Open-minded and community-based

Introduction
Perhaps the biggest adjustment I had to make at Stanford was coming to terms with just being average. A lot of people who come to Stanford were either at the top of their class or were nationally ranked in something (sports, music, arts...) but at Stanford, you just become one of the crowd. Students who really succeed are those who don't take themselves too seriously and allow themselves to learn from the many talents and personalities that exist on campus. Stanford is also very community-oriented and at some point you will most likely iive in a co-op (basically a hippie commune), a self-op (basically a co-ed fraternity/sorority without the Greek implications), or a four-class house. Living situations such as these really teach Stanford students how to work and live collaboratively and cooperatively.

Campus Life and Social Life
There is definitely a substantial portion of the community (mostly freshmen and sophomores) that goes to fraternity or house parties on the weekends. That being said, wine-and-cheese nights and co-op parties (which are arguably wilder and crazier than frat parties) probably have an equal number of followers. Personally, I try to get off campus at least twice or three times a week. If you have a car, you are free to explore the entire Northern California region -- San Francisco, Napa Valley, the beach -- but, without one, you're definitely in a bind. The public transportation is not great in California so, if you plan on getting off campus often, you'll probably need a car. Advertisement
Academics
Stanford is unique in its interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate education. Many of the most majors at Stanford -- Human Biology, Symbolic Systems, Science/Technology/Society -- require the students take courses in many, many different areas. This was the primary reason why I chose to go to Stanford over similar-caliber schools. At Stanford I am able to study film production (within the Film/Media Studies major) and human rights (within the Human Biology major), something that would be heavily discouraged at other institutions that force you to focus on one area. As a result of my experiences though, I feel that I am entering the real world with an amazing set of experiences and tools that run the gamut from working with DreamWorks to promoting democratic development in Ghana. Stanford is truly amazing in that respect.

Student Body
Students at so happy at Stanford that sometimes I feel guilty for feeling sad occasionally. While some students -- particularly those from the East Coast -- find this uber-happy atmosphere nauseating at times, I think it really encourages students to put their lives into perspective and realize that academics is only ONE aspect of their life and the world around them. About 40% of students from Stanford are from the California but that number is shrinking rapidly as more and more people from the East Coast decide to take the west coast plunge. Stanford definitely tries to create a world microcosm on its campus, though, and I am blown away by the range of people I've met here. I am currently an RA in a four-class dorm and every single one has something amazing about them -- one is a spoken-word performer, another is a professional volleyball player from Italy, and still another is a renowned equestrian rider, white-water rafter, and mountain climber. I don't know where else I would have the opportunity to meet such a diverse group of students!!

In Closing...
All I can say is, if you decide to come to Stanford, you will come away with life skills that are more permanent and arguably more important than anything you'll learn in the classroom. But be ready to work hard, play hard, and get lots and lots of sun :)