Top 10 Fun Facts about Stanford University

If you’re considering applying to Stanford University, you’ll be joining a community of over 7,800 undergraduates and nearly 10,000 graduate students, as of the Fall 2023 quarter. Located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford is globally renowned for its exceptional STEM programs, but it also offers a wide range of academic opportunities across its seven schools, including humanities, law, and business. Discovering fun facts about Stanford can give you even more insight into what makes this university such a unique and inspiring place to study.

With a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 2,304 faculty members, the university provides a close-knit learning environment. Among its distinguished alumni are Nobel Prize winners Carl Wieman, Paul Milgrom, and Roger Kornberg, who still teaches at the School of Medicine. In this blog, we’ll share interesting facts about Stanford, along with some Stanford traditions that might inspire you even more to attend this institution.

• 10 Fun Facts about Stanford
• Stanford Traditions You Should Participate In
• A Quick Overview of Stanford University
• Sustainability Efforts at Stanford
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

10 Fun Facts about Stanford

Aspiring to become a Stanfordian? Here are some interesting facts about Stanford that you should know:

1. What’s in a name?

Stanford University was founded in 1885 by industrialist and politician Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane Stanford. The university’s full name is Leland Stanford Junior University, named in memory of their son, who tragically passed away from typhoid fever at just fifteen years old.

2. Hoover Tower

The Hoover Tower is one of Stanford University’s most iconic landmarks. Donated by the Belgian-American Education Foundation, it’s a key part of the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace. 

This research center, affiliated with Stanford, focuses on public policy and was founded by Herbert Hoover, a Stanford alum and the 31st president of the United States. It’s one of the many fun facts about Stanford that highlights the university’s rich history and influential alumni.

3. The Stanford Tree

Stanford’s unofficial mascot is the Tree, a quirky choice made by the Stanford Band. Every year, a student is selected to don a custom-designed Tree costume and entertain the crowd at athletic events. The selection process is quite competitive, with only a few students getting the chance to play this unique role. It’s one of the fun facts about Stanford that adds to the university’s lively and distinctive spirit.

4. Own zip code

One of the fun facts about Stanford is that it has its own zip code: 94305. Why? Because its campus is massive—spanning 8,180 acres in San Francisco and making it one of the largest in the U.S.

In fact, the campus features 49 miles of roads, two separate water systems, three dams, two open water reservoirs for irrigation, three closed potable water reservoirs, and 88 miles of water mains.

5. Arizona Cactus Garden

Stanford features a beautiful Cactus Garden, a botanical oasis filled with cacti and succulents, created for founders Jane and Leland Stanford. Planted between 1880 and 1883, this garden still showcases some of the original plants, many of which have been restored and continue to thrive.

6. Stanford Red Barn

Another interesting fact about Stanford is that before it became the world-renowned university you know today, it was called “The Farm.” This name comes from its history as a prominent racehorse breeding farm. The Victorian Red Barn, built between 1878 and 1880 as a training stable for the Stock Farm, is one of the only two structures that have survived from that era.

After a tumultuous history, the Red Barn was renovated when Stanford University resumed management. It reopened as the Stanford Red Equestrian Center in 2006 and is open to the public, with admission prices set at $10 for adults and $5 for students and children under 11.

7. Stanford athletics

Did you know that Stanford students have won medals in every Olympic Games since 1908? This is just one of the fun facts about Stanford that showcases the incredible talent of its athletes.

In total, Stanford athletes have earned 244 Olympic medals, with 129 of them being gold. In fact, during the 2008 Beijing Games, they collected more Olympic medals than any other university in the United States.

8. Legally Blonde in Stanford

Did you know that the movie and musical “Legally Blonde” has ties to Stanford? This is one of the fun facts about Stanford that you might not have heard before. Amanda Brown, the author, based many of her ideas on her experiences at Stanford Law School. She drew inspiration from her own time as a fashionable and ambitious law student to create the iconic character of Elle Woods.

9. The hidden tunnels

Given Stanford’s rich history, it’s no surprise that remnants from the late 19th century still exist. One of these is the underground tunnel system, built in 1881. This subterranean network was originally designed to transport saturated steam to over 200 campus and medical center buildings.

Today, these tunnels are interconnected with all campuses and have become somewhat of a dare challenge among students—those who find the thrill worth the risk bravely explore the hidden tunnels down under.

10. Stanford’s car ban

To promote sustainability and help reduce traffic congestion on campus, Stanford has a car ban for undergraduates living on campus. This encourages you to embrace biking and public transportation instead! It’s a great way to explore the beautiful surroundings while also doing your part for the environment.

Stanford Traditions You Should Participate In

Now that you’ve discovered some fun facts about Stanford, it’s time to learn the traditions that make your stay at the university even more fun and worthwhile.

Full moon on the quad

This is one of Stanford’s long-standing traditions where students gather in the Main Quad under a full moon, and seniors symbolically pass the torch to freshmen with a kiss or a hug. This annual event happens during the fall quarter, starting at midnight under the moonlight. Back in the day, female freshmen would line up, and male seniors would give them a rose and a kiss. These days, it’s a lot less formal, with music and performances adding to the fun atmosphere.

Fountain hopping

Stanford is home to dozens of fountains scattered around campus, and “fountain hopping” is a beloved tradition here. This fun activity is especially popular with freshmen, who usually get their first taste of it during New Student Orientation and Admit Weekend. It’s a great way to dive into the Stanford experience—literally!

Band run

The annual Band Run is one of the most exciting Stanford traditions. The marching band goes all over campus, picking up freshmen and faculty members from residence halls like Stern, Wilbur, FloMo, Lagunita, Roble, and FroSoCo. At each stop, they put on a lively musical performance and dance routine before heading to the grand finale at Stanford’s Main Quad.

