Stanford...

Well I'm sure there are others that can tell you more-I know there's a few "posters" who went there or son's go/went there.

For the basics: beautiful campus, amazing facilites (baseball stadium one of the best I've seen), physically largest campus in the country, fairly small student body (about 4000).

Highest standards for admission, tough academics, extremely selective of athletes recruited, play in very competitive Pac-10.

Bottom line for me- I hate the place (I went to arch baseball rival USC)

One of the top academic schools and the TOP baseball program in the country.

I would guess that 30-40% is a good scholarship at Stanford.

Plays in the PAC 10..second only to the SEC in baseball conferences nationwide.

PAC 10 second to SEC? Only when a BCS computer is involved.

lol

The Stanford undergraduate population is actually about 6400 (1600 per class). The total student population I believe is about 15,000 (but I'm not sure about that).

It has become one of the most competitive schools to get admitted to in the country. Its primary academic strengths are...just about everything, but particularly strong in engineering and communications. Prides itself on attracting some of the best and the brightest in the country while maintaining top notch athletics and at least a superficially laid-back atmosphere. (Students study extremely hard but don't make a big deal about it; party hard too, from what I hear). Classes tend to be a bit on the large side. It is hard to beat the beauty of the campus and the weather, which is mild without being boring or smoggy.

Takes a fair amount of unwarranted abuse from USC graduates

Cal, Cal, Cal- it's not abuse and it's certainly warranted

Quite seriously, I think I'd be very hard pressed to pick SC over Stanford if those were my admission choices. Stanford strikes me as a very special place.

I would add that as much as we've been told, observed and presumed about Stanford, a football player from my son's high school just committed with about an 1100 SAT and just over a 3.1 gpa. I guess there are standards and then there is football (even at Stanford)

Do any of you Stanford observors know what became of Billy Pagnatti? I read a lot about him a few years ago in BA, then he went to Stanford and vanished. Has he transferred to another program...he appeared to be a very promising athlete/player.

Baseball America reported he transferred to Nevada, had an injury and recently had shoulder surgery so will be out this season also. Very tough. I think he was injured most of his time his freshman year also.

Hey Batter, all in good fun. I don't take the attacks personal or nothin'.

NJ, I'm obviously biased, but as we've discussed I believe it to be the best combination of academics and baseball program in the country. Its also a beautiful campus.

You've got an awfully good school, both academically and baseball-wise close to you as well in Princeton - Beenthere will confess to that. So will my boss.

nj...You are getting good advice.

My son had Stanford as an option and he chose Princeton and Coach Scott Bradley. Class of 2008.

Cal you know I'm only joking. How could I say anything bad about the Cardinal (it's only the Cardinal and gold talking)

BTW- Cal, sent you a PM today.

Got it, thanks, will reply in detail tomorrow. Hectic today.