Hi! I was admitted through the RD program and I am still floored from actually getting in. I’ve been hearing a lot of mixed reviews about Stanford’s undergrad and so wanted to ask you guys how it really compares to other top schools. I’m looking to double major in Economics and Political Science (or history, since I LOVE history), and (hopefully) apply to Law/Business School after undergrad. So, how is the quality of education? Would a degree from Stanford be worth a lot when applying to grad schools after undergrad? I also know that it does not just depend on the degree but also research opportunities and internships and the like, so, how are the opportunities and networking?
Is this a serious question? It’s quite possibly the most famous colleges in the world right now. Congrats on getting is. I know nothing about Stanford, but I am pretty sure that the answers to your questions are great, yes, and great.
@Lindagaf It is. I’ve just been googling threads on CC about Stanford’s undergrad and I was surprised to find a lot of mixed reviews. Specifically around the administration and GPA inflation. I wanted to start my own thread since a) the threads I was reading about were before 2013 and b) I never did serious research about Stanford since I originally didn’t know I was going to get in.
So now I’m researching it along with Williams, Duke, and Cornell. And would like to see some comparisons especially between Williams and Stanford. Those are my two TOP choices that I’ve been accepted to so far.
Exceptional.
@NerdyChica Are you a student?
Like any research university, the experience comes with some big classes and TAs; I think TAs teach about a quarter of the courses, so for a kid who would thrive better at a LAC it would not be a great fit. The name alone will not advantage your eventual grad applications any more than any other fine college where you have worked hard and demonstrated creativity and curiosity. A close friend went to S and loved it, because it was right for him; you need to figure, big name aside, if it is right for you.
You should talk to the students there. Mixed reviews from a family friend’s son who is there now. He loves the school, but is not crazy about some of his classes, some of which have been TA-taught. He loves the weather, but does not like Palo Alto. He also got into Williams, and had the same dilemma that you are facing – and in he end, chose Stanford, after going to admitted student’s day.
@snarlatron OK, I see. I’m digging Stanford, but I’m still not quite sure. The overwhelming responses I’ve been getting from everywhere is that it is of course amazing because Stanford is amazing, which, I think, is a faulty way of looking at things.
@carlson2 Yeah that’s my problem. I’m wanting to get in touch with students to ask about it. And your family friend’s son’s criticisms sounds about up the course from what I’ve been hearing about Stanford’s undergrad. Its going to be a really tough decision. Which is why I’m glad Williams is paying for me to fly up there and I’m visiting Stanford at the end of April.
Will you be able to visit both? That may help.
I get the conundrum. D chose a LAC over a research U for undergrad with the idea that she’d be better off at the latter as a grad student, better off at the former as an undergrad.
And gosh you still have a couple of schools to hear from, right?
…and have you gotten FA from all of them yet?
@ASJU9511 I love when people call a HYPSM school “amazing” but when pressed can offer nothing beyond generalities that could apply to 200 other schools. (Great profs, cool campus, awesome courses). It is good that you will be visiting both schools. After the visits, I hope that you will tune out the noise of what others think and pick the best school for you.
Stanford and Williams are about as opposite as two high ranked schools can be. Most people will be very impressed with a Stanford degree. And any of those same people will ask where Williams is and what kind of school it is. Neither one is a golden ticket to success or elite grad school. But both will set you up quite nicely for the future if you apply yourself. You obviously are a very talented individual r you wouldn’t have gotten into those schools in the first place. You’ll do great either way. And history and poli sci are rather generic degrees. I don’t think anyone would say say that a degree from one or the other would be better. If you wanted a CS degree and a Silicon Valley career, Stanford would win but you don’t seem to heading that way.
Pick the one that makes you happy. Stanford has the lowest admit rate and the highest yield of any school in the US. The only thing more rare than a Stanford acceptance is someone who gets accepted and turns it down. That would be a story you could tell forever.
You will have to work much harder at Williams.
I am curious where this number is coming from. There are large classes with TAs leading the after class breakout sessions but I am not aware of any real classes solely taught by TAs.
I would guess that at Stanford like most other large schools you will receive a lot more attention from professors once you get into your major-specific courses and past the introductory ones. If you want to interact with professors starting day 1 schools like CalTech or Williams may be better for that.
@texaspg the number came from my friend; a Google search found a 22% number. These may be “faculty contact” numbers where the student never meets or speaks with the prof, just the TA, I don’t know. I do know that if you look through the Stanford course guide, a LOT of the courses are taught by pre-PhD “lecturers” that don’t exist at LACs.
@snarlton - Can you name a few courses listed as being taught by Pre-PhD lecturers.
I am curious because D is finishing 4th year and I am not aware of a single class she took that way. I am wondering if it is specific to some majors.
I’m finishing my fourth year at Stanford and have never taken a course taught by a TA (although there has been the occasional guest lecture by a TA in their specialized research area). Usually courses are taught by professors/lecturers and then sections are led by a TA. I couldn’t even tell you a single course people take that’s taught by a TA.
I can’t talk about the experience at CalTech or Williams, but I’ve found from day 1 that professors, even in larger intro classes, really make an effort to be available for students. Almost all professors hold weekly office hours (that some even bribe you with snacks to come to). Professors usually stay after class to answer any questions as well.
OP- If you want to hear what some students have been saying or ask students in particular about Stanford there’s a thread with some posts already: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/1874155-ask-a-current-student-anything-p1.html. I’d imagine some of your questions overlap with ones that have been answered.
There are MANY research opportunities including ones in political science and economics. There are also many internship opportunities (although most of the places that recruit on campus are for California, New York and DC jobs).
I’m thinking OP is in foster care, so I assume he’s emancipated for purposes of FA - ? He has some wonderful choices!
Thinking about it, there are classes for specialized dance, athletics, music etc which wont always require a PhD person. D took a couple of quarters of Pilates and probably a dance class which are not taken for grade but nevertheless considered a class with a credit.