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Friday, September 16, 2011

There's a time to pack, and a time to leave. That time is now.

Wow.

In three days, I will pick up my luggage, hug my family members, and bid Knoxville farewell. I have not posted in a while since I have been visiting my grandparents in Europe, but I figured one final post before my move was necessary.

My packing process has not exactly been fun. I have had some incredible frustrating experiences; from getting yelled at by a Walmart cashier when I challenged them for not honoring prices, to my local bike shop not including the front wheel of my bike in the box they packaged my bike in for shipping. But alas, I am getting to the final stages of departure.


This is what I am calling the staging room. It's my older sister's room, but because she is at college, I have been using it to organize and pack. As you can see, I have a large suitcase, a small suitcase, and two trunks. I already sent a large duffel bag with items such as sweaters, a sleeping bag, towels and shoes to Stanford. I have friends who live right next to campus and my dad was in the Bay Area a month ago for business, so he dropped it off there. This has resulted in my not needing the second trunk, but because I'll be giving it to a friend once I arrive on campus, I am going to put my small suitcase inside of it. Plus, I do need the length to fit some longer items, such as tripods, posters and backpacks. In addition to these items, I have my camera backpack which houses both my DSLRs, my laptop, iPad, camera gear, and other electronics. I have packed two other backpacks in the trunks that I will use for classes and books. I am bringing a safe with me to college to store my expensive items, and they are still covered by my home insurance, so that adds some relief. I also have a guitar that I'm bringing. I did ship my bicycle via Fedex, so I won't have to buy one when I arrive.



As I mentioned, I am bringing my guitar with me. For protection, I have placed socks all around the the guitar case to provide extra padding. They're new socks, so I don't have to worry about odor! I think it's a good idea. Maybe it looks dumb. Either way, I am happy I am bringing my guitar to college.






My other prized possession is my tie collection. These are just some of my ties. I am not sure if I will bring them all, because I'll never need more than two, but hey, options are always good! I am bringing a full, three piece suit with me, as well as a black blazer, professional khakis, and about half a dozen dress shirts. I probably won't need so much during this first quarter, but perhaps I'll need it sooner than later. Who knows when I might land a job at a local VC firm? I guess I like to have more options than less.





I found that all of the local stores, including Target, had huge sales beginning in September as most students went to college. Of course, I haven't started yet so I took advantage of this. This memory foam mattress topper usually costs $50. I got it for $13 in store. I also got an extra XL Twin bed sheet set (same color as the bed set that I've gotten already) for $10. I would've bought more items, but I do have space issues. I would recommend waiting for as long as you can. If your university is on the quarter system, definitely take advantage of these sales like I did.




I hope this helps! I am really excited to move. The feeling is hard to put into words. Part of me is anxious, since I am diving into something completely new - a new chapter of my life. The other part of me is excited, the type of feeling you experience the night before Christmas when you are younger. I cannot begin to imagine what is in store for me, I am very grateful for this opportunity. I am going to miss the people who were a part of my life here in Knoxville, and I know I'll carry a piece of them with me as I continue forward in the form of memories and shared experiences. Thank you to everyone who has been instrumental in my life, especially those who have helped me reach my goals and dreams. You are all the best.

My next blog post will be from The Farm!

God bless,
Jason

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Buying a Computer for College

You can't go to college without a computer. In many senses, your computer is your lifeline. You complete homework projects on it, take notes, read emails, stay in contact with parents, and so much more. However, buying a computer can be a very confusing, and expensive process. I have worked with computers for eight years, fixing, building and buying them. I hope to use my experience to provide you with some advice in regards to buying a computer for college.

Mac versus PC

Many people would rather die over this issue than stop to even try the opposing laptop. Many Windows users will claim that you simply have to have a PC if you want to be able to use the software required at college. This is simply not true and is a plain lie. I am an engineering major , yet I didn't hesitate to buy a MacBook Pro. AutoDesk, the company responsible for many programs utilized by engineers, has made their programs Mac compatible ages ago. So have other companies. In fact, when I went to an engineering fair at Stanford, most of the students were programming and controlling their robots with Macs. Heck, I can even run Auto Desk on my iPad 2! Compatibility is not an issue anymore, so the real question is, which computer will fit your needs and how much can you afford?


