I’m an incoming freshman in Stanford’s class of 2022. Could you please let me know about the reputation, workload, and usefulness of these majors at Stanford, and how much you enjoyed each major (if you did any of these majors)? These are the majors that interest me most in terms of their courses and requirements, and I like the interdisciplinary nature and different concentrations/ tracks within each major.
For me, usefulness would be → helps you get good business and consulting related internships during summers and jobs upon graduation and helps you get into an MBA program. (These are my post-undergraduate goals).
Political Science (primary and secondary concentrations in two out of these three: Data Science, International Relations and Justice/Law).
Symbolic Systems (concentration in decision making and rationality, cognitive science or a self-designed concentration).
Sociology (Data Science, Markets and Management track).
Human Biology (concentration in either Brain and Behavior or Human Development). Side note- I don’t want to go into a medicine-related field after, but I like the courses.
I may also do a Data Science or Econs minor, so let me know what you think of these minors if you’ve done them.
My son is majoring in MS&E and is going into an MBB consulting job post graduation after doing a summer internship. It’s the closest thing to an undergraduate business major that Stanford has. Yes, I realize one doesn’t need any particular major to go into consulting or get accepted to an MBA program. Just thought I’d throw this out there given your career objectives. It is multidisciplinary and has three (maybe four?) different tracks.
What extracurriculars have you been involved with in high school? Do you have any other interests (e.g., public health, journalism, psychology, etc.)? Having graduated from Stanford recently, I could provide more specific advice on which major might best suit you and your business aspirations.
My extracurriculars are mostly music related, however, I also love writing and conducted my own Psychology research with a university professor. I’m also interested in gender equality, modern history/ international relations and human behavior from different perspectives (psychological, philosophical, biological, sociological, etc). I do the British A levels and my subjects are English, History, Biology, Maths and Psychology. I think I want to do a major combining the sciences and humanities.
Relax and enjoy the rest of high school. Once you get to Stanford there will be an abundance of people to give you the best advice (as opposed to anonymous posters on CC). There is absolutely no need for you to figure anything out now. Showing up for orientation with an open and flexible mindset will help you get the most out of Stanford.