Stanford coming soon!

[socscholar]

I have a deep-seated desire to go to Stanford, but I'm trying to be as rational as possible throughout this decision-making process. I'm definitely going to try to feel out "fit" between Stanford and a few other options. But man...its hard not to lose your head amidst sunshine(!), computers and relocation funds..

What about you @sciencegirl?

[sciencegirl]

Another school is actually making a really strong push for me too and I'm balancing out a few things - but definitely leaning towards Stanford, probably 70-80% lean. I'm really trying to not let the rankings thing affect me either.. I've been reading the other thread about rankings and top-ten schools that has been flaming all up this past week and it got me really thinking. I actually feel awkward trying to weigh in on that forum as I think some people have said some a few things that I"m uncomfortable with. Maybe I'll weigh in later when I have my thoughts more gathered. (One question I was wondering if someone would pass on a top-5 program for say a top-30 program), if all else was equal, fit/advisor etc. It's also hard to get good advice in some ways since I feel weird saying, "I have a problem - I got into this amazing school with amazing funding, but I don't know where to go!" Its sounds so diva for some people, and I am wary of inciting people's feelings in this tender part of the application process on this forum).

When you say "deep-seated" what do you mean by that? I actually don't have something like that, but rather, all signs - advisor/fit/funding/program, so far are pointing me in that direction, but I'm not drawn to it emotionally...

[TheBoxInspector]

The funding was definitely impressive; I imagine that living in Palo Alto will not be cheap, though, so in terms of relative income it might be similar to other programs. Are you all planning to attend the visit in March?

[jenjenjen]

The funding was definitely impressive; I imagine that living in Palo Alto will not be cheap, though, so in terms of relative income it might be similar to other programs. Are you all planning to attend the visit in March?

That's definitely what I was thinking too. Great money, super excited, but trying to keep it in perspective if I'm comparing other offers. The "funds for miscellaneous expenses" part did prompt a happy laugh from me though. I'll be at the visit, just got approved to take the time off work and immediately bought a plane ticket!

[sciencegirl]

I spoke to a few friends who have gone to Stanford for both undergrad and grad, and they shared with me that the cost of living there is overblown. Palo Alto is a weird mix of both really high income and very low income (East palo alto)... the campus, due to its large student population seems to equalize both sides a bit. Everyone I spoke to who has gone there about the "high cost of living" says it way overblown. No where is it/could it be as expensive as say Manhattan. It's basically an upper-middle class suburb, but the cost of a lot of items of concern for students - housing, food, are fairly standardized in any location for a student if you take advantage of the housing options from the school. I was surprised that they offered places where you could have your own room for $650-900 a month.

Edited February 16, 2012 by sciencegirl

[jenjenjen]

ooh that is great to hear sciencelady! All my info about the expense of living at Stanford came from (admittedly flawed) online calculation and friends who did their undergrad at Berkeley or UCLA, who would probably not actually be a reliable source of knowledge. So I pretty much was imagining it would be like paying rent in, maybe not Manhattan, but a kinda shitty apartment in Brooklyn haha. But $650-900 a month actually isn't much more than I'd pay to get a room in a house in Seattle. Go stanford!

[jenjenjen]

This might be a better estimate http://www.gsb.stanf...du/finaid/cost/. We can basically ignore everything except living expenses, and I'm sure that estimate is not for an especially frugal student.

Edit: aaaand it's basically equivalent living expenses to Berkeley http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/graduates/cost.htm

Edited February 16, 2012 by jenjenjen

[sciencegirl]

@jenjenjen.. here is the chart of the housing rates for this year, and I heard something that they try to give you a spot in a place under $1000.. occasionally for some unlucky folk they can't get their top choices, but it seems that a lot of the graduate students are ok:

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/rde/shs/pdfs/grad_rates_11.pdf

At the moment, Stanford's offer is a good $500-1000 more per month than other ones I'm looking at, so I can't figure out what would be $500-1000 more living in Palo Alto vs. other areas.

[panasic]

@sciencegirl: Sales and other taxes in Cali are a lot higher than in most areas. Also, living in Palo Alto will require you to own a car (whereas living in Berkeley will not)... and a bike if you're trying to save money on non-rainy days. Gas prices in Cali are ~3.80$ per gallon right now and will surely increase by summer. They have been at 4$ most of the year.

My SO did not get grad housing at Stanford and now pays ~1000$ for a room in a house with a huge utility bill, because most housing isn't built for cold weather... He has to drive to the grocery store... and to campus on rainy days.

Anyway, all I am trying to say is that it does add up. But I still think Stanford is offering a competitive package to recruit top picks.

Also, having said all that... when I was moving to the Bay Area, everyone warned me about how expensive it is, but I am living a lot more cheaply than I ever did on the East Coast.

Edited February 16, 2012 by panasic

[sciencegirl]

Hmmm... @panasic did your SO follow the grad housing lottery? The impression I got was that they really try to get you onto on campus housing - in fact, they do guarantee housing if you are willing to live in any of their dorms (this policy though might have been only started 2 years ago when they built the new grad dorms, so I don't know when your SO started), most are in the below $1000 range with some of the nicer places mostly designed for law school students in the $1300 range. I've been to Palo Alto a few times, have friends who went to Stanford, and from their feedback, I don't think Palo Alto is going to be twice as expensive as living in Berkeley. (Taxes are going to be the same for the two cities... and the 8% sales tax isn't the highest in the nation either).

And yes, there is the car thing if you want to get off campus. Maybe I've been totally burned out by the grind of the big city, but the idea of staying in on campus grad housing, walking/biking around, and taking advantage of the classes, libraries, lectures, student activities, on campus gym, seems incredibly appealing - and not get distracted by a big city. Its been awhile since my undergraduate days when I did this, and I can really see myself being super academically productive if I'm put back in this environment. Different strokes for different folks.

And yes, Stanford is offering an insane funding package.. think not just stipend, but extra money for books/moving expenses, conference travel, and a computer. They seem to be totally aware that people think they are expensive, and are willing to offer what I think is one of the best funding packages from any school.