What do students love about Stanford?

Students love Stanford for its stunning campus and weather, vibrant interdisciplinary culture allowing exploration across top-tier schools (STEM, Business, Law), unparalleled access to innovative research and guest speakers, a diverse and collaborative community of driven peers, abundant extracurriculars (sports, arts, Greek life), and strong sense of belonging, all supported by generous financial aid and guaranteed housing.

What do students say about Stanford?

Overall, students find that the collaborative environment and stunning surroundings contribute to a unique and. An incredible place to learn and live! While there's not much going on in downtown Palo Alto, there are always things to do on campus. 99% of my experiences with professors and classes were wonderful.

What is so special about Stanford University?

With world-class scholars and seven schools located together on a single campus, Stanford offers academic excellence across the broadest array of disciplines. It also is an engine of innovation, blending theory and practice to move ideas and discoveries from labs and classrooms out into the world.

What kind of student does Stanford like?

Stanford University values students who not only excel academically but also showcase a genuine passion for their extracurricular pursuits. The admissions committee believes that a well-rounded education extends beyond the classroom, encompassing personal growth, leadership skills, and community engagement.

Why did Elon Musk drop out of Stanford?

Elon Musk dropped out of Stanford's PhD program in applied physics after just two days in 1995 to pursue the burgeoning internet boom, believing it offered a greater opportunity to impact the world than his research; he wanted to launch his first company, Zip2, with his brother. He chose entrepreneurship over academia to capitalize on the internet's potential. 

Stanford Students Tell Us What It's Like to Be Stanford Students

What billionaires went to Stanford?

Stanford University boasts numerous billionaire alumni, notably tech giants like Google's Larry Page & Sergey Brin, Netflix founder Reed Hastings, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, and Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, alongside figures in finance like Charles Schwab, sportswear (Nike's Phil Knight), and entertainment, making it a powerhouse for wealth generation, often ranking second globally for billionaire graduates after Harvard.
 

What is Elon Musk's 1 hour rule?

Elon Musk doesn't have a specific "1 Hour Rule," but he's associated with the "5-Hour Rule", which involves dedicating an hour daily to reading and learning, a habit shared with figures like Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey, focusing on self-improvement through focused learning, though he also uses a granular 5-minute time-blocking method for his own intense schedule, and emphasizes eliminating large, unproductive meetings. 

What's harder, Stanford or Harvard?

Which is easier to get into? Stanford and Harvard have extremely competitive admissions processes, as you are probably aware. Based on these acceptance rates for Harvard and Stanford's Class of 2025, Harvard may be considered easier — by a margin.

What is the rule of 75 in Stanford?

The Stanford Rule of 75 is a guideline for employees hired after January 1, 1992, to qualify for retiree benefits, requiring their age plus years of benefits-eligible service to total 75 or more, along with completing at least 10 years of service. An alternative path exists for employees hired before that date, needing 10 years of service and age 55 at retirement, or meeting the standard Rule of 75. 

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

What is the average salary of a Stanford graduate?

Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $102,887. Stanford University is a private institution that was founded in 1885. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Stanford University is ranked No. #4 in National Universities.

What is the #1 school in the world?

There's no single "top 1 school" as rankings vary by methodology, but for 2026, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) often leads in QS World University Rankings 2026, while the University of Oxford is ranked first in Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, with MIT close behind}. Other universities consistently in the top tier across different rankings include Harvard University (USA), Stanford University (USA), and the University of Cambridge (UK). 

What's a fun fact about Stanford University?

Students and alumni have won 302 Olympic medals (including 153 gold). The university is associated with 94 billionaires, 58 Nobel laureates, 33 MacArthur Fellows, 29 Turing Award winners, as well as 7 Wolf Foundation Prize recipients, 2 Supreme Court justices of the United States, and 4 Pulitzer Prize winners.

Is Oxford better than Stanford?

Both Stanford and Oxford are giants in academia and offer immense value to students and professionals. The choice between the two often boils down to individual preferences, field of study or specialization, and the academic and cultural experience one seeks.

