Likewise! Any insights about why you like/don't like Stanford. How's Palo Alto (besides being beautiful)? And, do get into SF often? I assume you're a current student?
Sorry for the late reply. I was actually out of town until now. I'll start with why I like Stanford. The obvious things are the research opportunities, faculty, advising, clinical faculty, etc. But I think a lot of the top schools can boast that.
When I come home from Stanford, and people ask me how medical school is, I can honestly answer, "Wonderful!". I've been told by our family friends who are doctors that they expected a different response. I think the happiness of Stanford students comes from qualities unique to Stanford. Stanford is very laid back and incredibly flexible. They want you to do what you want to do and enjoy your life, whether that is global health, research, or making comic books (with a medical slant, of course). My life is not solely medical school. I can explore my interests (rock climbing weekly on the main campus, salsa dancing, etc.).
But through all this, I'm not alone. I have two wonderful advisors - one who is in charge of my career goals and one who is in charge of my clinical/empathy training. Both stay with me through all of my time at Stanford. My academic/career advisor has already met with me three times, and organized shadowing opportunities for me (introducing me to the chiefs of whatever specialty I want to shadow). I see my clinical/empathy advisor on a weekly basis, and he guides a small group of four of us as we practice with standardized patients. He is not only there for my clinical/professional development, but he is also a confidant, someone who can help me if I encounter any problems. We also have a learning specialist, who is there to help you figure out how you learn, and you can get extra tutoring for free.
Also, we are adjacent to a main campus. We have so many mixers with the law school, business school, and the graduate schools. Since many of us live on campus (which is awesome), we readily mingle with people of completely different backgrounds (which is a breath of fresh air). My roommate, for instance, is an engineer.
I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be on the main campus. I go running throughout campus at night, and I feel completely safe. I go to the free movie screenings and concerts.
And, yes, I go to San Francisco. Actually, I've been to San Francisco quite a few times - you can either take Cal Train or drive there. Whether it's dim sum, shopping, nightlife, or just for the heck of it, SF is a GREAT place to visit. The best part is, I get the warmer/sunnier weather of Palo Alot, and then, I can visit the fun attractions of SF whenever I like. So for me, it's a win/win. I feel like I'm leaving some things out, so I may tack on more later.
So, what do I not like? I don't like our current facilties, but we are getting a FABULOUS new building that is state of the art, and it's opening in the spring. It has a gym, new simulation rooms, new patient rooms, and a sleep pod room. I don't like our library, but while we're not getting a new library, we have so many nice libraries on the main campus, it doesn't matter (and all the resources are being put up electronically). Palo Alto doesn't have that great of a nightlife scene, but that's why we have San Francisco.
🙂 Also, there are so many AWESOME places to eat in both Palo Alto and Mountain View. And if you don't want to eat there, there's always Menlo Park, San Jose, San Francisco, etc. The beach isn't too far away (you can go to SF, Monterey, Half Moon Bay, Carmel). You can go skiing on the weekend (Lake Tahoe, anyone? Our med school is taking a trip there). I think I've rambled long enough...lol. Sorry about that.
Rivalries are best left in the past, anywho.
Stanford is mysterious. Hope that you get good news soon!
