<p>Hi everyone. It feels weird to be back on CollegeConfidential, but I figured I could be helpful to Stanford pro-fros. To tell you a bit about myself, I am a freshman (applied RD) majoring in Economics and MS&E(Management Science & Engineering) with an international background (although I went to high school here in the US). I am hoping to work at startups in the Bay Area, but I'm looking at consulting and investment banking as well. </p>
<p>I intend to answer questions as realistic as possible — no sugarcoating, just straightforward reality. I might not be able to answer your questions promptly since it's almost finals week, but I promise I will do my best. </p>
<p>Can you give us an idea of the workload? Obviously, it’s very rigorous, but how did you/your peers feel that the adjustment was? I’d love to hear about kids coming from the average public school vs. elite privates vs. anything in the middle.</p>
<p>Secondly, what are the weekends like? I want to do well in college, but I also want to have some free time, go to parties, bond with roommates, etc. Is this common or is there a sort of intensity that carries through the weekends?</p>
<p>We have several startup career fairs throughout the year, but honestly unless you are a upperclassman and/or CS major, getting a position at a local startup is fairly difficult. On the other hand, if you are a CS major, you will singlehandedly find at least a dozen startups that want you. I have pervious work experiences at big name companies, so it was relatively easy for me to find an internship for the summer.</p>
<p>Workload really depends on your course choice. Some hardcore workload tracks include SLE(ridiculous amount of reading), CS(you code 24/7) and PoliSci(again, tons of reading). People say (# of units you take) * 5 = # of hours you will spend on your hw, but I think it’s a quite bit of exaggeration. </p>
<p>Usually, people from elite privates(or prep schools, like HADES) tend to fare much better and they are usually the ones that excel. Lots of people might think Stanford might not have a lot of kids from preppy boarding schools, but we indeed have a lot of them, just like other HYPSMC. </p>
<p>You will definitely have tons of time to go out, drink and party(especially if you get assigned to an all-frosh dorm). There is always something happening (even right before finals week) and you won’t feel any need to go up to SF to find something to do, at least during your freshman year.</p>
<p>I was assigned to a four-class dorm, although I asked for an all-frosh dorm. Dorm food is way better than other HYPSMC/the ivies, only except Cornell. Choice is usually not a problem, since we have about a dozen dining halls, each with a unique theme. Only problem with on-campus dining is the exorbitantly priced dining plan.</p>
<p>Are SLE kids socially excluded? I like the concept of a liberal arts education within Stanford, but I’m iffy on the way it’s been realized. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>How spaced out are the buildings? Is it a pain getting from one class to another? Are there any majors (like a science bldg, math dept.) which are segregated from the rest of the campus and require a “hike” to get to class</p>
<p>Mostly yes. People joke about SLE kids all the time — e.g. “I never [Name] on campus. Oh wait, she’s in SLE. Never mind.” But they are definitely SLE kids that go to every single party on campus (personally not sure how they manage to do that), so it’s largely up to you.</p>
<p>I think Stanford is rank #1 when it come to student satisfaction/happiness. Try googling it. Lots of people party and it could get pretty hardcore during your first freshman quarter, especially in all-frosh dorms. Note that SLE and FroSoCo tend to me party-free, so either of them would be a really bad call if you want to party.</p>
<p>No need-blind financial aid for international students. It really sucks for int’l kids that require a financial aid package. (They are usually forced to go to H, Y, P, M, D and some LAC’s, which either have need blind for int’l kids or tend to be generous)</p>
<p>Hey guys, just jumping in quickly as a current SLE student to say that there are a lot of people in SLE who party pretty hard-- just because we work a lot doesn’t mean we don’t make time for other stuff! It’s work hard, play hard, just like in any other dorm at Stanford. That being said, if parties aren’t your scene, you can still definitely find lots of fun people to just chill with on any given night.</p>