Harvard vs. Stanford for Quality of Life

[MelanieJohnson]

Unless I get a large scholarship elsewhere, it looks like this will be my decision (which I am very grateful to be making!)

It would be tough for me to turn down Harvard because my family/friends all live on the east coast, but I also want to have a good law school experience.  So does anyone have any thoughts on Harvard vs. Stanford in terms of quality of life?

[botbot]

The only help I can provide comes from "Brush with the Law".  (Written by one Stanford student and one Harvard student)

Stanford has better weather, a more attractive student body, and is generally more happy.

Harvard is Harvard.

HTH!

[saradsun]

dude, you forgot the orgies and drugs at stanford and the gambling at harvard!

pick your vice to pick your coast I guess.

[botbot]

dude, you forgot the orgies and drugs at stanford and the gambling at harvard!

pick your vice to pick your coast I guess.

I thought about it, but Stanford has quick access to some quality casinos as well.

And I was totally let down by the orgies in the book, so I refuse to mention them.

[dashrashi]

I feel sort of bad that no one has given you a straight answer, so I'll at least try. QoL isn't bad at HLS, if that's what you're implying. It's law school, but other than that, it is what you want it to be. However, if you've got the means, I'd visit both and see what sort of vibe you get off of each one. Everyone's different, so what's a huge component in A's qol (eg warm weather) might be insignificant to me, while another thing (eg being in a real city) might be v important to me, but not to A.

[245]

Students here at SLS are generally pretty easygoing and not so competitive.  To give you a rough idea, about 20% of the 1L class decided to take all their first-semester classes pass/fail, most of them in protest of Stanford's numeric grading system.  People here share notes all the time, study in groups, and pretty much everyone is willing to help others out with questions.

When I was deciding between schools, the main differences I considered were geographic location and class size.  I really wanted to stay in California, and I was very attracted to the smallness of SLS--our sections are 28 students each. I am extremely happy with my decision (probably in large part because it's currently 70 degrees and sunny in the middle of winter).  Like dashrashi said, your decision depends on what factors you consider important.

In terms of quality of life, I think it depends on what you make of it. Both schools are high-ranked enough that we attract gunners vying for the most prestigious clerkships, academia, etc.  If you are one of those people, you will work very hard regardless of which school you pick.  But if you just want to get a firm job and/or a decent mid-level clerkship, then you can set your own pace and your quality of life at either school will probably be pretty good.

[futurelawstudent2011]

Don't forget that while Stanford is not in a "real city," it is a fairly short Caltrain ride or drive away from San Francisco, which is easily my most favorite city.

Today is also sunny and in the 60's in downtown SF

[dashrashi]

Students here at SLS are generally pretty easygoing and not so competitive.  To give you a rough idea, about 20% of the 1L class decided to take all their first-semester classes pass/fail, most of them in protest of Stanford's numeric grading system.  People here share notes all the time, study in groups, and pretty much everyone is willing to help others out with questions.

When I was deciding between schools, the main differences I considered were geographic location and class size.  I really wanted to stay in California, and I was very attracted to the smallness of SLS--our sections are 28 students each. I am extremely happy with my decision (probably in large part because it's currently 70 degrees and sunny in the middle of winter).  Like dashrashi said, your decision depends on what factors you consider important.

In terms of quality of life, I think it depends on what you make of it. Both schools are high-ranked enough that we attract gunners vying for the most prestigious clerkships, academia, etc.  If you are one of those people, you will work very hard regardless of which school you pick.  But if you just want to get a firm job and/or a decent mid-level clerkship, then you can set your own pace and your quality of life at either school will probably be pretty good.

Hey, bud. You've been MIA for, like, ever! Glad to see you're doing well. It was so cold here today I thought my face was going to fall off.