Stanford University Top Questions

The student body generally leans left politically, but debate is always encouraged and civil. Lots of different types of students definitely interact and I feel like this is a very open place. Nobody ever talks about how much they earn and the environment is invariably supportive.

As students, I think we're pretty diverse in any direction you care to take it. Religious, political, racial, socio-economic, geographical, sexual, party style, interests... There's a reason we have a large amount of student groups on campus! Most students are accepting of differences and seem to look past them completely. I've definitely made friends for life.

I met my best friends in the world at Stanford. We are a very multi-culti mix: half christian-half jewish, bangladeshi american, chinese american, and white christian. We came from differing financial backgrounds, but our interests definitely overlapped. I don't know that we are stereotypical Stanford students, but I don't think we're too far off.

Politically, you should expect that Stanford students tend to lean left, as do most bright, well-educated people, especially in the Bay Area. However, there are plenty of conservatives both among the student body (certain fraternities, for example) and at the now-infamous Hoover Institution. At Stanford, I even had a few Evangelical Christian friends. There are many Mormons at Stanford, and many Muslims as well. One of my favorite classes was on Buddhist philosophy. You get the idea.

I realize that nobody can influence US News and World Report, so it's best to educate prospective college students with the facts. I've been there, and done that. Don't go to Stanford for your undergraduate degree, but DO go there for your graduate degree

The students here are incredibly diverse, like a mini U.N. With the recent changes in financial aid policy, the school will become even more socio-economically diverse.

Stanford is a very relaxed place and is ostenstatiously diverse, with lots of minority representation and a small but growing LGBQ community. However, this superficial tolerance often conceals serious tension between different religious and ethnic groups. There are plenty of rich kids and children-of-the-famous, but also lots of students from middle- and lower-class socioeconomic backgrounds. Everyone mixes pretty freely. Campus style is pretty bland, with a lot of sweats and flip-flops, though people have been getting more stylish over the last year or so. People tend to be friendly, relaxed and pretty egalitarian. People who care about art and style may initially feel out of place; they find their scene, but often more slowly. There are a fair number of attractive people, but dating is hard and people tend to be hesitant about relationships. Also, though the LGBQ scene is improving, attractive gay men and women are hard to come by and dating is near impossible.

I love the people at Stanford! People are so open, friendly, and accepting. As an international student, I was really worried about fitting in, but it was never a problem for me. I never got asked "if I ride an elephant to class in India." People were very knowledgeable, and also very interested to learn more about my culture. Something I'll always be grateful to the Stanford community is for never making me feel like an outsider. I have met great people at Stanford, and have made amazing friends.

The bulk of students are pre-professional, apathetic and wealthy. That being said, there are tons of interesting people and a moderate, but fun, counter culture. It's known as having a cliquey campus and that's true to the extent that people break off in different social groups, but the student body is wholly unpretentious and to use a term many would describe themselves with, "hella chill."

One of the things that struck me about Stanford was its diversity and how I immediately felt comfortable being myself here. Everyone talks to everybody, and there isn't really separations between "groups" of people. It's really easy to feel comfortable here.