Apple Computers

I will begin by running through the available Apple products. As nice my iPad is, I would not recommend it as a computer replacement solution. It was not meant to be one and will not function as one. That leaves us with the MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros, since you need a portable solution. 

The MacBook Air is a beautiful creation. Both sizes are thin, sleek and very light. The biggest drawback to them is their limited hard drive space and lack of an optical DVD/CD drive. Now you may not need a large hard drive, in which case, the solid state drive included is perfect. SSD's are incredibly fast and much more reliable than regular hard drives. Unfortunately, they are still very expensive and have not reached the sizes of regular hard drives. Think of a solid state drive as a collection of SD cards, or flash drives. Think of a hard drive as a spindle of DVD's on a platter. In essence, that's the difference. So can you manage without a CD drive? Well, you can always buy the add on CD drive and use it when needed. Lots of software are found online now, so you can simply download and install rather than using a disc to install. That does leave you with problems if you still buy your music on a CD or like to watch movies. But again, the additional drive is a viable option. The MacBook Air is very light and you'll love using it and carrying it around. It only goes up to a 13" inch monitor, so if you want a larger laptop, you'll have to go for the Pro series. If you are only going to be using your laptop for notes and the internet, and don't need much power, then the Air is perfect for you.

The Pro series starts at 13 inches, the same size as the largest Air. The difference is power, being able to add additional ram, the CD/DVD drive, more ports and the larger hard drive. There are other differences, but these are the major ones. I chose to go for a 15" Pro because I wanted the extra power. I do a lot of video and photo editing, so the Core i7 was very useful. I also wanted the larger screen and work area, as I have very large hands. For most people, the 13 inch Pro is perfect. It's also $600 cheaper than the 15" which is a significant amount. I would not recommend the 17 inch for college purposes.


Windows PCs

There are hundreds of Windows laptops so I won't be able to go through all of them. I would not recommend buying any brand other than Dell or Lenovo. Acer products tend not to last and HP just removed itself from the consumer market. One thing to remember when you're buying a laptop is that you get what you pay for. You buy a $600 laptop, and it's going to treat you a lot poorer than a $1500 laptop. Of course, if you can't afford to get anything better, then that's fine. But if you want your laptop to last all four years of college, I would recommend spending around $800 or more. Click on the computers to go to sites that have them for sale.



I would highly recommend the Dell XPS 15. This 15 inch laptop has some great specs and starts at $799. The base model is already quite impressive and I see no reason to add anything more onto it. You may be able to get it cheaper since you're a student, but Dell student discounts can get tricky. This laptop, nevertheless, is great. The Dell XPS series is wonderful and reliable. You will be running Windows 7 Home Edition.




The Lenovo that I would recommend is the Ideapad Z560. This laptop has very similar specifications to the Dell XPS 15, and is also $150 cheaper. It has Windows 7, 4 gigs of ram, 500 GB hard drive etc. Lenovos are pretty solid machines. This computer also has a card reader built in, which is very nice and useful. Of course, it also has a webcam for Skype! 






I hope this post helps you figure out what computer will suit your needs. With the rapid growth of technology, all laptops will be out of dates in four years time, no matter what brand they are. Comment if you have any questions, I'll be sure to get back to you.

~ Jason

Thursday, August 18, 2011

College Packing - How much is too much?






***Before I begin, I want to give a huge shout-out to my friends Rachel and Samantha, who were instrumental in making this post possible! These pictures are of their dorm, and the pictures of courtesy of Rachel.These were taken the day they moved in. Amazing huh? ***

Many students have already moved to college, and the remainder will leave this week. There is one group of students who will only be leaving in late September. These students belong to universities that run by the quarter system. Unlike the semester system, which is usually 15 weeks, the quarter system employs three, 10 week quarters. The fourth quarter is "summer school". Stanford is one the schools that employs this system. University of Chicago is another, and many of the UC's (University of California) do as well. There are many advantages to this system, but for the sake of this post, we will not go into them.

