Stanford is an image-obsessed academic-business operation that's ridiculously expensive for students. Note also that Stanford featured fairly prominently in the recent admissions scandals, in which parents paid bribes to ensure acceptance.

> "The annual tuition and living expense budget to go to Stanford was $78,218 for the 2020/2021 academic year. The cost is the same for all students regardless of California residence status as there is no in-state discount." - collegecalc.org

Why go to Stanford then? Is it the world-class education, or is the networking opportunities, the chance to meet the children of other extremely wealthy parents who might ease your way into a lucrative job opportunity post-graduation?

Since the students are certainly not the ones footing the bill for an ~320,000 four-year education, this marketing operation is aimed at the parents, most likely. Safe, controlled, bland...