From: Carolyn Ratcliff
To: Sonia
Subject: Re: a few questions
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 11:20:44 -0700
1. What is campus life like here?
This one is much too complex to answer via e-mail. You are welcome to visit the campus, or when checking out our web site, see what some of the students have to say, or check out the activities available (www.stanford.edu). More information is in the viewbook, which is sent with the application in
the fall of your senior year.
2. What sets this college apart from the rest of the pack?
Each admission officer will probably give a different answer here. I think everyone would agree that both the quality of the faculty and the students is topnotch. Stanford combines great research with a love of teaching and learning. You will find an atmosphere that is very open to learning, with an interested and involved faculty working with an intelligent, diverse student body. At the same time, the students work well together and as individuals, without the all-too-common back-biting competitiveness that can impede the learning process.
3. What is your policy on affirmative action for non-Asian minorities?
For a complete answer to your questions, I would refer you to President Caspar's statement, available on the web at http://www-portfolio.stanford.edu:8050/documents/president/951004affaction.html. If you are unable to access this, I can give you the Undergraduate Admission Office short answer:
4. There is much criteria that it takes to get into a top-notch college. Could you put the following criteria in order from most important to least important?
SAT/other standardized test scores
grades/GPA
difficulty level of classes taken
participation in sports
leadership positions/ extracurricular activities
The primary factor for admission to Stanford is academic excellence. This is demonstrated by those who have consistently taken the most challenging courses available to them in a broad, liberal arts program, and who have displayed a high degree of intellectual vitality and achievement. In addition, we look for students who have made significant contributions to the life of their school or community. We are not partial to one activity over another (i.e. sports, music, student gov't, etc.) We are most interested in those students who have committed themselves to their chosen activities over a period of time and who have shown energy and enthusiasm in working with others.
Carolyn Ratcliff
Undergraduate Admission