So now that all my friends have packed, moved and settled in, I am beginning to focus on my own move. Now, I am definitely not someone who typically worries about packing and completes the task ahead of time. I usually pack for my vacations (even those abroad) the day before. But packing for college is different. You are gathering the majority of your belongings, deciding between what is useful and what isn't (and bringing both anyway), and fitting them into a couple suitcases or boxes. However, whether you are traveling by car or airplane, space is a problem. So how much is too much?

The most important thing to remember is that we are moving into college freshmen dorms. The keywords in this sentence are "college" and "freshmen" and "dorms". And no, I'm not being cynical. This is part of the excitement though. We are moving into a room that we get to make our own for a year. Sure, the space will be small and not "ideal". But it will be fun, and it's part of the iconic college experience. The point of this rant is to remember your space limitations of your dorm. Your most useful spaces will be under your bed and in your closet, so we'll focus on storage options for those two spaces later.

Luggage, Boxes and Storage Containers


If you are traveling by car, you should use boxes and/or storage containers for moving your things. I recently moved my best friend into his dorm at the University of Tennessee. My friend had all his things in a duffel bag and small boxes. The guy who arrived in a car next to me had no such organizational techniques employed. All of his clothes were on hangers. Items such as fans, iPod docks and CD spindles were simply lying around. The mound that he built on the curb looked like a "free for all" pile at Goodwill. Don't be that person! It must have taken him and his dad several hours to move into his dorm. Do yourself a favor and buy some boxes or storage containers. 

Storage containers are great because you can use them in your dorm as well as for moving. They can be used to store food, shoes and miscellaneous items. The items I am including here (click on the pictures to view the products on Amazon) are great ideas. Clear tubs are great if you plan on using them for storage later on. Since they're clear, you can easily see what is inside. You may not want the items inside to be seen, so then a solid color tub should be bought. These tubs are very expensive on Amazon and other places online. I would highly recommend buying these items at Target or Walmart. They can be purchased for much less there.

Whether you are flying by plane, or driving by car, a duffel bag can be very useful as well. I am taking one along with two suitcases. Duffel bags fold away nicely, and are also useful for weekend trips away from college. I highly recommend getting a duffel, whether it's small or larger. You will use them while you're gone, and they're fabulous for packing. The duffel bag to the left is the one I would recommend. It's smallish, but can pack a lot. It folds away nicely, as well, which makes it very useful. Duffels are very easy to carry and transport as well. I have a large duffel bag, which features wheels, several compartments and more, and I'll be bringing it on the plane with, but for most, this is perfect. You really need at least one type of luggage with you, as backpacks do not count, and this is perfect. Click the product to see it on Amazon. Stores like Target and Walmart also sell nice duffel bags.

If you're arriving by plane, such as I am, you have a few problems. The biggest problem is the fact that airlines restrict the number of suitcases/pieces of luggage that you check in and carry on board. In fact, they want to charge you to check even one bag in nowadays! Fortunately, for me, I have Silver Card status with Delta and Sky Club, and my father has the highest status, Diamond. That means we can both check two bags, sometimes even three, for free. This gives me options, thankfully. Others will have to stick to checking in one or two bags. Either way, it is important that you buy quality luggage that will not break due to constant use. You will be using these rectangular pieces of nylon to transport your belongings, or at least some of them, every time you fly home. I recommend Swiss Gear. Swiss Gear luggage is more expensive, but in the end, you get what you paid for. They hold up very well, and they're designed well. When buying a large suitcase, there are two sizes that you will mostly find, 24" and 28". The problem with getting a 28" is that you will quickly hit the 50 pound weight limit before you even fill your suitcase. That's why I stuck to the 24". I get it nice and full and I hit 49 pounds. Perfect! Click on the image to see which suitcase I have. I love them! You can also get them at Target. Definitely buy black luggage, as grey or light colors get dirty and nasty quickly.


