<p>Hi, as a recent Stanford admit (found out like eight hours ago wohoo!) I have several questions since I live all the way on the East Coast and have relatively few, actually no acquaintances with current Stanford students. First off, how is the Stanford econ department and how does it compare with Harvard's, Princeton's, or Yale's? Where do most grads end up and are the job opportunities abundant? </p>
<p>I've been browsing around but can someone explain the whole academic scene at Stanford for me in a nutshell? Besides having quarters instead of semesters, are double majors allowed? What turns out to be the most popular concentrations? I've heard that the intellectual scene is rather laid back with less discussions about politics, philosophy, etc than the Ivies. </p>
<p>Also, is Greek life big at Stanford? Is the social scene cliquey or exclusive? Is the community very integrated with respect to ethnicities? </p>
<p>And my last question would be the weather. I've never stepped foot on Californian soil so when they say the weather is great, what does this mean? Is it equivalent to year-time spring weather in FL? </p>
<p>Kyzan..congratulations! Stanford's econ department is phenomenal (majors are heavily recruited by many firms, including those on Wall Street...the statistics are available and are very high). Econ is now math based and one of the more difficult majors. You have to take the same high level math class to qualify for both an engineering and economics major at SU.
Academic scene...has been compared to a duck swimming...tranquil on the surface and some heavy paddling underneath. Students care about their work. Kids are extremely friendly, cooperative and extremely smart...maybe it's the lovely weather that makes for the more congenial atmosphere (light jacket at most during the evenings and an occasional rain storm, but otherwise shorts and tee shirts pretty much year round...or at least that's what my sons wear). It's very intellectual (the Ivies like to think they own title to that, although Chicago would dispute that as well). Stanford kids don't tend to try so hard to appear intellectual...they just are intellectual.
If you want a Greek scene, there is one. The social scene is amazingly inclusive and very integrated with respect to ethnicities. There are no airs and graces. The kids are grounded and very nice.
Double majors are certainly allowed. Quarters make the year fly by...you get lots of choices and lots of classes. A lot of kids do engineering, pre-med, political science, philosophy and history. I think the percentage of majors are listed on the Stanford website.
Try to come out and visit. It's a lovely time out here. Admit weekend is supposed to be very fun! Stanford kids tend to be very happy kids.</p>
<p>Parents definitely go. There are tours made especially for parents and they are a very big part of the overall event from what I hear.</p>
<p>D is just afraid of being perceived as the one who brings his parents along for everything (I know that feeling) but the kids also get a big share of things just for them that you're not expected to go to. </p>
<p>Hell....you're sending him/her to Stanford. You can install a permanent cot in their dorm if you want. :)</p>