While Admit Weekend provides ProFros with an array of fun activities and experiences, it can be hard to get a true sense of Stanford life after just a few days. A number of factors and potential glitches can alter the way you view the people and life at Stanford. You and your RoHo could have very different concepts of "fun." Your head HoHo could have had mono and have left you and all the other ProFros in the dorm without any plans. You could have had an allergic reaction to dining hall food and ended up puffy and red in front of your potential classmates. Or you could just hate acronyms.

Regardless of the quality of your experience over the next three days, you are not going to walk away "knowing" Stanford in its entirety. If the infamous Sarah Ball had remained on campus for a while, maybe she would have realized that Stanford isn't as cheerful and enthusiastic as she so harshly deemed it to be. Then again, maybe not. (Last spring, Sarah Ball wrote an Op-Ed that was published in the Washington Post criticizing Stanford's Admit Weekend. She is at Duke now.)

To give ProFros a better perspective on campus life, The Daily talked to ten individuals who are actively involved in the Stanford community and asked why they chose to come here. Some people came in wanting to do one thing and ended up doing the opposite. Others walked in with specific goals that they pursued. And some say they came with no expectations at all. Despite their different approaches to enrolling at Stanford, what they have in common now is that they have all found areas in which they shine.

Omar Shakir

About this time last year, it was hard to miss Omar Shakir. At least his photos. Shakir, who was running to be an ASSU Undergraduate Senator, covered campus with his campaign fliers featuring him in a pumpkin suit. That work paid off - he won with the most number of votes. Until last week, he served as the chair of the advocacy committee in the Senate.

A sophomore majoring in political science and economics, Shakir is the co-president of the Coalition for Justice in the Middle East and treasurer of the Muslim Student Awareness Network.

"There are a lot of things that I thought I would end up doing that I didn't end up doing and visa versa," the San Jose native said. "I started focusing on really different issues than I did in high school. Becoming really strong in the Muslim community was definitely not something I intended to do."

Shakir had originally intended to go to an East Coast school, but Stanford's intellectual prestige combined with the relaxed atmosphere won him over.

"Knowing that you're at one of the best institutions in the world where you can still relax and have fun is incredible," he said.

Merritt Baer

A double major in economics and drama, sophomore Merritt Baer has learned how to appreciate both sides of the brain at Stanford. Earlier this quarter, Baer managed to balance three upper-division economics courses while directing the Ram's Head Theatrical Society's musical production of "Company."

During the college application process Baer, who hopes to pursue theatre in his future, found that Stanford offered the perfect balance for his interests and career plans.

"I chose to come here because it has the highest level of academics along with a strong theatre department," Baer said. "The classes and production values of the shows are always really high, but the atmosphere is also really supportive and very much geared towards the concept of community."

Nada Boutros

Coming to Stanford was a particularly dramatic change for freshman Nada Boutros, a native of Dubai. She had to adjust to a whole new education system and social culture. But so far the transition hasn't been very difficult.

"Other than the fact that I have to spend over 24 hours traveling across the world to get here, Stanford is the perfect place for me," Boutros said. "I was really pleasantly surprised by everything that there is to do here other than academics."

Boutros is part of a number of groups and organizations on campus including the Lebanese Students Association, Outreach to Asian Immigrant Students (OASIS) and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She is also a part of dorm government in the all-freshman dorm Otero in Wilbur Hall.

Though she contemplated going to a few East Coast schools, the choice was pretty clear.

"East Coast schools are more close minded toward international students," she said. "And here you have the weather, the gorgeous campus, the laid back people, etc."

Chrissie Coxon

If you see Chrissie Coxon around campus, she is most likely one her way to or returning from a meeting or presentation.

A sophomore political science and African and African-American studies double major, Coxon has been a leading force behind many of Stanford's largest human rights organizations and conferences. Given her role as the co-founder of Stanford Students Taking Action in Darfur and the co-coordinator of the Rwandan Genocide Conference last month, one would think she's been an activist since day one. But she says this fervor is relatively new.

"My passion about human rights and international development has multiplied exponentially since I've been at Stanford," Coxon said. "I enrolled in Stephen Stedman's intro seminar on the Rwandan genocide and Rwanda has been under my skin ever since."

Coxon chose Stanford for many of the predictable reasons, but soon found that it was what she didn't know about the school that made it right for her.

"The opportunities at Stanford exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds," said Coxon. "If your group of interest doesn't already exist, Stanford has the infrastructure and support to make it happen."

Tim Wood

For sophomore Tim Wood the college application process was more unusual than for most. Instead of deciding between East Coast and West Coast, Wood was deciding between Stanford and a music conservatory.

"It really did come down to music for me," said Wood. "I knew that I wanted to continue to pursue it, but I wasn't sure that I wanted the experience of a conservatory."

Wood, who is now the manager of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra, said that Stanford's proximity to his home in Los Angeles became a primary factor.

"I knew that if I came here I would be able to drive and thus take my instruments up, drive to lessons, gigs, etc.," Wood said. "It worked out really well, and I've been able to take amps, cellos, guitars, etc. all up with me."

Bryan Tan

One would think that the adjustment from Singaporean pop idol to typical college student might be slightly rocky. But the transition has been smooth for sophomore Bryan Tan, who has embraced all aspects of Stanford with the enthusiasm you would expect from a pop star.

"I love that you are able to pursue whatever you are interested in," Tan said. "My academic interests differ greatly from my extracurricular interests. I came to Stanford primarily to get an education, but I found myself getting involved simply because I could."

Tan, who sang professionally for more than seven years, found that even his love for music was renewed at Stanford.

"I was convinced that I would never set foot near a microphone again," he said. "But a few of my friends convinced me to audition for an a cappella group and I love it. It's such a difference experience singing with the Harmonics. It has made me re-evaluate my passion for music."

When asked why he chose Stanford, Tan says that for many people on the other side of the world, Stanford is a "dream come true."

Sarah Wilson

For junior Sarah Wilson it was all about the linear accelerator.

"I was really excited that there was a linear accelerator, which I know sounds really dorky," she said, referring to the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. "But I had gone to a science and math boarding school, so that kind of thing was really interesting to me."

Since coming here, however, Wilson's interests have shifted slightly. As a drama and psychology double major, Wilson has been able to make the most of what Stanford theatre has to offer by starring and working on numerous productions by the Stanford Shakespeare Society and the Drama Department. Wilson was also selected by the Drama Department to attend the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art for a quarter this fall.

"During the beginning of freshman year, I didn't get into any theater groups or productions at all, which kind of discouraged me," said Wilson. "But by the end of the year, I ended up being in about four shows. I've mostly focused on theater because that's my one true love."

Lucas Botello

Junior Lucas Botello has been making his presence known since he first stepped on campus freshman year. His involvement in Student Campaign for Child Survival, Los Hermanos and LEAD (Leadership through Education, Activism and Diversity) has made him a kind of poster child for campus activism.

"It was the general atmosphere of student involvement and student initiative that drew me to Stanford," Botello said. "The school puts such a great emphasis on community."

Like many students at Stanford, Botello knew early on that he wanted to come here and applied under the early decision option.

"I visited Stanford as a sophomore in high school when my cousin was attending," he said. "I was very impressed by the openness and friendliness of the student body and just how happy everyone was."