Stanford is absolutely one of my favorite places. I spent four years there while my father was getting his doctorate. The weather is absolutely phenomenal and the campus is gorgeous. Unlike some other schools, it is mostly flat and tons of students ride their bikes around all the time. The academics are first-rate and there isn't much more one can say about that. What is great about Stanford though is that it has managed to be a world class university and also field a plethora of competitive and championship sports teams. With the exception of Duke in basketball and a handful of other schools, Stanford is definitely in the minority of schools that are outstanding both scholastically and athletically.
In addition, Stanford is one of the most diverse campuses in the country. I remember reading statistics on how over 50% of the student body was a minority. This makes for a truly encompasses learning experience.
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