<p>Once in awhile some kids get accepted to multiple top schools but pick one over the others. If someone picks Stanford over other top schools, I wonder why. Anyone can speculate of course.</p>
<p>Excellence across all disciplines, top facilities and resources, strong faculty, small classes, beautiful campus, location (SF, SV, the Bay, the ocean, etc. nearby), great weather, awesome financial aid, general perception of student happiness… It adds up. The only school that Stanford loses cross-admits to is Harvard (and there it’s very close, about 60-40).</p>
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I’d say these are the three most important in descending order from what I’ve heard, depending on the other schools. The comparable schools I was admitted to were Berkeley and Rice, so for Rice especially it was mainly the third reason but for Berkeley it was the first reason.</p>
<p>I know a friend of mine who opted for Stanford over Yale, due to his major. He was going into more environmental studies, and believed that Stanford provided better science facilities and such that would match him more. (just throwing in another reason)</p>
<p>I concur with:<br>
excellence in all disciplines
student happiness–the most important for D, who chose Stanford over Harvard
weather</p>
<p>Also, for however much the Ivies have a tremendous positive reputation, they also carry a negative one of snobbery, elitism, sense of entitlement, arrogance, and Ivory Tower close-mindedness. Heck, there have been threads on CC about how Harvard grads avoid mentioning where they attend/attended school so as to escape the detonation of the “H-bomb.” I haven’t seen the name of Stanford University evoke any negative reactions in people–just admiration…</p>
<p>I’d appreciate any elaboration on the “happiness” issue as who won’t seek it in life. I sort of understand why a person chooses MIT over other top schools even if the weather is the same. Maybe ‘fit’, however slightly, has something to do with a final decision.</p>
<p>I heard people mention “H-bomb” but didn’t realize there’s a negative aspect to it. I thought not many people care about it one way or another.</p>
<p>When my daughter and I visited Stanford, we were impressed with the fact that everyone, both students and staff, seemed so glowingly happy to be there. Kids joke about continuing on to grad school there as a way to avoid leaving paradise. Before my daughter arrived on campus, she was of the opinion she’d prefer to attend grad school somewhere different than her undergrad school, but now I think she’d look for reasons to stay at Stanford longer. </p>
<p>The admissions officer we met said that Stanford really tries to select NICE kids. It’s possible the roommate essay and the other short answer questions are there for that purpose. Now I’m sure no adcoms anywhere deliberately select mean kids, but Stanford places a high priority on amiability. D really likes everyone on her team, in her dorm, etc. and though there are some people she likes a little more than others, she’s surprised that she hasn’t met more than maybe one or two people she truly dislikes. I just read an interview of a Stanford athlete who was asked what she appreciates most about Stanford. Her reason? The people!</p>
<p>Give me another top school where it is currently 65 and sunny.</p>
<p>Stanford = future; HYP = past (history)</p>
<p>^Yes, that was my main reason for choosing Stanford–it’s about What’s Next. Also this: the “wind of freedom blows” here, but not much else does. Well, except the food at Stern. :P</p>
<p>Is there anything so unique that you need to be there to see/feel/sense?</p>
<p>good sports teams. won’t see HYP games televised nationally.</p>
<p>Sounds like someone was rejected by HYP. It is warmer in Palo Alto, however (and the sports are indeed up there).</p>
<p>Sounds like some disgruntled parent who continually and inexplicably stalks this forum is reading too much into a simple statement of fact.</p>
<p>Stanford has one of the most beautiful campus in the country. Why would anyone NOT pick Stanford?</p>
<p>Our ■■■■■■ are dumber. (See post #13.)</p>
<p>it’s beautiful there! and the people are so kind and willing to help you.</p>
<p>I know it’s an absolute ***load of work, but one very helpful way to select between Stanford and say, Harvard (if you’re lucky enought to have the choice) is to lay out on a spreadsheet the entire undergraduate program in the major you want to pursue; this includes general ed, major reqs, load per quarter, labs, etc. Doing this for a science major and comparing S & H is a real eye opener. Quality of the classes at Harvard are great but you get the sense that H is just not geared up for undergrad science, nor does it seem to provide practical curriculum, a lot more esoteric graduate level stuff. Anyway, look at the education you’ll get and the ability to really learn about your field, versus just being able to say I went to H (and survived New England winters). Hard to beat S for an up to date education.</p>