Annual gaieties musical comedy

The annual “Gaieties” musical comedy is a way for Stanford students to celebrate their school while poking fun at it, too. Held just before the Big Game against UC Berkeley, the show is packed with irreverent humor, original comedy, and plenty of singing and dancing.

A Quick Overview of Stanford University

Stanford University is an institution of discovery and creativity. Staying true to its mission of benefiting society through research and education, Stanford is committed to creating a sustainable future, driving breakthroughs about our world, and educating students as global citizens.

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the ancestral land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, Stanford first opened its doors to students in 1891. Spanning 8,180 acres, it boasts one of the largest university campuses in the US with 18 interdisciplinary research institutes and seven schools, including the Graduate School of Business, School of Engineering, and the School of Medicine.

Founded in 1885 by California Senator Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, the university was built in memory of their only child, who tragically passed away from typhoid. From the very beginning, Stanford was non-sectarian, co-educational, and focused on providing both traditional liberal arts education and the technology and engineering skills that shaped modern America.

Another fun fact about Stanford is that it was one of the first major universities in the US to admit women. More than a century later, Stanford currently ranks 4th in the Best National Universities Rankings and has produced 20 Nobel laureates, including: 

• Carol Gredier, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009.
• Paul Berg, who bagged the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1980 for his studies of the biochemistry of nucleic acids.

Stanford’s love for sports is clear, with 36 varsity and 33 club sports available, along with state-of-the-art recreational facilities and wellness programs. Students, faculty, and staff have access to everything from fitness classes to intramurals, aquatics, and adventure programs. The teams proudly go by the name “Stanford Cardinal.” Stanford University holds the record for the most NCAA team championships of any college in the United States. As of 2024, Stanford has won over 130 NCAA team championships.

Stanford also nurtures creativity and the arts, with a lively campus arts district and two world-class museums hosting regular exhibitions. Notable artists from Stanford include:

• Richard Diebenkorn, a visual artist who was a key figure in the Bay Area Figurative Movement and is widely known for his Ocean Park series of abstract paintings.
• Scott McCloud, a comic artist and theorist best known for his book “Understanding Comics,” which explores the theory and structure behind the art form.
• Meanwhile, some famous novelists from Stanford are Jennifer Egan and Rachel Kushner.

Stanford University has also been instrumental in shaping the origins of Silicon Valley. Take for example Hewlett-Packard, which was founded by Stanford alumni Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in a humble garage in Palo Alto, just a stone’s throw from campus. This iconic garage is often referred to as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley.”

The university’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and research has consistently inspired its graduates to start companies that drive technological advancements. Another fun fact about Stanford is that over the years, many successful companies including Google, Cisco, and Tesla, have roots that trace back to Stanford.

Sustainability Efforts at Stanford

When you think of Stanford, you probably picture cutting-edge technology or groundbreaking research. But did you know that Stanford is also a leader in sustainability? One of the coolest fun facts about Stanford is its commitment to creating a greener future.

The university aims to be 100% renewable by 2025, and it’s already making impressive progress. Since 2011, Stanford has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 68%. That’s pretty incredible for a campus that spans 8,180 acres and is home to over 16,000 students.

One of the most interesting fun facts about Stanford is that it was one of the first universities to establish an Office of Sustainability back in 1997. This office leads a variety of initiatives, from designing energy-efficient buildings to implementing waste reduction programs.

Stanford’s dedication to sustainability extends to its academics, offering plenty of courses and research opportunities in environmental science, clean tech, and sustainable development.

Innovative green projects at Stanford

So, what is Stanford doing to be so sustainable? Prepare to be impressed. One of the most impressive fun facts about Stanford is its Central Energy Facility. This cutting-edge system replaced a traditional gas-fired plant, reducing emissions and boosting energy efficiency by 70%. 

And that’s not all—Stanford also has the O’Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm, where students can get hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture. The farm grows organic fruits and veggies used in campus dining halls, making food sustainability a reality on campus.

Student participation in sustainability efforts

If you’re a student at Stanford, or thinking about becoming one, you’ll love knowing there are countless ways to get involved in sustainability efforts. One of the most empowering fun facts about Stanford is that students are often the driving force behind green initiatives. Whether you join the Stanford Solar Car Project or participate in the annual “Green Living” contest to reduce energy use in dorms, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to make an impact.

Stanford even offers grants for student-led sustainability projects, allowing you to innovate and lead. So, not only will you get a world-class education at Stanford, but you’ll also play a role in creating a more sustainable future.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When was Stanford University founded?

Stanford University was founded in 1885. The university officially opened its doors to students in 1891.

2. What is Stanford’s motto?

Stanford’s motto is “Die Luft der Freiheit weht,” which is German for “The wind of freedom blows.”

3. What are the admission requirements for Stanford University?

Successful applicants typically present an unweighted GPA between 3.95 and 4.0. Although Stanford does not impose a minimum GPA requirement, most admitted students achieve nearly perfect GPAs, particularly in rigorous courses like AP, IB, and Honors. The target SAT score range is 1470-1570, while the ACT score range is 33-35.

The application requires multiple essays, including three short essays, supplemental essays, and a longer personal statement (up to 650 words) submitted through the Common App or Coalition App.

Takeaways

• Stanford promotes academic excellence and social responsibility, from its state-of-the-art Central Energy Facility to student-led green projects.
• Some of the fun facts about Stanford are its impressive sustainability efforts, athletics performance, and its ties to the hit movie and musical Legally Blonde.
• Stanford traditions that are worth checking out include the annual gaieties musical comedy and band run.
• Getting into Stanford is no small feat. That’s where AdmissionSight comes in. We specialize in helping students like you in going through the complex world of college admissions.