<p>When can I start applying for/choosing dorms? Should I commit to Stanford soon in order to get a better dorm?
Is it first-come-first-served or is there a single deadline and a lottery? Or what? Do they vary widely in cost?
I’m so clueless…</p>
<p>Hi applicannot 
I’m very passionate about learning languages;; is it true that your school has very strong language programs but not that many students are taking advantage of it?</p>
<p>All dorm choices are put in at the same time… it is just a lottery. You won’t get any bonuses for declaring early. All of the residences cost about the same. There is a small variation as an upperclassmen, but for freshmen it is all the same - as are the meal plans. You’ll rank what kind of dorm you want, like all freshmen coed, four class, frosoco, etc. You can’t choose a specific residence unless You choose SLE or FroSoCo, which is a little more specific.</p>
<p>There is a language requirement here so a lot of people are taking language classes. I don’t feel like there are a disproportionate number of people taking or not taking language classes but I am no expert. Do we have a phenomena omenal program? My Arabic class is fun but I can’t imagine it is anything special. The Spanish and Chinese classes get their butts whooped. What would make a phenomenal program for you? If You could tell me what you were looking for, I might be able to comment further.</p>
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<p>security is super intense on the streets as far as biking and road regulations. if you’re drunk in public, you will be caught. but they don’t raid dorms or anything. drinking is lax as long as you’re not outrageous.</p>
<p>and to add, drinking is a big social thing. pressure is usually indirect, but it very much exists and is smiled upon, generally, by the majority of the student population. a lot of my friends just drink to have fun at some of the parties which, in my opinion, aren’t great. i would pretty much have to get hammered to enjoy myself, which a lot of kids seem to do.</p>
<p>I am from the UK, so I live in a perpetually chilly environment and my closet has nothing but the thickest of clothes. Any suggestions on what sort of clothes I should purchase before arriving on campus? Like mildly warm etc.? Does it get really hot in Palo Alto?</p>
<p>Just wondering so I thought I should ask. :)</p>
<p>Thanks. :D</p>
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Either you’re in a crazy 4-class dorm or you’re exaggerating a ton. Maybe you just don’t see the people who aren’t drinking because they’re studying in their rooms or the library or whatever, and not drinking with you. </p>
<p>That said starting Wednesday nights there’s pretty much always some drinking going on.</p>
<p>Yeah I should have mentioned earlier it’s not like all the all-frosh dorms are party-hard future Greek people. There are definitely sober ones. And non-drinkers in the drinking-heavy ones too. </p>
<p>Frosoco drinks/parties btw. Those tend to be the people that leave after the 1st year I’ve found. </p>
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As long as things stay under control, and have stayed under control before, no authority figure will really care too much. So keep the doors open, don’t play the music too loud (or play music past quiet hours), don’t let that beer pong game flow into the hallway, and you’ll generally be okay. </p>
<p>Not everyone drinks. Of my “friends” that didn’t drink (for moral reasons, not cause of varsity athletics or not having time or girlfriend or whatever), I’d say a lot of them kinda looked down upon it. I just never felt comfortable drinking/being drunk around them (feeling was probably mutual).</p>
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If you have a normal weather tolerance, everything but the winter jacket and snowpants (unless you plan on going to Tahoe/Yosemite, which a lot of freshman do with their dorms). Some people I knew (generally girls) would need their winter parka and beanie in early fall quarter, so it obviously depends on the person. </p>
<p>There’s three “seasons” at Stanford:
the rainy season- this starts late fall quarter and goes until probably near the end of winter quarter (rain happens after this, especially last year, but it’s not as frequent). The weather is cold (mid 50s-60s for highs), the sky is gray, the ground is damp, and the nights are pretty cold (high 30s I’m guessing). Most days have some form of rain I think, and there’s occasional heavy downpour when going outside at all is miserable. </p>
<p>the spring season- inconsistent weather, can be rainy/sunny, very warm/chilly, etc. This starts probably at the end of winter quarter and goes until mid-late spring quarter. Even on the best days, it will probably get cold at night. At most schools spring is a great time of year compared to fall, but at Stanford the consensus I’ve seen is that autumn quarter weather is the best. </p>
<p>the summer season- sunny and warm. Lasts from late spring quarter to mid fall quarter. This is what most people think of when you mention California. There can be days in a row where you might not see cloud cover. Sometimes, but not often, it will get hot. Mornings are cold and damp (relevant before 9:30-10 AM I’d say) although nights become a bit more bearable (still feel cold though, especially in relation to the warmer days).</p>
<p>Bear in mind this is just my two cents based mostly off 1.5 years living in the area.</p>
<p>freshman hospitalizations tend to be focused within specific dorms. no offense, some wilbur dorms have smarter drinkers. arroyo, trancos, rinc, and larkin are the ones that seem to have the most irresponsible drinkers this year… (just my 100% subjective observation)</p>
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<p>You’re right, I am exaggerating. But definitely not by a ton. I personally do not drink and this is just what I observe every weekend in my dorm. And this certainly doesn’t apply to every 4-class dorm. But let’s not try and sweep Stanford’s alcohol issues under the rug either.</p>
<p>I feel slightly stupid for asking this but can somebody explain what Frosoco and SLE are?
