If you’re looking for a western counterpart to the Ivy League, I would suggest you take a look at Stanford University. Then I would suggest you keep looking, because Stanford is so much more than just that. The vibes of the sunny university campus differ greatly from the gothic, 17th-century feeling of the East Coast’s Ivy Leagues, while the academics remain at the same tier.
But first, attendance requires an application. Three point nine percent of Stanford applicants gain admission, making this school highly selective. Stanford also highly regards the application’s essays as well as a person’s traits and character. Applicants should use the essay to display their personality and to demonstrate specific interest in Stanford.
The college also heavily values an applicant’s GPA and extracurricular activities. Additionally, alumni relations and standardized test scores will be considered if submitted, as will volunteer work and job experience. Stanford admissions are hyperfocused on a student’s academic performances and disposition.
Unfortunately, Oak Park High School students don’t get an advantage from living in California with Stanford. The school’s tuition comes out to about $65,000, vastly higher than the average to attend most colleges in the country. With boarding costs, fees and other expenses, students can expect to pay over $90,000 annually just for attendance.
Though these prices are extremely high, the school counters them partially by offering nearly 60% of Stanford students scholarship money or financial aid, with an average package of around $70,000.
Academically, Stanford excels in most of its subjects, but it does perform better in some over others. The university’s biggest STEM subjects are computer science, engineering, earth systems, biology and marine science. Other top programs include international relations, public policy and communication.
However, with this academic prowess comes countless hours of studying, enough to compare to a full-time job. After all, the average GPA of a Stanford student is 3.9, meaning it takes a lot of effort to keep up.
In fact, ‘effort’ is a synonymous word across the campus, especially for Stanford’s athletes. The women’s water polo and women’s rowing teams won the national championships in 2023, women’s golf took the NCAA title and men’s gymnastics claimed their fifth straight national trophy in 2024. Additionally, the Stanford Cardinals’ baseball team has been to the College World Series and the school’s football team has developed into a powerhouse. Men’s water polo, soccer and women’s volleyball are also standout sports at the university, just to name a few. Overall, Stanford has won 163 national championships across twenty different sports in its history, the most out of any college in America.
This is made possible in part by the school’s top-tier facilities, justifying the high tuition cost for students to attend. Eighty-nine percent of students at Stanford enjoy the school’s social life, while 78% harbor positive opinions about the school’s dorms and living conditions. However, the school’s party life is relatively extreme for those who participate.
Like the majority of overachieving students on campus, some students also overachieve in alcohol consumption. Eighty-one percent of Stanford students drink alcohol, while over 40% of students take some form of drugs. This is a stark contrast to the high academic standards of the school, but fortunately, there isn’t a strong sense of peer pressure at the university; students who don’t partake won’t be treated differently in any way.
Additionally, the school is not completely safe. While the on-campus police force do what they can to protect the university, the surrounding area is relatively dangerous and may affect the school’s students.
Moreover, sexual harassment and assault rates are 8.7% higher at Stanford than at the average undergraduate school, representing a serious problem. However, this issue can easily be avoided by the average student. After all, 60% of perpetrators and 74% of victims at the school were consuming alcohol at the time of incident.
All in all, Stanford is an incredible school for California students looking to attend college in-state. While it’s difficult to get into and expensive to attend, Stanford’s academics and athletics are among the best in the country. Meanwhile, social life at the university isn’t for everyone, but it also isn’t enough to outweigh the school’s benefits. Students should attend Stanford University for its facilities and opportunities, but it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into.
