Class of 2016 "Ask a Student Anything" Thread

<p>To back up some of the things that sinisinumne said, CS106X alone is a lot of work. I remember on the facebook group over the summer a lot of kids were talking about taking Chem 31X, CS106X, or Math 51H; basically the honors classes in the intro sequences. What I think a lot of us freshmen forget right as we come into college is that even though we’ve been taking honors classes throughout high school, honors classes at Stanford are a completely different level. So my suggestion is to just take it easy your first quarter. If you really want to try it, go to the first class, and don’t be afraid to drop down if it’s too difficult. </p>

<p>Also, about registering for classes, frosh can’t register until NSO is about half over, so don’t worry about planning your schedule out now. You still have another 9 months to decide on your classes. </p>

<p>Obviously SLE isn’t for everyone, but it is true that barely anyone likes IHUM and SLE kids tend to really like their program. Also when people describe the whole social stigma behind SLE, I think it just refers to the fact that they’re so close-knit that they don’t really have many friends outside of SLE for the first few months. I personally only know one person that’s in SLE but he’s a really cool guy. They’re all probably pretty normal kids, I just think that since they spend so much time with each other, they naturally form strong bonds within the program.</p>

<p>Hey a question about SLE from another EA admit. I want to got into chemE. Would it be wise to do SLE? I don’t want to have an Ihum that I don’t like but at the same I don’t want to be tied down with an enormous amount of units form SLE. And are SLE classes that much more work than Ihum classes? And this might sound superficial but is the reading in SLE extremely dense as oppose to the reading in Ihum?</p>

<p>Oh and thanks for your time guys. I appreciate it.</p>

<p>Thank you two so much! </p>

<p>I am almost certain I want to do CS 106X (About 80% sure I’ll be a CS major, although I am going to explore tons of classes!), but I am expecting the class to be pretty hard. To answer why take ti first quarter: I think I want to do a co-term in four years (so freshman year = sophomore year) and I’d like to get started since 106X is a pre req for other courses. I know I sound like a silly freshman worrying when I should take it easy, but I do think 106X might be easier than my IHUM (ugh). Honestly though, the most important thing is that I have a manageable schedule… maybe I will take an easier class than ENGR 40 and save the seminar for another freshman year quarter. I hear that Psych 1 is interesting and pretty easy?</p>

<p>If you’re good with CS already and are thinking about being a CS major then definitely go for CS106X. I really do recommend taking it easy during your first quarter because then you can really get comfortable in your new home, you’ll start your Stanford career off on a good note emotionally, (as opposed to possibly getting the image that you’re going to be constantly stressed from work after your first quarter) and you can really get excited about just having fun! </p>

<p>Also, I’ve never heard of anyone going after a co-term in four years. Usually people choose to co-term so they can get just be at Stanford for one more year since they don’t want to leave! I have no clue how do-able doing a co-term in four years is, but unless the issue is paying for college for longer than four years, don’t rush things! Some of my friends would graduate early if they had the chance because they’re paying out of pocket and it’s a burden on their family, so I understand that argument, but I’d advise taking your time and enjoying your college life. You have the rest of your life to work, but you only have a few years in college, so don’t rush it if you can help it!</p>

<p>@just20706: I forgot to mention that I’m transferring in 45 units (and all my math/physics reqs) - so I am in fact using the co-term as a reasonable excuse to stay for all four years! :D</p>

<p>But on that note: are there any interesting classes in particular which would allow me to take it easy first quarter?</p>

<p>Doener: actually a surprisingly significant segment of SLEkids are techy, i.e. planning on going into engineering/maths/sciences. SLE is 9 units, whereas most classes are 3-5 units, so it takes up a significant chunk of your coursework freshman year. However, you don’t have to take IHUM or PWR, the latter of which continues into sophomore year. And SLE lets engineers get a lot of their GenEd requirements out of the way. It is going to be more work than IHUM – it’s more units! I haven’t taken IHUM/don’t know that much about it, but I would guess the SLE readings are probably denser. Don’t be afraid about the readings, I mean it is a lot, but (secret!) you don’t actually have to read everything to do well in the class. Most people don’t read everything… I think that to do SLE and to enjoy it you have to have an appreciation for books, for philosophy and literature – but if you do, don’t worry about the workload and take it! It’s seriously amazing. Also, with regards to the social pariah thing, I thought I’d add that a significant portion of us party like 2-3 nights/week. There are definitely people who completely abstain, which is fine, but – if you’re into it – don’t worry that you won’t be able to party if you do SLE.</p>

