DIRECTOR'S UPDATE

 

Earlier this month, just 20 transfer students were admitted from an applicant pool of approximately 1200.  Our historic record freshman yield of 72% (one of the strongest in the nation), combined with a 98% freshman to sophomore retention rate, necessitated that we reduce the number of transfer admits, making the selection process an extremely difficult one once again.  Dean Rick Shaw continues to maintain our commitment, however, to community and two year college students, awarding the majority of available spaces to students from these backgrounds.  We’re especially proud of enrolling students who can bring exceptional life experiences to the Farm and feedback on our most recent entering transfer classes suggests that students from community colleges add wonderful perspectives to our community.  We expect this year’s entering class will be no exception, as it includes a returning veteran from Iraq and a community college valedictorian who once held the #2 position on the Billboard rap singles chart.  

 

We send The Dish to guidance counselors, our alumni volunteers, community-based organization leaders, coaches and campus administrators as a way to give colleagues a quick snapshot of what’s happening in our office, on campus and around the San Francisco Bay Area, so if you would like to add anyone or unsubscribe, simply let me know.

 

Enjoy the summer!

 

 

Shawn

 

Shawn L. Abbott

Director of Admission

 

 

 

HAPPENING HERE

 

The 37^th Annual Stanford Powwow was held on May 9-11 in the Eucalyptus Grove on campus.  This event, which draws over 30,000 visitors to campus over the course of three days, is the largest powwow on the west coast and the largest student-run powwow in the world.  A committee of approximately 40 students oversees the program, which utilized hundreds of student and community volunteers throughout the weekend. The centerpiece of the weekend is the Powwow Dance Competition, featuring both men’s and women’s dancing in a variety of styles and all age groups, from Tiny Tots to Golden Age.  The 12^th Annual Fun Run, a 5K race, took place on Saturday.  Guests enjoyed over one hundred arts and crafts booths selling jewelry, art, pottery, and clothing items, as well as food booths with treats including Indian tacos and frybread.  The inter-tribal celebration welcomes contestants and guests from the surrounding community and all across the United States and Canada.   The Stanford Powwow is sponsored by the Stanford American Indian Organization.

 

 

GO CARDINAL

 

The results of RecycleMania show that Stanford University is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to waste reduction and campus recycling.  Last month, Stanford won the Gorilla Prize, an award for the highest gross tonnage of recyclables, in recycling a total of 1,231,012 pounds over the ten week competition.  Edging out Harvard, who took second place in the category, Stanford also placed fifth in the Targeted Material category for Paper.  In order to promote the competition, university officials sent weekly updates reporting Stanford’s progress in the competition.  Students volunteered time to educate individuals on waste reduction recycling techniques.  Overall, the campus is diverting 61% of waste away from the landfill. RecycleMania is a friendly competition among college and university recycling programs in the United States that provides the campus community with a fun, proactive activity in waste reduction.  This year, a total of 400 colleges and universities participated in both the Whole Campus and Partial Campus divisions of RecycleMania 2008.

 

 

NEWS FLASH

 

This year, the Office of Undergraduate Admission received approximately 1200 applications for transfer admission, and notified students last week regarding decisions.  Only 20 students were admitted in this incredibly selective process. Offers of admission were extended to applicants from City College of San Francisco, Deep Springs College, Essex County College, Foothill College, Houston Community College System, Itesm Mexico City, Kazakh British Technical University, Long Beach City College, Modesto Junior College, North Idaho College, Parkland College, Purdue University, Saddleback College, Treasure Valley Community College, University of Georgia, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, University of Oxford, Wellesley College, Yale University and Yerevan State University.

 

 

PUBLIC EYE

 

Stanford will welcome Oprah Winfrey to campus as the 2008 Commencement speaker, a rare appearance for the global media mogul.  Winfrey spoke last year to the graduates of Howard University, but prior to that, had not given a commencement speech since 1997, when she spoke to the graduates at Wellesley College.  Last year’s honor of addressing the Stanford graduates was given to Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, who encouraged students to understand the importance of art education, “to create complete human beings capable of leading successful and productive lives in a free society.”  While Winfrey will address all graduating students, Peter J. Gomes, bestselling author and Harvard University minister, will deliver the keynote at the Baccalaureate ceremony for undergraduates.

 

 

ON CAMPUS

 

This summer, the Office of Undergraduate Admission will be hosting a professional development opportunity for high school guidance counselors.  “Directing a Dynamic College Counseling Program,” which is sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), will run from July 13-16 on the Stanford campus.  Over the four days, counselors will learn from a faculty including seasoned guidance counselors as well as deans and directors of admission at colleges and universities from Lewis and Clark College, Boston University, Northwestern University, Emory University, University of Delaware and UCLA.  Participants will attend break-out sessions, learn and share best practices, as well as tour three local campuses—Stanford University, Santa Clara University and Mills College.

 

 

AROUND TOWN

 

The parks in San Francisco are about to get much more crowded at night.  Beginning May 17, the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation will begin its annual season of Film Night in the Park.  For 8 weeks, classic films will be projected on large screens for the public to enjoy.  Moviegoers are encouraged to bring picnics and enjoy an evening outside in some of the city’s wonderful park spaces.  The season kicks off on May 17 with the screening of The Wizard of Oz in Dolores Park, and will wrap up on October 14 with Vertigo.  For the complete schedule, visit the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation website.

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

 

$97.2 million—institutional need-based scholarship budget for 2008-2009

$20.7 million—increase in need-based scholarship budget from 2007-2008

75%—percentage of undergraduates on some form of financial aid

$0—family contribution for parents with income below $60,000

$0—tuition paid by parents with income below $100,000

$0—amount of loans students are expected to borrow

For complete details on Stanford’s financial aid policies, visit the Financial Aid website.

 

 

ALUMNI

 

Stanford is embarking on a 17-site, 3 year-long tour designed to highlight recent accomplishments and innovations that are being conducted throughout the University.  Leading Matters, presented by The Stanford Challenge and the Stanford Alumni Association, is designed for Stanford alumni, families, and friends.  Leading Matters draws attention to achievements that have come out of the Stanford community, and shows “how the university in changing and reinventing itself.”  The program is a full-day event which includes a talk from President Hennessy, panels of deans and faculty members, seminars and media presentations.  The program aims to lay out a vision of how Stanford will address some of today’s world issues as it moves into the 21^st century.