These are your moving options! I am taking the large suitcase I talked about above, a smaller suitcase, my duffel bag, a backpack with my many cameras and then a box with my bike in it. Most people won't be bringing their bike with them, so that's irrelevant. But I'll have two large pieces of luggage, and two small. This is a good amount. My dad will be with me to help, so that's another plus. You can ship some stuff right before you leave, but honestly, are you going to have space to fit any more items in your dorm? I am picking all of my dorm belongings (bedding, storage bins etc) up when I get there, so I am carrying just my personal belongings. You don't need all of your clothes. Plan on skiing while at college? Well, the ski season really only begins in December, and you'll be home for most of December, so bring your ski things back with you after you visit during winter vacation. Same with shoes. Bring a couple pairs with you, and then more as you visit home once in a while. Try to prioritize what you really need, and what you want. Also remember that you won't know the size of your room till you move in. So try to pack light and fit all your things into two large suitcases or boxes, and two smaller ones.

Hope this helps!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Hey! That's my bike!

Stanford is regarded as one of the most bike friendly campuses in the US. I am very thankful for this, and so are many students, because of Stanford's large size. However, bikes are used as the major form of transportation for students all over the country, so it's important to make sure you know everything you need to know about bikes before you get one and go to college. This blog post will go over the basic details about the three types of bikes that you could consider, as well as how I am personally preparing my own bike for constant use on campus. (Again, click on images to go to the product on Amazon.com).

The Street/Racing Bike

This bike is what professional street bike racers use, like on the Tour de France. What makes them unique is their light chassis, very thin tires, and aerodynamic design. As you can see, the handles curve down, allowing bikers to "hug" the bike, decreasing their wind resistance. The chassis is usually extremely thin and light, built for speed. The tires, again, are thin to decrease resistance against the road. They don't have any treads either. While these bikes are great for people who bike long distances regularly, or even competitively, they are not ideal for typical "campus" bikers. They will not withstand abuse, as their makers are not intending them to be thrown about, bumped, dropped etc. The tires are not intended for constant stop/start, as well as the rough terrain you may bike over when you choose to take a shortcut. They are also more susceptible to punctures, and they are quite difficult to change out unless you are used to fixing them. If you enjoy biking, and will be doing so for long distances, this bike is for you. Otherwise, stay away from buying these bikes!

The Beach Cruiser

The beach cruiser is a classic bicycle. Made with one gear, these bikes are simple, classic and plain fun to ride. The wide handle bars, large seat and curvy chassis are all characteristics of a beach cruiser. Typically, these bikes will have tire covers, those plastic pieces that stop mud and water from splashing the rider. They also have a bag platform on the rear tire. The tires are quite thick, with enough treads to stay in control on pavement. They're fun bikes to have and I would recommend them to any student who won't be riding their bike for much more than to class and back. You cannot ride these bikes on rough terrain, and they are not very efficient for going long distances, so if you plan on using your bike to go off campus, don't purchase this bike. Otherwise, beach cruisers are fairly inexpensive and easy to maintain.

The All Purpose/Mountain Bike

The term "mountain bike" can be misleading sometimes. A true mountain bike is very expensive, customized and tricked out. But for the most part, most "bikes" that aren't either road bikes or beach cruisers, are capable of handling themselves on rough terrain, thus the term mountain bike. For the purpose of this blog post, I will refer to the all purpose bike as a mountain bike. A mountain bike has thick-sih wheels with solid treads for gripping any terrain. Many mountain bikes have shocks built into them, however they don't have to have. Mine does not. They have a solid chassis construction, and can often be quite heavy. Many times, these bikes will include vertical handles, which aid in climbing steep hills. These bikes are the nicest to have for on campus, in my opinion. They always have multiple gears, which makes them very efficient. They can take a beating and still be usable. You can use them on campus, off campus, and on long rides. The are a little harder to maintain, but with good care, these bikes will last over ten years easily. I would highly suggest buying one of these bikes if you could be biking a lot and want to make a good investment into a bike.


