Stanford University Reviews

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.

Parties on campus are usually good...

Parties on campus are usually good with nice music and crazy dancing. Fraternities and sororities, dorms, student groups, and random people on campus throw parties. However, the bars and clubs are for students 21 and older. I have a few more years to start experiencing that scene.

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.

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.

Some are the most distinguished in...

Some are the most distinguished in their field and are wonderful lecturers. Others could care less about undergraduates.

This campus is surprisingly...

This campus is surprisingly diverse. My friends here are Colombian, Lebanese, South African, Asian, and African American. I am white. It’s pretty cool and pretty diverse here.

It’s getting more and more diverse...

It’s getting more and more diverse every year. I think that less than 50 percent of students are white.

It’s been pretty good. My freshman...

It’s been pretty good. My freshman year, I lived with about 90 people, and basically every roommate pair in our dorm was comprised of two people of different races. Expect to live with someone very different from you freshman year.

Don’t come here for the girls....

Don’t come here for the girls. Stay here long enough and your standards will take a nosedive, also known as getting ‘Stanford glasses.’

I’m from Hawaii, so I tend to like...

I’m from Hawaii, so I tend to like my Hawaii boys the most, but there are a lot of cuties here, too! Stanford people are usually really nice because it’s more laid-back here than at most other colleges, I think. Of course, sometimes you’ll run into the punks and jerks, but you’ll find that anywhere you go.

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.

It’s cold and rainy in the winter...

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

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.

Every weekend there’s something...

Every weekend there’s something Greek going on.

I think what really stuck in my...

I think what really stuck in my mind when I visited Stanford was how culturally diverse the place was. I saw people from many different backgrounds working together.

Professors here are unlike any...

Professors here are unlike any others I’ve ever seen. All those that I’ve had definitely expressed a genuine interest in their students. We have world-renowned names here, and most professors are at the top of their fields.