<p>@mrcool: Yeah, you could totally handle 106x – I just wouldn’t take that PLUS everything else you were planning on taking. Maybe do 106X, IHUM, and an introsem – save the engineering class for winter? Most introsems are pretty fun and not that much work. I think that lighter load would be best. If you’re really looking for one more course on top of that, you could try I suppose – we have a few weeks to drop classes. Psych 1 is mostly memorization, which is easy, but the class is supposed to be pretty interesting. There’s also a lot of random fun classes.</p>

<p>i have a question,
i have done several ap classes from sophomore to the presesent (senior year) and i was wondering if the fact that i did several amounts of ap classes improve my chances of being accepted?
btw the ap classes have been (10-11 grade) AP Calculus AB/BC, AP Spanish Lan/Lit, AP English Language, and this year (12 grade) im taking AP Physics, AP English Literature, and AP Statistics.</p>

<p>I was also wondering what a typical day at stanford is like. thanks!</p>

<p>ps. about what time last year did you receive your acceptance letter? i dont know when we are supposed to receive them this year and i was hoping to get an idea from your response. thanks again.</p>

<p>Stanford wants their applicants to take the most rigorous curriculum available to them, so by taking AP classes you’re on the right track, but obviously you’ve got to do a lot more than just that to get in. </p>

<p>I did RD last year and I got my acceptance through email in late March, like the 28th or the 29th I think… The date they said they’d send them out was Apr 1st, but Stanford has a history of sending them out a few days early.</p>

<p>another question: do any of you remember admit weekend? what should we be expecting? is it worth flying out all the way from the east coast if i’ve already visited?</p>

<p>We attended Admit Weekend last year with D. It was our first visit to campus. If you can financially make it work, I’d recommend that you attend. It’s a great way to make some initial friends at Stanford. They really roll out the red carpet for admitted students and their families. My D had a blast and it really convinced her that Stanford would be a better fit for her than Yale. Until that Admitted Student weekend, she had not made her decision. It’s really one of those life experiences that I’d recommend you participate in if at all possible.</p>

<p>^Yeah, I second MidwestPop’s comment. You may have visited already but during Admit Weekend everything is really catered to prospective freshmen so it’s a lot different. Also, if you’re going to be receiving aid from Stanford they should send you an email about paying for your travel expenses. I know for me if it wasn’t for that, there was no way I could make it to AW (I’m east coast as well). </p>

<p>Plus, I’m going to be a Head House Host for Admit Weekend this year so I’m already super excited for it!!</p>

<p>Would my admissions be revoked if I get a B- in an AP class and the remaining 5 classes (2 AP’s, 3 regulars) all A’s?</p>

<p>What is SLE?</p>

<p>@smugfiend. lol. If you’ve already been admitted don’t stress about that. Even if you haven’t been admitted don’t stress to much about that.</p>

<p>@smugfiend: You only have to worry about getting rescinded if you go from like A’s to C’s, and I’m talking about multiple A’s dropping to C’s. If you have one grade that drops I’m pretty sure that Stanford will give you the benefit of the doubt. </p>

<p>SLE stands for Structured Liberal Education, and it is an alternative to the Introduction to the Humanities (IHUM) requirement for all freshmen. With SLE, you live in a specific dorm (Florence Moore) with everyone else who is in the program, and your SLE classes happen inside your dorm. I’m not exactly sure how the curriculum is different (since I’m not in SLE) but from what I’ve heard, it lends itself much more to people who are really interested in the humanities. There’s a bit of a stigma/stereotype on campus that all SLE kids are really weird and anti-social, which isn’t necessarily true. Granted, the students that tend to pick SLE are sometimes a bit more nerdy/geeky, but obviously not everyone in the program is like that. The anti-social idea comes from the fact that the people that are in SLE are really tight with each other, since they’re living with the same people they have class with, so often they don’t have too many friends outside of the program. As a result, students who are in IHUM don’t really know many SLE kids. (I think I know like 1 person in SLE…) But obviously it’s all up to you. If you choose to do SLE, you’re not stuck with the people in your dorm, you just have to make a bit more of an effort to meet other people on campus.</p>

<p>^ @just20706: So all freshman at Stanford have to take an Intro. to Humanities class even if they’re going to major in something completely different?</p>

<p>^ yes, as of right now. the student senate is working hard to change that in the future, and it actually looks like the motion will pass. the final vote is on March 8th!</p>

<p>just 20760,
I have to ask sth about admission though.
1.How many international students are admitted on the average per year by Stanford and are data on geographical distribution of Stanford students by, say, nationality available?
2.Do ECs represent one of the most important admission criteria? Though this ECs query seems obvious to US students, they are pretty unusual in other countries (esp. in Asia) where classroom studies are top priority, unless schools cater their ECs towards US unis. 3.How important are ECs vis-a-vis other more objective benchmarks like SATs, ACT and TOEFL?
Your view, please.</p>