<p>Everything you need on campus is within a 1-15min walk. Stanford is the second largest campus because it owns a crapload of land behind it, but it’s all hills and there aren’t any buildings there.</p>
<p>I just contacted the admissions office and then spoke to someone in the student advising center. I was really calling to see how AP credit worked but while we were conversing the topic of 3 quarters v. semesters came up. My S wants to be a bio major, although he is not interested in premed. When I spoke to the advisor for bio she explained that bio majors take tons of chemistry. They even take Pchem, which is weird for a bio major. In addition, the ‘quarter system’ seems so much more rigorous than the the semesters. It appears that kids take the same course load in 2 quarters, like chem, that the rest of America is taking in 2 semesters. The difference is that a quarter is 10 weeks, where a semester is 15. Thats quite the consolidated curriculum. To take chem 1 and 2 in 20 weeks, while everyone else is taking it in 30 weeks, seems pretty hard. The thing is that Chem is already hard and sitting in a classroom of Stanford students makes it tougher, considering that everyone there is a curve buster at any other normal school. So why put yourself through more torture. Or least thats how it appears… Whats the appeal? Are there any bio majors out there that can comment on this?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Dungareedoll, I’m sure a bio major or two will chime in here, but I think the appeal is that Stanford’s biology programs are unsurpassed in their excellence. I’m not a prospective bio major but I have taken rigorous courses each term, and you’re correct that there’s a high level of academic demand and a fast pace here. But it’s not “torture” by any means, because the atmosphere is largely collaborative, and because there’s an amazing array of support available, from the accessible faculty to all kinds of study groups, coaching, etc. I do think having solid time management skills is key in this environment. Cheers. PS: I would think bio majors at most top universities these days would be encouraged to take plenty of chemistry, since the fields are merging in many significant ways, and since molecular biology is a very rapidly-developing area.</p>
<p>During this college process we have visited over 25 schools, Stanford will be the last for the admit weekend. However, no one has to take Pchem as a bio major. 99% of all bio majors take gen chem 1 &2, and orgo 1&2, and in some instances they might take bio chem but never all three plus pchem. Thats great if you want biomolecular engineering/chemical engineering, but I’m still surprised with the extreme level of difficulty for just a plain bio major. Again, I would love to hear from some bio majors out there.</p>
<p>No arm-twisting from me, Dungareedoll, just trying to respond to your concerns. If taking pchem is that a big deal to your kid, then maybe he’d be happier in another environment. Good luck in his decision.</p>