Preparing Your Bike for College


Even if you already have a bike, it's a good idea to make sure it's ready for daily use at college. This is my bike, and as you can see, i'ts pretty basic. It's a great mountain bike though, and I use it a lot. I am doing various things and buying various parts to make sure its ready for college. I'll list the parts I've used and include pictures. Again, simply click the image to see the product on Amazon. If you buy the product, or any similar products, I do get a small referral fee. This will help pay for my books while at Stanford. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I will most definitely get  reply.


The seat is one of the most important parts of the bike. You will be sitting on this thing for many many miles, and there is nothing worse than a hard, sore seat! Make sure you have a padded, comfortable and durable seat. I recently got this Schwinn seat for my bike. My other seat was horrible. This new seat is very soft and comfortable. It's wide enough without being too wide. It is only $16 as well, not a bad deal. It was very easy to install as well. You can pay much more for a good seat, but this $16 seat is more than adequate.


A kickstand is something most mountain bikes do not have on originally, but they are very important nevertheless. You will be propping your bike up a lot, and a kick stand will be very useful. This kick stand is also made by Schwinn. It's only $7, and was easy to install. It has adjustable heights, and the spring action is very smooth. It's also small and nondescript, and when it's folded away, it's barely noticeable. It's definitely a good investment for a college bike.





A bottle cage is another item that most bikes should have. This bottle cage is slightly different to mine, because mine came with my bottle that is intended for heavy bike use. However, this cage is nice because it adjusts to most water bottle sizes. Even if you only plan on biking on campus, during the spring and summer, the weather will get hot in most parts of the country. Having a water bottle that is easy to grab will help you wonders. This cage is also only $6, not that bad!



Buying all these accessories is pointless if your bike gets stolen. I have been searching for a long time trying to find a good security solution. The problem with cables are that they're easily cut. The problem with D-locks is that they only encompass the front or rear tire and the metal post you're connecting to. I came across this product and bought it instantly. It is a very thick D-lock (they call it a U lock) that includes a very thick cable. The cable runs through the whole bike, such as the other tire and seat, and then back to the d-lock which is locked with a key. This provides two layers of protection. The more a thief has to deal with on a bike, the less likely he/she will target your bike. This accessory isn't cheap, but $35 is a lot better than having to replace your whole bike. If you're only going to buy one item that I suggest, buy this one. You will NOT regret it.


I hope this helps! Stanford students, get your bike ready! I am taking my bike with me, all the way from Tennessee. I'm boxing it up and putting it on the airplane. But even if you buy a bike once you arrive to campus, get these items anyway. Remember, you can use your student account on Amazon.com to get free two day shipping, so you don't have to worry about shipping at all.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Things I Hope My Roommate Brings to College

Mr. Coffee TF5 4-Cup Switch Coffeemaker, Black1. A Coffee Maker/Cappuccino Machine
I love a good cup of coffee. Even a mediocre cup suffices in most circumstances. But I am one of those people who would like a coffee machine, but doesn't drink enough coffee to warrant buying one. A coffee machine would be useful, and from what I have seen, are hot items to buy and take to college this year. It seems like a lot of Stanford students like coffee and are planning to bring a machine to college. Some have mentioned bringing a kettle and French Press (great idea!), and some have even mentioned a Cappuccino machine! Either way, if my roommate brings either of those choices, I will be very happy. PS - I'll buy the filters!



Room Essentials Futon - Black2. A Futon
I like futon's for a number of reasons. For one, it is one of my favorite words to say. Pronounce futon right now out loud. Say it slow, with a burst of air as you say "foo" and dramatically as you spit out "ton". See what I mean? The Japanese have done many amazing things for the world, but I think coming up with the word "futon" ranks near the top.

But in all seriousness, futons are incredible useful pieces of furniture. They're fashionable sofas that transform into a comfortable, bed-alternative. A futon in a dorm room (granted your dorm is large enough to accommodate one) would be extremely versatile. Friends could come hang out easily, or even sleep over. It adds some flavor to the room and gives you something else to sit on and do your homework. Roommate, will you buy us a futon?


