Stanford University Reviews

A very liberalist school

My school is a very liberalist school. The straight population is greatly involved with gay and lesbian rights movements. Overfelt is greatly used for scholastic marches and protests. It is also used for religous gatherings on the weekends. This school does have a reputation for gang violence and having stupid people. I think the fact that are school is largely hispanic that it gives it that reputation

Stanford Is Awesome

There are so many opportunities here to do whatever you could want to do. If you want to pursue scientific, literary, or historical research there are professors interested and money from the university to fund you. If you are into service, there are tons of organizations and plenty of money to support that. Overall, there is unparalleled opportunity at Stanford.

Biking and Buses

Biking is the main form of transportation on campus. Everyone has a bike and rides it everywhere. There is a pretty good shuttle bus system and a train station just off campus to take people up to San Francisco. There is also a service on weekend nights to pick up people who feel uncomfortable walking home.

The People Are Great

Stanford people in general are the best part of the campus experience. Everyone has a different background and is very interested or passionate about something. Anyone can find a guy or girl they would like here.

Public transportation at Stanford...

Public transportation at Stanford is actually really great. The University has Marguerite, a free shuttle that students can ride to nearby shopping centers, the Caltrain station, and supermarkets.

Frat parties are usually pretty...

Frat parties are usually pretty fun, and all you need to get in is your Stanford ID. They are kind of crowded, but a nice break from the week.

Even though next year Stanford is...

Even though next year Stanford is rearranging dorms so that more freshmen will be able to live in an all-frosh dorm, I personally love living in a four-class dorm. I live in Roble, where the freshmen live in roomy, three-room quads. They are really nice, and Roble has so many freshmen, it is like the best of both housing options.

There is a misconception about...

There is a misconception about Stanford that I would like to correct. Everything you have heard about Stanford being a laid-back school is false. The students may seem laid-back, but most of them are putting up a facade. A lot of people enter Stanford believing they will ‘take it easy’ and not worry so much about school and grades. But most of the people who say that soon realize that for their whole lives, their existence has centered around achievement and school. To suddenly change is unrealistic, to say the least. Almost everyone ends up studying a lot, and devoting most of their time to achieving whatever career goals they have in mind. This is not necessarily a bad thing; however, the sooner one realizes this prevailing attitude, the better off they’ll be.

I honestly can’t imagine being...

I honestly can’t imagine being anywhere else, but I think everyone says that about his or her school. I genuinely love Stanford, though, because it is an awe-inspiring institution, while managing to be quirky and personal. I wouldn’t trade my experiences here for anything.

Stanford gives you great...

Stanford gives you great opportunities. The downside to attending Stanford is that it can feel competitive at times, and you might feel intimidated by that. The big thing to keep in mind is that many people are so smart and study so hard that they tend to be a little weird. But I have some great friends that are very down-to-earth. I am kind of bummed about the dating scene right now because I had a few girlfriends in high school, and now that’s not the case. But I am here mainly to learn, so I am happy.

This place is called ‘Camp...

This place is called ‘Camp Stanford’ for a reason. Palm trees, sun, a friendly and down-to-earth student body, and a flexible academic schedule are pretty much the makings of a design-your-own paradise. People here care about succeeding, but they care equally about friendship and savoring the time they have here. Consider it a challenging, rigorous, delightful vacation.

If you want it, it’s there, if you...

If you want it, it’s there, if you don’t, no worries. Greeks make up a small but significant portion of the student body. Though most everyone will go to a few frat parties, Greek culture is not monolithic, and there is no real need to join a frat or sorority.

I wouldn’t say that the...

I wouldn’t say that the fraternities make up the entire the social scene—you don’t have to be in one in order to have fun. I am not in one, and I have tight group of friends. But I will be honest with you, there are a lot of really nerdy or socially awkward kids here. It’s because they are so darn smart, that they don’t know how to socialize. Other than that, you have the fraternity guys who seem to get a lot of the girls—I hope I don’t sound too bitter about that. If you like to party, fraternities throw good ones. If you don’t, there’s plenty of other stuff to do.

Every weekend there’s something...

Every weekend there’s something Greek going on.

It’s cold and rainy in the winter...

It’s cold and rainy in the winter but very beautiful at all other times.

There’s gorgeous weather here...

There’s gorgeous weather here year-round—mild, no humidity, sunny skies. It normally rains a lot in the winter, though.

Greek life is pretty big here; the...

Greek life is pretty big here; the fraternities have most of the parties. Sororities aren’t as big.

Only about 15 percent of the...

Only about 15 percent of the Stanford Student Body is Greek. Some of the fraternities, like Kappa Sig, Theta Delta and Sigma Chi, throw a good number of parties, when not on probation. The rest of them just hog prime housing on campus. Stanford is one of the few universities that actually encourages Greek participation by taking housing away from Independents in order to house its fraternities and sororities. Most members of the Greek system at Stanford say they enjoy the camaraderie and social scene, but admit that the Greeks at Stanford are nowhere near as ‘hardcore’ or ‘gung-ho’ as their state school counterparts.

I feel very safe on campus. Campus...

I feel very safe on campus. Campus is like a happy little bubble. Recently, there was a report of an assault on campus, but I have never experienced anything like that personally. Generally, the biggest thing we have to worry about is high school kids skateboarding around campus and trying to sneak into our frat parties.

Most of the professors here are...

Most of the professors here are pretty good. I mean, a lot have done amazing things, and they really know what they’re talking about. Of course, you get the occasional dud who’s just old and boring and such, but there are definitely quality teachers here. All the professors hold office hours, so if you make the effort, you can definitely get to know your professor. They’re almost always available, too.

We have fast food places like Jack...

We have fast food places like Jack in the Box, and nicer stuff like Max’s Opera Cafe. Whatever your dining pleasure happens to be, it will be here somewhere. I wouldn’t say that there is any one definitive place to which everyone goes, but there are plenty of good places in the area.

We live close to Palo Alto, a...

We live close to Palo Alto, a relatively affluent town boasting clean streets and elegant restaurants. Most students complain that Palo Alto is too boring, though, and that there is nothing to do. While Palo Alto may not have the liveliness of a more traditional college town, it has its unique charms. I must concede that Palo Alto is not cheap. Meals cost about $10–$15, but most people do not mind so much because they eat in the dorms most of the time and come to Palo Alto only once or twice a week, due to the demanding nature of their studies. You may not find raging parties or cheap, hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Palo Alto, but you will find a safe and elegant setting to go to for a quick break from your studies.

The professors here are excellent....

The professors here are excellent. The personal attention you receive from your professors—all of whom are among the best in their field—is unbelievable.

Everyone seems to be...

Everyone seems to be extraordinarily organized and on top of things. Professors will bend over backwards to help you out.

No one lives off campus because...

No one lives off campus because the property around Stanford is very expensive, and we are guaranteed on-campus housing.