🍦 Today's Scoops: What is a school's "vibe"

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. School of the Day: Stanford University

2. Admissions Blueprint: Understanding a school’s vibe for your essays – what is the UC’s vibe?

3. Essay of the Week: Stanford Roommate Example

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
Stanford University

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Palo Alto, CA
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 7,841
📊 Acceptance Rate: 3.7%
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1540/35
💸 Cost: $62,484
📅 Admission Options: October 15 (REA with Optional Arts Portfolio), November 1 (REA), December 5 (RD with Optional Arts Portfolio), January 5 (RD)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Computer Science (#1), Undergraduate Engineering (#2), Economics (#1), Psychology (#1) (US News)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Computer Science (18%), Social Sciences (17%), Engineering (16%) (US News)

Pros:

✨ Stanford’s d.school – Design Thinking
Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, known as the d.school, is an interdisciplinary hub where students tackle complex challenges through design thinking. Whether you’re studying computer science, medicine, or anthropology, the d.school offers courses to help you creatively solve real-world problems. Learn more about the d.school here.

💡 Research Beyond STEM: The Human Experience Lab
While Stanford is known for tech and engineering, it also boasts impressive humanities programs. The Human Experience Lab focuses on advancing the understanding of human culture and society through experimental and interdisciplinary research. Explore the Human Experience Lab.

🌍 International Service Learning through Stanford Global Studies
If you’re passionate about making an impact on a global scale, Stanford Global Studies offers various international service learning opportunities. From studying abroad to participating in fellowships in countries across the world, you can apply your skills in diverse settings. Check out their opportunities.

🤖 Stanford AI Lab – Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence
Stanford is a powerhouse for AI research, and the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL) is where much of the innovation happens. Students and faculty are working on groundbreaking projects in areas like machine learning, robotics, and natural language processing. Discover more about SAIL.

🎤 Acapella and Performing Arts Scene
Stanford has a thriving arts community, with groups like the Harmonics and Mixed Company leading the way in a cappella performances. Beyond just singing, there are opportunities in theater, dance, and even tech-driven art installations. Learn more about arts at Stanford.

📚 Interdisciplinary Honors Programs
Stanford offers several interdisciplinary honors programs like the Structured Liberal Education (SLE) and the Stanford Law School’s honors co-terminal program. These programs let you pursue deeply focused research while combining disciplines in innovative ways. Find out more about SLE.

Cons:

💸 Cost and Financial Aid Complexity
Stanford’s financial aid system is generous for families with lower incomes, but navigating it can still be complex. Even though many students receive aid, the cost of living in the Bay Area can add financial strain. Read more about financial aid at Stanford.

📈 Intense Startup Culture
While the entrepreneurial spirit is one of Stanford’s most exciting features, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Many students feel pressure to start companies or work in Silicon Valley, which can take focus away from other pursuits like the arts or humanities.

💼 Competitive Campus Atmosphere
Stanford’s student body is incredibly talented, which creates a competitive atmosphere. It can be hard to stand out in a crowd of future CEOs, researchers, and innovators. This competitiveness can be invigorating for some, but it may feel stressful to others. Learn more about student life at Stanford.

ADMISSIONS BLUEPRINT
Understanding a school’s ‘vibe’ for your essays

When you hear the term school vibe, what comes to mind? Maybe a school’s academic reputation; or its location. But, when applying to school’s its as important to understand the intangible school vibe—the “feeling” you get from a school’s culture, community, and values. Think of it as the atmosphere that defines what it’s like to be part of that college’s ecosystem.

When applying to colleges, you want to show the admissions readers that you fit into this vibe. But first, how do you even decode a school’s vibe, especially if you’ve never set foot on campus? Let’s dive into a few ways you can get a clear sense of what makes a school tick.

🌐 Explore the School’s Website Like a Detective

One of the most accessible ways to tap into a school’s vibe is by diving into its website. But, you can’t just go around clicking links expecting to find something about the vibe of the school.