RCA 46LA45RQ 46" 1080p Full HD LCD TV3. A Giant TV - Duh
This would be the best thing ever. Not only because we could watch cable television, but because we would instantly be the coolest room on the floor (unless of course someone brings an even bigger TV...). TV's are great though! I have a lot of movies I'm bringing with me, so a big screen would be very nice. Of course, this wish is not very realistic at all. But hey, dream big right?

(But seriously, roommate, gets us a big screen. I'll buy you lunch once a month if you do!)


Black Labrador Retriever Solar Garden Light Dog Lab4. A Solar Powered Dog Statue Lamp
I'm not even kidding. Click the image to see the product. This lamp is solar powered and is a dog statue. Since you can't have pets, I thought a dog statue might be a nice touch to the room. Remember Rowdy, the dog on scrubs? He was such a central part of JD and Turk's friendship! So will this dog. Plus he will illuminate the dorm room with his precious lantern. There is also a golden lab model if you prefer golden color dogs. I don't mind. But I really think this dog could prove to be a bonding mechanism for us as roommates! Plus, he could guard our room and make sure nothing is disturbed or stolen. Plus, I think chicks would dig him!


Nostalgia CFF-965 Mini Chocolate Fondue Fountain with 2-Tier Tower5. A Chocolate Fountain
I'm actually considering buying this one myself. I mean, who doesn't need a chocolate foundation in their room?! Everyone needs, and wants, them. Not only are they classic items at a party, but I feel as if they are fundamentally a part of American culture. Waking up every morning to see a chocolate fountain running in the corner of your room will do wonders to your morale and attitude! Chocolate fountains may be messy, but they're so sweet! (You can shoot me for that horrible pun). Whether you like dipping strawberries or fingers into chocolate, you should get one of these for you and your roommate to enjoy.


I hope you liked my list.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Stanford's Summer Reading

Most people dread summer reading. After all, who wants to start school early anyway?! But for many Stanford students, our summer reading rings a different note. For one, we only move during the third week of September. New Student Orientation (NSO) starts September 20th. I finished highschool in the middle of May, so I'll have a total of four months of vacation. Sounds fun, right? Well, actually it's pretty boring after a while! Summer reading means something productive to do. It also is a precursor to our real school work, which we are all very excited about.


The second reason that we are excited about our summer reading is because this reading program (The Three Books Program) is quite a bit different to most other summer reading programs. Every single freshman is reading the same three books. These books are NOT for a specific class. Instead, we will have a chance to converse with, and ask questions to, the authors of the three books. Pretty cool right? Not only do we do that, but we also will have time allocated to discus the significance and meaning of the books with the people in our dorms. Stanford students love engaging in intellectual conversation, so whether we liked the books or not, I think most students will be excited to share their experience and opinion with others.


So what are we reading?


MarchMarch is the story about the father from the book, Little Women. In Little Women, he is absent for a large portion of the story, as he is out fighting in the Civil War. This book is his story. It focuses on the lessons learned during a war such as the Civil War; the passion, dreams, and hopes that are either built or shattered. Readers gain an very accurate, and graphic, perspective of what happened during the War.





One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine OfficerOne Bullet Away is a very interesting tale of a Dartmouth graduate who chooses to become a Marine, instead of taking a consulting job like his peers. This is my personal favorite, because it is such a raw book. Reading his perspective is extremely interesting and scintillating. If you want to know how military service changes a person, builds character and develops values, then read this book.





The Violence of Peace: America's Wars in the Age of ObamaI have not begun this book yet, but I am excited to do so. According to Amazon.com, " author Carter (The Emperor of Ocean Park) examines Obama's words (particularly his invocation of the "just war tradition" during his Nobel Peace prize acceptance speech, the full text of which is included here) and actions in order to determine his position on "what he believes to be worth fighting for." Rather than vilifying Obama, who has continued the dubious war-mongering of his predecessor, Carter believes that neither Bush nor Obama had much choice, arguing that modern warfare, involving drone attacks and long-distance fighting, is an autopoietic process." 


