Colleges Stanford University

Stanford University www.stanford.edu

Stanford University is a private institution that was founded in 1885. The school’s pristine 8,180-acre campus is located in a suburban setting in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. The campus is considered among the most beautiful and sustainable anywhere. Only freshmen are required to live on campus, but students are guaranteed housing for all four years, and most choose to remain on campus. Stanford is a research university where teaching, learning and research are all integral to the university’s mission. Stanford offers a wide range of student organizations, including the Stanford Pre-Business Association and Stanford Solar Car Project, which designs, builds and races a solar car every two years. Stanford’s entrepreneurial character draws from its Western location, the legacy of its founders, and its proximity to Silicon Valley.

Academics

Four of Stanford University’s seven schools offer undergraduate and graduate coursework, and the remaining three serve as purely graduate schools. Graduate programs include the highly ranked School of Education, School of Engineering, School of Law and Graduate School of Business. The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment oversees collaboration between environmental research, teaching and outreach. Stanford has a number of well-known theatrical and musical groups, including the Ram’s Head Theatrical Society and the Mendicants, an all-male a cappella group. The student-faculty ratio at Stanford is 6:1, and the school has 69% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Popular majors include Computer Science, Biology, and Engineering.

Special Highlights

Cantor Arts Center. Serving the Stanford campus, the Bay Area community, and visitors from around the world, the Cantor Arts Center provides an outstanding cultural experience for visitors of all ages. Founded when the university opened in 1891, the historic museum was expanded and renamed to Cantor in 1999. The Cantor’s collection spans 5,000 years and includes more than 38,000 works of art from around the globe. These include our renowned collection of Rodin bronze sculptures, which are displayed inside the museum as well as in our outdoor Rodin Sculpture Garden. With 24 galleries and more than 15 special exhibitions each year, the Cantor is an established resource for teaching and research on campus. Free admission, tours, lectures, and family activities make the Cantor one of the most visited university art museums in the country.

Neighborhoods and Theme Houses. The essential purpose of Residential Education is to support the integration of student living and learning through the formal teaching, informal learning, and personal support in the residences, or “Neighborhoods” that is integral to a Stanford education. Residential Education programs extend the classroom into the residences and complement the academic curriculum with activities and experiences. The residential experience provides new ways of learning and a space to call home where you may feel supported. Our University Theme Houses are open to all students across the neighborhoods. You will have the opportunity to apply to live in the UTH of greatest interest to you. We will have two types of theme housing: Neighborhood Theme Houses and University Theme Houses.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

Stanford was founded almost 150 years ago on a bedrock of societal purpose. Our mission is to contribute to the world by educating students for lives of leadership and contribution with integrity; advancing fundamental knowledge and cultivating creativity; leading in pioneering research for effective clinical therapies; and accelerating solutions and amplifying their impact. A hallmark of Stanford is their extensive and vibrant ecosystem of interdisciplinary research. All seven of Stanford’s schools are located on their historic campus and many institutes serve as a hub for collaboration across academic fields. At Stanford, we learn from our past but focus on the future, continually looking for new ways to make the world a better place.

Student Reviews…

“The resources and opportunities available, from research initiatives to extracurricular activities, were unparalleled, allowing me to pursue my interests and passions fully. However, I believe there’s room for improvement in terms of diversity and inclusion efforts to ensure that all students feel equally supported and represented within the Stanford community.”