To really find the vibe of the school through the website, you have to read carefully. You have to observe the tone and emphasis that they place in their writing, because that can often tell you what the school values. Here’s an example of two sentences with similar meanings but different vibes:

1. Casual and community-focused vibe:

   “At our school, you’ll find a supportive community where everyone works together to succeed.”

2. Competitive and ambitious vibe:

   “Our students thrive in a fast-paced environment, constantly pushing themselves to reach the next level.”

Both sentences convey success and collaboration, but the first emphasizes a nurturing, teamwork-oriented culture, while the second focuses on ambition and high performance. Each reflects a different school vibe, even though the core idea is similar.

🎤 Attend Info Sessions and Virtual Tours

Many colleges offer info sessions, both in-person and virtual, where you can hear directly from admissions officers, current students, and even professors. Pay close attention not just to what they say but how they say it. Similar to websites, info sessions provide invaluable insights into the school’s tone and energy—oftentimes in a more natural way to process.

For example, if the students in an info session talk about balancing social life and academics, that can signal a balanced lifestyle. On the flip side, if they’re raving about intense academic rigor and competitive atmospheres, that’s something to take note of too.

✍️ Reflecting the Vibe in Your Essays

Once you have a clear sense of a school’s vibe, the real magic happens when you use that knowledge to tailor your essays and supplementals. Admissions officers are looking for students who will thrive at their school, and showing you understand their vibe proves that you’ve done your homework.

Here’s how you can use what you’ve learned: if a school emphasizes collaborative learning and you’ve always been a team player, weave that into your essay. Mention projects or group experiences that showcase your compatibility with their culture. If the school values entrepreneurship, discuss a time you took initiative in a way that aligns with their spirit of innovation.

🎓 Example: The UC System—Numbers Matter

Let’s take the University of California (UC) system as an example. Unlike smaller, private liberal arts schools that might prioritize personal stories or artistic expression, the UC system is known for being more numbers-driven and focused on quantifiable achievements. Admissions officers at UCs are often looking for concrete evidence of your accomplishments, leadership, and impact.

If you’re applying to a UC school, it’s important to reflect their practical and data-focused vibe in your essays. This means showcasing your accomplishments in a way that emphasizes measurable results.

For instance, instead of saying something flowery like, “I volunteered at a food bank, where I put smiles on the faces of one family after another,” say something like, “I organized a food drive that collected over 1,000 pounds of food, helping feed 500 families in my community.” By providing specific numbers, you’re aligning with the UC Admissions Office’s focus on tangible impact and demonstrating how you can contribute meaningfully to their community.

While you don’t need to strip away all personality from your essays, it’s crucial to recognize that UCs appreciate facts, results, and data. This reflects their academic rigor and large student body that requires a more straightforward, measurable approach. So, make sure to provide as many facts and figures as you can—this could be about your grades, leadership roles, projects, or community impact.

ESSAY OF THE WEEK
Stanford Roommate Essay

Prompt: Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better. (100-250 words)

Our Thoughts

This essay does a fantastic job of showcasing the student’s authentic self outside of academics and extracurriculars. By focusing on her one-second-a-day video, she conveys her personality through quick, memorable moments, using humor and action to keep the reader engaged. The bulleted format adds variety without overwhelming, and fun details like her “terrible singing” or “army of coupon moms” make the essay light and entertaining. Even her sign-off adds personality, hinting at her enthusiasm for new experiences at Stanford.

However, a few sentences could be more engaging. For instance, the line about every day being an adventure could be strengthened by a playful example, like recording her roommate trying an odd food combination in the dining hall. These tweaks would enhance the essay’s fun tone while still showcasing her unique personality.

LINK LOUNGE REFRESH
Yesterday’s Resources & Scholarships

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

Coca-Cola Scholars - $20,000 college scholarship for high school seniors (7 days left to apply)

Robertson Scholars Program - Full-ride scholarship to Duke or UNC, if you get into either school

(NEW) Elk’s Most Valuable Student Scholarship - $4,000 to $30,000 scholarship for 500 winners

(NEW) Reach Best - AI tool for researching colleges, made by students at top universities

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Important testing dates are coming up!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

September ACT: Saturday, September 14
University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline: October 15
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

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