Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA)

Although Stanford is sometimes called the “Harvard of the West”, the folks in northern California probably consider Harvard the “Stanford of the East.” Comparably selective to the U.S.A.’s oldest and best-known university (Harvard), Stanford received a record number of applications this year and admitted only about seven percent. The campus is a visual delight—there is nothing about it second rate and it is impeccable and designed with mission-style buildings and lush, colorful landscaping. Surrounded by one of the most up-scale communities in America (Palo Alto), one could easily argue that it is the most impressive American campus in terms of beauty and design. If not the very best, it is certainly right up there. About twenty or thirty minutes south of the San Francisco airport, it is not hard to reach, and the students can use the entire Bay Area for internships and recreation. In addition to being very close to San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, it is a fairly easy drive east to the Sierra Mountain Range. Academics at Stanford are legendary, and the college also boasts highly competitive athletic teams for men and women, often vying for national championships. If you are looking for the best of everything, at least on the West Coast, Stanford deserves a look; from an admission perspective, however, be ready for the epitome of competition. Stanford is very expensive to attend, but the university provides great need-based financial aid to the distinguished scholars and achievers they decide to admit—they are one of the wealthiest schools in America. Known as “The Farm”, (it was once a huge farm), it is a showplace of large, stately palm trees and striking Spanish architecture; I wanted to photograph everything I saw there; the weather, by the way, is generally in the 60’s and 70’s and sunny, almost all of the year. More importantly, it is a bastion of intellectual freedom and top-level scholarship, recognized world-wide for its elite educational status.