Saying no to Stanford?

DHMchicago
Sun, 28 Apr 2019 22:15:57 +0000

The only reason to turn down Stanford is financial reasons. That is a big reason. My perspective on this was recently felt as I attended an admitted students’ reception as an alumnus who is supposed to help “seal the deal” for admitted students. As I became aware talking to parents and students, attending Stanford was going to cause financial stress for some, and some students had amazing offers from other places. They are in a hard place, and I can’t deny that reality. But the difference in experience is palpable. I have 2 D currently in different state flagships (where they are very happy), but there is a big difference from Stanford. While they did not know most people in their freshman dorm, 40 years after graduation over a 1/3 of my freshman dorm comes back to a reunion party and I know everybody. They have become prominent business people, authors, playwrights, composers, movie producers, naturalists, and yes, high school teachers too. Back then, it was just a sense of creative energy, not studiousness or intellect, that seemed to drive everybody, and socially it was amazing. If you are going to undergrad just to get the best grades to get to the next step (eg med or law), it will work fine as grading is generous, but that is such a waste of the experience. You get so much more being around people with different talents, it really does rub off. It wasn’t competitive or cutthroat. Caveat to my opinion is to note how long ago I went there.