| Most of all, Stanford/MIT/Duke/U Chicago/Wash U/Northwestern/Johns Hopkins/Rice/Emory/Vanderbilt/Notre Dame/etc. is a lot of hard work. Generally, students are task-oriented, very busy, academics are their priority, but they find time for some fun. Each has a somewhat different character. Each major has a somewhat different character.
I found students at Stanford/MIT/Duke/U Chicago/Wash U/Northwestern/Johns Hopkins/Rice/Emory/Vanderbilt/Notre Dame/etc. to be very friendly and down-to-earth. Not elitist. Students are respectful of each other and of the faculty. Faculty are respectful of students, but have high expectations. There is a special feel at Stanford/MIT/Duke/U Chicago/Wash U/Northwestern/Johns Hopkins/Rice/Emory/Vanderbilt/Notre Dame/etc. There is a culture and a tradition of excellence, societal interest and responsibilty, sophistication. Over four years, the school’s culture gets into your blood. I have to say, it is a great feeling to be at this school. The college imparts so many fine qualities to their students. You don't appreciate it until you have been away for a while or at another school.
So, life at Stanford/MIT/Duke/U Chicago/Wash U/Northwestern/Johns Hopkins/Rice/Emory/Vanderbilt/Notre Dame/etc. is stressful, demanding, mixed with some good times, fulfilling and rewarding. |