Stanford University

The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an 8,180-acre (3,310 ha) campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately 20 miles (32 km) northwest of San Jose and 37 miles (60 km) southeast of San Francisco.

Top Universities

Good school.  A very well-rounded school, Stanford crushes Harvard/Yale/Princeton/lesser Ivies at engineering, and unlike MIT, actually has respectable programs in liberal arts.  Unlike the aforementioned schools, Stanford has good weather, and the students actually have free time.  You'll never see Harvard/MIT students sunbathing in Speedo swimwear in February.  Also, our state has a governor with a funny accent.

I'm a stanford alumnus; I chose it over Yale and Harvard, schools with far more social mores and closer to home (for me), and I have never regretted my decision. The vibrant campus life, the incredible academic opportunities, and the great weather make Stanford the ultimate triple threat.

My #1 choice for college.

I could go on for hours about the lovely campus, but I think the real beauty of Stanford is it's unique, hands-on academic focus.  Some might remember the sharp left turn the school made with its MBA program a few years back, and that--to me--is representative of the school's spirit.  Sensible, considering the number of entrepreneurs and rogue "pirates of the silicon valley" that have walked through the school's Spanish-influenced gates.  The amount of grant money that the university is willing to throw around, along with the counter-intuitive (but admirable) focus on undergraduate studies, shows that it has its putting its endowment in all the right places. 

To me, Stanford's campus is too large and monochrome (just see how easy it is to get lost!), but it's undeniably beautiful, one vast plain of mission-style architecture and eucalpytus trees. The larger city of Palo Alto is such a posh town that it's a little embarrassing to be a student, not to mention too expensive; but undergrad social life is so rich and full (more so than most colleges of this caliber) that you may not need to leave campus very often. The grad programs have great faculty, earning them a high ranking, but they are a little less impressive in practice, because the school uses a lot of master's programs as cash cows. The library is one of the best places to do research I've seen, because most of the books tend to be on the shelves all the time, new and untouched. (It's disappointingly dark and dingy, though.) And undergrads who get into Stanford are the very best in the country: because the school tends to be the top choice of most anyone west of the Mississippi, it has very, very selective admissions, more selective than any Ivy League school. Once here, undergrads have a pleasant, mostly easy experience, and Stanford alumni tend to be much friendler than students who come from other top schools. (I'm not saying that as a Stanford grad, since I didn't get in, but as someone who's known a few undergrads who went there.)

The Stanford campus is such a magnificent campus with rolling grasslands...looks more like a HUGE campground than an university. The buildings are nice with a Spanish-like architect touch. I have studied here for a summer just to see my GF since she's a smart-a$$ student who has studied at this institute. The students there are also very friendly...and although Stanford is known to be more conservative...I think there were a lot of open-minded students I've encountered. There were also snobby students I've met...however....they never mind talking to me in the dining hall. I am quite shocked and disappointed though, that there were some racist prick who sprayed racial slurs on some of the buildings on campus I think two-three years ago. I was going to go to stanford for a graduate program in liberal arts...but I've decided to change my career to medicine..and am taking courses at a small 4-year university.

Great setting, great academics: The Duke of the West!

That one guy's name is hentai69.... that pushed me to want to go to stanford :)

Leland Stanford, Jr., is in the top 5. UPDATE: The university was named by Leland Stanford and his wife, after their son who died in his teens, Leland Stanford, Junior--hence the name.

Pretty campus, sort of a mediteranean look, undergrad academics good, but UC Berkeley is better IMHO. Grad school is ajoke- thy allow anyone in. Too conservative.

The only school in America worse than Newberry.

Top Rated... PLEASE! Narcissus, step awar from the mirror! Ok Stanford is a top Univeristy;a prestigious one. But it is not Harvard or Yale.

Nice place over there. I heard that they also have a very good law program. Planning to go there someday for grad school.

I am a senior this year from California looking east. Last year at my high school none of the national merits got into Stanford. Only legacy, athletes and mediocre students. They focus on graduate students and keeping the alumni happy with athletics and legacy. I want an education.

I'm both a Stanford and Harvard grad. Harvard is a great institution, but Stanford's energy, atmosphere, optimism are simply unmatched. For any institution to have have achieved what Stanford has in such a short time is nothing short of astonishing...

Dream school Supreme Cream of the Crop

This school has shown it has not only superb academics, but an amazing sports program to go with it.

I went to Cal so I'm supposed to hate Stanford, but I don't. Of course it is a great school. We did have fun cutting up the decals and reassembling the letters to spell SNODFART though. All in good fun.

Seriously, I have never seen happier students. I visited my best friend here, and his friends are some of the most brilliant people I ever had the pleasure of hanging out with.

Absolutely extra-super #1. This is the school to go in sunny California. It's the one school that doesn't have a weakness. Ten thousand stars.

Stanford students are the happiest students you will ever see. And why not? It is really paradise there. It is at the top of my list.

Stanford is the quite simply the finest school in the country. No other school can match its academic prowess across the board. Combined with a stunning campus and beautiful weather -- this is *the* school.

Just an Ivy-League wanna be school. Why do you think big firms on the East Coast don't give a rip about Stanford grads. heck, east coast firms would choose Cornell grads (lower ranked than Stanford) over these Cardinal athletes. West coast colleges produce slackers. Yipeee...pass the football...and batter up baseball fans!

Spend a small fortune to teach yourself whatever it is you're majoring in besides snobbery. Stanford will definitely prepare you...for the country club.

the commitment to academics and the endless options stanford creates for you-- it can't be matched! also, california is the combination of all the climates you can think of, it's great.

it's not ivy league..

The people here are elitist and snobbish. It's very frustrating to have your work devaluated because of grade inflation.

You can't possibly beat Stanford's combination of atheltics and academics.

Harvard + Princeton equals great thinking Great thinkers would not want to go and visit Stanford unless it were for a debate contest School's out campers!

There is something about colleges like this that make a person's overall outlook on life very wrong. The whole personality of Stanford graduates often seems very fake and pretentious. Condescending philanthropy at best and over-inflated yuppie egos at worst, I give Stanford one star. Of course in terms of raw academics (computer science etc.) it is very good.

The most beautiful university in the world. California climate is the best all over.

Stanford gradutes rule even here in the Philippines!!!

Stanford isn't too generous when it comes to finacial aid for international students.

How do you compare the likes of Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and 3-5 others at the top of rankings? Stanford is a wonderful place to live, the students are great, the faculty is warm and terrific at teaching in innovative and interesting ways. 5 STARS.

hands down, the coolest campus i've ever set foot on. my girlfriend and I got a little lost while walking around but it was so pretty we really didn't care. But 2 oddities were apparent upon my first visit: 1)we were the only 2 people on campus traveling on foot, i.e. not riding bikes. (NB: it's possible that cyclists will mark you as intruders if you are on foot) 2) on-campus libraries must number in the teens.

Ivy League Wanna-be.

Greatest university in the world. East coast sucks!

can they have a more lax grading system?

Stanford Rules!

Requires way too much compared to other competitive schools.

Perfect academic atmosphere: made by the students.

A wonderful school in a wonderful part of the world. If I had a kid who was looking at schools, I would want them to go here.

Everything the guy below me said is true, but it just lacks something for me... I want more than just preparation for future money making out of a school. Maybe a slice of real life. (Yes, I go to Cal, so I'm a bit biased)

No other school in the country can match Stanford's mix of first-tier academics, gorgeous campus, the best athletics program in the country (Sears Directors Cup Champion five years in a row), and close ties to Silicon Valley and the world of high-tech and venture capital.