<p>I’m thinking of petitioning my IHUM lecture section but the email telling us about this wasn’t very specific. If I petition, can I decline the section offered to me after I petition if I don’t like it as much as my original time? </p>
<p>Does that question make sense? Haha, I’ll rephrase it if it doesn’t. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>i believe that if you petition and your petition is taken, you are put in the section of your highest petition choice (you cannot decline) so if you like your old section better you won’t be able to go back to it without re-petitioning to (if that makes sense).
so don’t rank anything on the petition that you don’t want more than your original section because if you do you could potentially get screwed over.</p>
<p>Is anyone taking the Chem Placement test on Wed? How hard is it? on the level of the AP chem test? I took chem two years ago so I’m kind of worried. I want to be in chem31x</p>
<p>If im not planning on taking a chem class this quarter, but will probably take one later on (and I have AP credit) do I need to take the chem placement test?</p>
<p>^I don’t think so. I think the AP credit places you into 33. Maybe the test can place you out of that, though?</p>
<p>to whom do i address a letter when i am writing(emailing) to the admission office, not the email add, but … do i address the office or is there anyone particular? 
appreciate ur help.</p>
<p>^as far as i know, the only personal letters that they accept are for waitlisted students (and that is in their online systen), unless its just questions. (e.g. if you want to send an introduction letter, they will just delete it because they do not accept supplementary materials)</p>
<p>but, you should look for your regional admissions officer’s name if you are sending it to that person directly. otherwise just write admissions staff</p>
<p>I was admitted REA and am really interested in Stanford’s Public Policy and, to a lesser extent, their Political Science programs. However, I was wondering how much their professors and curriculum are influenced by the Hoover Institution. I’m a pretty strong liberal/progressive, and while I’m not uncomfortable with being exposed to new ideas or viewpoints, I’m not comfortable with a school where a large proportion of professors’ personal views affect their teaching.
Also, I was wondering what, if any, effect my sexuality (openly gay) would have on my chances at a fraternity. Sigma Chi is really big in my family, and I would really like to participate in college.
Thanks for all the help!</p>
<p>Oops I asked in the wrong forum haha. But if anyone knows I’d love to hear from you.</p>
<p>NJDS–please clarify your message about admissions staff not accepting correspondence directed towards them. Over the break I found the name and address of my state regional rep and send her a letter and supplemental materials. Your note says they don’t accept supplemental materials. So you think they’ll just toss the envelope out in the trash and not look at it at all?</p>
<p>Hey ag2011,
I wouldn’t let the Hoover Institution deter you. Most students are liberal (though the conservative minority is very abundant and vocal) and quite a number of professors are progressive/openly vocal about their progressive views. I think what sets Stanford apart though is that students do want equal representation of views in classes --we had a class last year that was a speaker series, and a lot of liberal students expressed the view that there were not enough conservative speakers to balance the dialogue because students wanted to hear from leaders across the political spectrum. Also you’ll find that most Hoover faculty don’t really teach undergrads that much.
I can’t say for Sigma Chi specifically, but I do know that there are many, many openly gay men in frats at Stanford. What I would say though, as I’m involved in Greek life, is that frats/sororities at Stanford aren’t really like typical frat/sorority chapters across the nation. I suggest you rush multiple frats and then select the one you like best :)</p>
<p>Is there an outdoor pool?</p>
<p>@CreativeCrew, I think what you did is kind of creepy… You found the name of your rep, who in no way made it simple to be found for a reason. Then you send the rep supplemental materials (that should’ve already been in your common app) and a letter kissing their ***. Why?</p>
<p>yes they will discard any additional materials that they did not specifically ask for.</p>
<p>but the rep names are quite available</p>
<p>and yes there is an outdoor pool (i believe more than 1, but i dont know exactly which ones are available to non aquatic athletes. i know the outdoor pool at Roble gym is but idk which others.</p>
<p>redundantpanda…it’s called Avery Aquatics Complex, and it is arguably one of the best aquatics complexes in the country! </p>
<p>[Stanford</a> University’s Official Athletic Site](<a href=“http://www.gostanford.com/genrel/051001aab.html]Stanford”>http://www.gostanford.com/genrel/051001aab.html)</p>
<p>Hey ag2011,</p>
<p>In answer to both of your questions, as a very politically active and very left-leaning liberal, I have found Stanford to be a very comfortable environment. The student body is definitely a bit left leaning, though as darling said, there are conservative groups. As an International Relations major and Econ. minor I have never really found the faculty to be politically unbalanced. When professors do express their political views, they make a point of clarifying that they are presenting their perspective and it doesn’t contaminate the rest of the lecture.
