<p>One piece of advice I’ve been consistently given when deliberating among schools is to go to school in the environment that I have experienced least. However, if I remember the numbers correctly, over 40% of Stanford’s student body is from California. What do you all think - is this a solid piece of advice? How important is it to switch coasts for undergrad?</p>
<p>Go to the college that has the environment you want and enjoy the most. It is a long 4 years if you find out you do not like the environment you have experienced the least. College is not about experimenting with unknown environments; it is about finding an environment you like and then experimenting comfortably with intellectual pursuits, which interest you. My take - bad advice.</p>
<p>My S chose Yale over Stanford for exactly that reason: to have an adventure. You have the rest of your life to live where you want and taking an adventure will help you know that.</p>
<p>Strongly agree with @awcntdb. Whether you are from west coast or east coast, Midwest or the South, the Plains or the Gulf Coast, you want to attend 4 years of college where you will be most comfortable, happy, and thrive. Most, if not all, of the students usually KNOW deep inside which “campus culture” and its “environment” FIT them the best…and where they really want to be. </p>
<p>Be wary of picking a college based on what you “think” would “please” some of those around you (including your parents)…it is not going to be any one of them ATTENDING school…it will be YOU. Where do you see yourself thriving? Only you KNOW.</p>