitious environment that is "without the competitive edge that many top-tier institutions are known for." One common thread does emerge in that "everyone here is smart and has some story that will blow you out of the water if you ask." One student reiterates: "Everyone fits in because we're united by a fire that drives us all to be excited about what we do. The trends you'll see will be along the lines of leadership and crazy intellect." All say it's easy to find your niche, as everyone here is "ridiculously friendly and you can meet new people all over campus at almost every type of event."

With so many students living on campus, housing is broken up into "neighborhoods", which incorporate shared houses and themes and allow for students to live and eat with others who share their lifestyles and interests, creating a community of communities that "makes it easy to be an integrated and diverse student body." Stanford's campus teems with activities to keep students engaged and entertained"there's always so much going on on-campus that sometimes it's hard to leave!" The social scene is California relaxed, and students say "you can find as much or as little of a party culture here as you're looking for. There's always a frat party to attend on the weekends, and there's always people to just hang out with at the dorm." In addition, there are university-hosted "Cardinal Nights," including "trips to Great America, a local amusement park, a movie pre-screening, and Stanford's Got Talent. All of the events are either free or extremely cheap for students." Academics take priority here and students "work insanely hard during the week," but recognize the importance of balance and "also make it a priority to have a great time." Although students say "it's pretty much impossible to be bored" at Stanford, the siren song of San Francisco does occasionally call, and "a trip to the city is a short train-ride or carride away, so going to concerts and events in the city is always a fun option. Same goes for the nearby beaches."