I am in a somewhat unique position to answer your second question. I have been dating a Sigma Chi and essentially living in their house for 3 of my 4 years here, yet am obviously not in the house nor particularly loyal to it.<br>
Here goes:
Sigma Chi has a deserved reputation for being the most conservative house on campus. Were you actually to take a poll, they’d split about 55-45 Democrat to Republican, but they certainly have a more conservative vibe than the rest of campus, they play country music, and are not terribly concerned with political correctness. That said, I do think that they genuinely evaluate the guys that rush based on how much fun they’d be to hang out with rather than on sexual orientation. My boyfriend and I just discussed, and to our knowledge this house has never had an openly gay member; the only openly bi guy we know of graduated two years ago. However, they also haven’t had any openly gay guys rush, as far as we know. I think that, if you chose to rush, you would have a better chance than most with your family background, and that you would be a respected and accepted member of the house, but that you would have to endure comments such as “that’s so gay,” not intended offensively, but potentially very hurtful nonetheless. As darling also mentioned, there are also frats that are more sensitive to the issue.
I very much encourage you to spend some time at the house and get to know the guys, (they would definitely be receptive to getting to know you, showing you around, etc.) to see whether you would feel comfortable there.
Best of luck!</p>
<p>(1) Earlier in this thread, some people talked about co-terming. Is it possible to get research or teaching assistantship while co-terming? Specifically, my interest is in Computer Science and/or Mathematics. At least in some disciplines, quite often, regular Masters/PhD students get research/teaching assistantship. But, if co-term students don’t, then, instead of co-terming, it seems better for one to graduate early and join as a regular Masters/PhD student. Of course, this is not an issue if one is getting substantial financial aid as an undergraduate. But, for those who don’t, it would be.</p>
<p>(2) How hard/easy is it for undergraduates to get summer research opportunities within Stanford? How much can one typically earn with such summer research jobs? Due to my parents’ paper assets, I may not qualify for any financial aid. But, in reality, we are not so rich and hence I would like to work during summers to cover at least parts of the college costs.
Thanks.</p>
<p>^gandalf:
<ol>
<li>For people who want to do research, it doesn’t seem that hard to get a summer position, especially in technology-type fields. Unless you forge a strong relationship with a professor early on, you may have to be pretty proactive. Contacting professors, filling out grant applications, etc. In my dad’s day, you could get a research job just by acing a midterm/final. Haha not anymore.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>As far as pay goes, I think it’s like 5000, of which about half goes to paying for housing and food if you decide to stay on campus. You could probably find cheaper housing by renting a room or something in a nearby residence.</p>
<p>So if you actually want to make more money over the summer, you might want to look at paid internships. From what I’ve heard, those can commonly reach 10,000.</p>
<p>How does your schedule look, as far as timings for classes, length of classes, and the amount of classes. How often do you go back to your dorm?</p>
<p>^My schedule’s have tended to contain pretty tough days and then easier days. Like my schedule generally works out so that at least 1-2 days a week I’ll have 1 class at most, sometimes none at all. But there is always that one day from h*ll, where you may be in lecture/section/office hours/lab/clubs for the entire day. This quarter it’s Wednesday, last quarter it was Wednesday too. My Mondays and Fridays always tend to be chill, although last quarter the only classes I had on Tuesday and Thursday were tennis followed by hip hop dance. </p>
<p>On the average day I’ll go back to my dorm once between classes.</p>