This will probably be the most controversial of all the books. Did Obama have a choice about the war? This question will most likely come up in the dorm discussions. I am excited about this (even if I'm in the minority!) because the intellectual stimulation that will stem and grow from this first step will be very exciting and monumental in the building of Stanford's Class of 2015.

Maybe you'd like to buy these books and read them. Perhaps it'll give you an idea of what it's like to be a first year Stanford student. They aren't terribly hard reads, so go ahead! Click on the images and you'll be taken to the Amazon product.


Until next time!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Visiting Stanford - 5 Things That Surprised Me

So I returned on Sunday from my trip to Stanford. I was visiting as an admitted student, so the event was "Admit Weekend". The purpose of said event was to convince students to pick Stanford. I, however, had already committed even though I had no visited. I did this because of a gut feeling that Stanford was right - crazy I know! But it made the weekend incredibly enjoyable.

I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Stanford. My first impression was the obvious "wow". The realization that I was going to Stanford University hit me as my plane descended over San Francisco during a beautiful sunset. As the sun made the water glisten, I struggled to contain my excitement. The rest was just a blur.

But here are the top 5 things that surprised me about Stanford. All of them were positives, so don't get me wrong! But they surprised me, so I figured I would share them.


1. The Humble Social Atmosphere


If someone was to randomly drop you into Stanford's campus, you would probably expect that within the first conversation with a student, you would realize that you were at Stanford, a premiere university. You would expect the student to be obviously intelligent and well accomplished and very willing to share this information with you. However, the air of arrogance and eliteness is simply not present. Stanford students are more ready to ask you how you are, show you around the campus and boast about other students than they are to talk about themselves. Stanford students are extremely humble.

Take, for example, the movie Social Network. In this brilliant film, Harvard students are quick to identify themselves as "Harvard gentlemen" as they participate in and organize several elite social clubs. Now, I know this is a movie and mostly fictional, and I am not passing this behavior off as wrong or undesirable; it is simply a different atmosphere. In the same movie, Stanford is depicted as an easy going, relaxed college. I chuckled when I realized that this depiction does hold to some veracity.

Stanford's humble nature comes hand-in-hand with its relaxed environment that it is known for. Faculty claim that this is fact cannot be solely attributed to the weather, but also to the types of applicants that Stanford accepts. This is definitely true as Stanford students weren't the only ones that were humble - the admitted students (Pro Fros - prospective freshmen) were too. I had an incredible time with my future class mates. One evening I spent several hours with five other Pro Fros at Lagunita Court (one of the residences). We sat outside and talked from from 1:30 am to 2:30 am. Our conversations revolved around random subjects such as dead possum stories and wackiness of high school. I like that.


2. The Friendliness of Stanford Students


I have visited quite a few universities, including some very well known ones. Whenever I visited, I felt welcomed by faculty, the admissions team and any student helpers. But the other students never paid much attention to me. Now, this is understandable during tours etc. But at one university, which shall remain nameless (but it is a recognizable name), I spent two days at for their scholarship weekend/admitted students weekend. I had a great time, but the current students never paid much attention to us prospective freshmen.

At Stanford, everyone knew that it was admit weekend and everyone welcomed us with open arms. Students biking down roads would randomly yell out "PRO FROS!" at us as they whizzed past us. Necessary? No. Expected? No. Welcoming and awesome? Yes! Everyone was truly excited that we were there.

A couple times throughout the weekend, my friends and I got lost. We had no reservations in asking a random Stanford student where to go. Almost every time, the student actually dropped their plans and accompanied us to our destination. They wanted to know our intended majors or prospective interests, where we were from and then they simply shared their Stanford experience, both the pros and cons. They were honest, sincere and down to earth. I loved it.