What is the prettiest campus in the US?

The 7 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the United States

• University of Virginia. Aaron Josephson, Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons. ...
• Stanford University. LPS.1, CC0/Wikimedia Commons. ...
• Princeton University. ...
• University of Washington. ...
• Colgate University. ...
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ...
• Dartmouth College.

Which is World No. 1 University?

There isn't one single "number 1" university as rankings vary, but the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is frequently ranked #1 globally by major organizations like QS World University Rankings (2026) for its excellence in science, technology, and innovation, while the University of Oxford often leads others like Times Higher Education (THE) in recent years. Other consistently top-ranked institutions include Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, and Harvard University.
 

What is the average salary for a Professor at Stanford?

How much does a Professor make at Stanford University in the United States? Average Stanford University Professor yearly pay in the United States is approximately $289,995, which is 192% above the national average. Salary estimated from 19 past and present job postings on Indeed.

What is the lowest GPA Stanford will accept?

We do not have a minimum GPA requirement, nor is there a specific number of AP or honors courses you must have on your transcript. However, the strongest applicants to Stanford will present outstanding results in a rigorous program of study.

Is $700000 in super enough to retire?

Yes, $700,000 in super can be enough to retire, but it depends heavily on your desired lifestyle, other income (like the Age Pension), investment returns, and spending habits, potentially supporting a modest retirement for decades or a lavish one for much less time. For a modest lifestyle in Australia, it might last over 30 years, while high spending could deplete it in 10-15 years. A key is to balance annual withdrawals (e.g., around $28k-$42k initially) with investment growth and government support. 

Is MIT or Stanford better?

Neither MIT nor Stanford is definitively "better"; they are both world-leading institutions, but excel in different areas, with MIT often leading in core sciences/engineering (like #1 global QS ranking) and Stanford strong in computer science, entrepreneurship, and a more Silicon Valley-centric culture, so the best choice depends on your specific academic and career goals. MIT is known for deep, rigorous technical focus (engineering, AI, robotics), while Stanford offers a blend with strong liberal arts and startup focus, making the choice about fit: "hackers and builders" (MIT) vs. "dreamers and disruptors" (Stanford).
 

Which ivy is easiest to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are highly selective, Cornell University is generally considered the "easiest" to get into due to having the highest acceptance rate (around 8-9%), partly because it's the largest Ivy with diverse colleges, like the less competitive Agriculture and Life Sciences, though its engineering programs are tough. Dartmouth College and Brown University often follow as the next most accessible Ivies, while Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia are typically the most difficult, with lower acceptance rates. 

Who is Harvard's biggest rival?

The Harvard and Yale football rivalry, known as "The Game," is the second-oldest continuing rivalry in college football. The Crimson and Bulldogs are the two winningest teams in the FCS, have 26 national championships, two Heisman winners and 34 Ivy League crowns.

What is the Jeff Bezos one hour rule?

Jeff Bezos's 1-Hour Rule is a morning routine prioritizing a slow, screen-free start to the day, often called "puttering," involving activities like reading, coffee, and family time to boost focus, energy, and decision-making, rather than reactive tasks like checking emails. This practice helps manage the brain's cortisol response and aligns with neuroscience that suggests calm, intentional mornings improve overall mental clarity and productivity. 

What is Elon Musk diagnosed with?

Elon Musk revealed in 2021 that he has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), during his hosting of Saturday Night Live, noting it explained his unique communication and intensity but also his focus and drive. He publicly disclosed this diagnosis in his monologue, stating, "I'm actually making history tonight as the first person with Asperger's to host SNL—or at least the first to admit it". While Asperger's is now folded into the broader ASD diagnosis, many individuals still use the term, and Musk connects it to his literal thinking, social cue challenges, and ability to focus intensely on work.
 

What is the billionaire 5-minute rule?

The Five-Minute Rule is Musk's ultra-detailed time management system where every single five-minute interval is accounted for. While most people schedule by the hour or half-hour, Musk takes a more granular approach—breaking down his workday into 5-minute slots.