Well resourced, quite a bit of freedom, but inconsistent culture
Pros
The Stanford GSE has a wide range of programs and research areas to be a part of. There are many opportunities to dig in. The program is very well resourced and your funding is guaranteed for at least 5 years. As a PhD Candidate you have quite a bit of flexibility in your coursework, the direction you take your own research, and the research projects you support. I appreciated that most professors allow you to tailor your coursework assignments to align with the work you are doing so that it can be meaningful rather than busy work.
Cons
The culture of the GSE is not great unless you are able to find your people and create community. Although their are a range of efforts made to create community, I found that the PhD cohorts feel more like constant competition to be the most exhausted, the most awarded, the most published, and the most well read. Ultimately, it was not a comfortable place to collaborate or make friends. In addition, the academic job market post graduation is brutal and there is not a ton of support for that process and even less support for students opting for career options outside of academia.