3.  Stanford tiene muchas bicicletas. Talvez demasiado? Nah!


In case you didn't catch the simple translation, I said that Stanford has many bikes, perhaps too many! The included photo illustrates this example. There are over 9,000 bikes registered on campus. Now, Stanford has been rated the most bike friendly campus in America by multiple sources, so this isn't all surprising. Everyone bikes at Stanford, including professors. There is almost a need to do so, since the campus is quite massive. I like it though, it is refreshingly satisfying - the campus, I mean. You see something new each day that you didn't notice before. There is also a lot of options so that you'll never get bored of the campus. But back to bikes. Lot's of them and I'll definitely have one next year.


4. The Lack of Nerdiness 


Now, you probably read this title with a sense of suspicion. I mean, we ARE talking about Stanford here after all. However, that is the amazing thing about Stanford. Every person on campus is "normal". It is hard to quantify a "normal" person, but you get the gist of what I am trying to convey. These are people you'll not only study with, but play a sport with (Stanford students are extremely athletic), hang out with, hike with or do community service with. The students at Stanford are extremely impressive academically, but they have a life outside of tests and classes and that is what makes Stanford, well, Stanford. I think this is why so many innovations and businesses spring out from Stanford. Not only is Stanford a breeding ground for innovative entrepreneurship, but because students have dynamic and three-dimensional lives, students are always exploring other topics, leading them to discover amazing things. It is an amazing thing when you can hold a conversation about AP Calculus, the literary genius of Hemingway and the eminent threat of zombies with the same person. Very places in the world can you do this, Stanford is one of them. I observed no cliques or special social groups. While the band is open to anyone who wants to join, they still manage to be extremely impressive. And in case you were wondering, the band at Stanford is basically the biggest co-ed fraternity on campus. Everyone hangs out with the band!


5. The Lack of Elitism in Building Design


This is definitely a unique topic, and one that I won't spend much time on. Pictures of Stanford always amazed me, the campus is absolutely gorgeous. But compared to many of its peers, Stanford's building designs are relatively humble and modest. A lot of the generalizations I am about to make come from my opinion as well as the opinion of many of my friends, all of which turned down Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT etc to come to Stanford. All those campuses boast awesome architecture and magnificent internal design. They're flashy inside: some are very modern, some boast vintage and classic design. But the general motif is that they're built to impress, inside and outside.

While Stanford's buildings are built impressively, there is an air of modesty. The buildings all have the same, simple style, called the Mission Revival style. Arches are seen populated all over campus, as that unique, red stone is ubiquitous and classic. Inside, Stanford's buildings are furnished adequately and nicely, but never overdone or flashy in style.

Most of the dorms are very quaint and, dare I say, cute. Many resemble English cottages. They are all nestled behind a wall of trees and other greenery. Again, nothing elite, just simple and nice.

Those are the five things that surprised me about Stanford! I know it's a long post and I know you may disagree with some of what I said, but I do realize that I am biased! It's my blog, so I can be. :)

Peace! Jason

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Enrolling at My Dream School

I began applying to Stanford in early September. I applied mainly to get the idea out of my system. However, as I began working on my application, I realized I may have a faint, but present hope at getting accepted. My parents were surprised as I threw myself into writing four basic essays, laboring day and night every day until the application deadline, November 1.

Fast forward to Tuesday, April 19. I had to choose between Stanford and the University of Southern California. USC is a great school and I had been offered the Presidential scholarships (half tuition) plus a bunch of other scholarships. I had actually visited numerous times, and I loved the campus and the feel. My admissions counselor there was also very personal and remained a major proponent for me considering USC. Stanford, on the other hand, was my dream school with a myriad of opportunities. Not many students get the chance to study at Stanford and I felt like I would not have gotten in if God didn't mean for me to be there. After a couple days of deliberation, the decision became apparent. April 19th is a noteworthy day because it's the day I submitted my enrollment and became an official Stanford student.

This blog will highlight the experiences of the past, like what I "did" to get into Stanford, as well as the application process and what it was like for me as a home schooler applying to a top college. I'll also focus on the present. In three days, I fly to Stanford to attend Admit Weekend. There are no words to describe my excitement and apprehension! I have not visited Stanford yet, so I am looking forward to it. (Think I am crazy for enrolling at a school I haven't visited? I'll cover this in a later post).

Until then,
Peace