Thanks :D</p>
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<p>If you’re talking about the alcohol policy, no one is going to bust you. The unofficial policy in the dorm is “open door” - if you’re drinking in your room, the RAs want you to leave your doors open (or at least cracked - they don’t have to be wide open, at least in my experience). Basically unless you are extremely intoxicated while you are walking around or carrying alcohol with you, you are not going to get in trouble. I hear the traffic cops can be pretty bad, although I haven’t seen any yet. I think everyone gets ticketed by them eventually. Despite that, no one seems to be changing traffic behaviors.</p>
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<p>I agree with justadream - the parties are pretty awful. Then again, I don’t enjoy the 100-degree-room-people-mashing-up-against-each-other frat party scene, so maybe it’s just me. So I think the parties are lame, but smaller “parties” in a friend’s room or with a good group of people are the bomb. I love get togethers, hate parties - if you don’t like the frat scene (I’m not 100% sure who actually does), there are other things to do. </p>
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<p>Basically it’s chilly or cold at night, comfortable to hot during the day, rainy in the winter, and not the least bit humid. I brought a lot of layers and I suggest that. Whatever seems appropriate during the day is always lacking at night. I don’t know if you’re male or female, but I brought a lot of cardigans or shrugs with t-shirts. I actually am bringing my winter coat (wool peacoat) because the wind from biking is really cold. Also bring gloves for biking - it gets chilly at night, and my hands are starting to get really cold. Otherwise I brought spring/fall attire (since at home I have four seasons). I would say Stanford really only has two seasons… spring, which lasts from April to October, and then fall. That’s based on the Maryland calendar.</p>
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<p>Yeah, the drinking here is 50/50 at best. At least among freshman, a lot of the people who do drink don’t even drink that much. The ones who do drink a lot are really noticeable. We do have alcohol here - it is a college, and that was the first quarter, after all - and it can be problematic, but this isn’t exactly a party school. I am not trying to sweep the alcohol under the rug but let’s be realistic.</p>
<p>FroSoCo is Freshman-Sophomore College. It’s quiet and kind of far away with a delicious but tiny dining hall and nice buildings. I don’t really know anything else about it.</p>
<p>SLE is Structured Liberal Education. It’s a residentially-based full year program that can be taken instead of IHUM1, IHUM2, IHUM3, PWR1, PWR2, and DB-Hum. It’s 9 units (10 in the spring). It’s basically a Great Books program. You get a personal writing tutor on top of a dorm tutor and a ton of other people in the program. SLE is supposed to do wonders for your writing. It’s a very intellectual program. This quarter they read parts of the Bible, lots of Plato, The Odyssey, etc.</p>
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<p>Thank God!!! I’m from Houston and I hate the humidity! :D</p>
<p>Sorry about all the questions, lol. I keep thinking of new ones.</p>
<p>What do you think of the marching band?
Do you have to audition to get in, and is it competitive?
Do they have clarinets in the marching band? (Cause I’m totally willing to learn sax if necessary. I’ve seen saxes in pics)</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard about the LSJUMB, I really want to be in it :D</p>
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<p>I love them, especially after NSO festivities … (not gonna go into detail with that) and after the USC game when they played **** You to their band.
I’m not sure if you have to audition or not, most likely. But they accept newbies and people who want to learn to play. And yes, they do have clarinets.</p>
<p>I know a couple people in the band, and I believe it is quite easy to get in. For certain sections, liked drums i think, you do have to audition, but you don’t really for others. From what I’ve been told, you actually don’t even need to play an instrument to be in the band. You just have to be crazy ;)</p>
<p>With regard to dorm life and drinking: I can personally attest to how some dorms are little bit more insane than others. Friend of mine has fallen victim to renegade vomit and wayward vandals. My dorm, on the other hand, just has the volume turned up come Thursday.</p>
<p>Are any of you pursuing a double major? Is it easy to complete?</p>
<p>Oh, and is it easier to get a single or a double room?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>The ease of completing a double major will depend on the majors selected, of course, and also how early in your undergraduate career you decide to double major. As to rooms for freshmen, almost all freshmen are in doubles, the exceptions being those who have a need for a single for reasons related to medical condition or disability of some kind.</p>
<p>PrincetonDreams, isn’t it time to change your screen name to StanfordDreams? Or how about PrincetonDreamsofBeingasCoolasStanford? That preserves the original name, with an addendum. ; )</p>
<p>I have a huge triple with a sink and walk-in closets and it’s amazing =D
But zenkoan’s right; you’ll most likely end up in a double. And I would cosign on the name change.</p>