<p>jellybean: Unfortunately, AP credits don't get you out of the general ed. requirements (unless it's a language AP), they just advance your placement along a track if you choose to. You only have to fulfill the math/science requirements with 3 classes--a math class, natural science class, and something called applied science and technology. Statistics will fulfill the math requirement, and there are many science courses which aren't the typical techie courses, like anthropology, archaeology, psychology, the list goes on. Some science seminars are also accessible to non-science majors, so that may be good too. It's much more painful for us hardcore techies to endure all those humanities requirements than it is the other way around. ;)</p>
<p>Dorms don't have AC and we don't really need it. I'm pretty sensitive to heat so I thought I would have a problem, but I didn't even use my fan at the beginning of the year. If anyone's worried about the heat (though it really doesn't get hot around here), you may want to request to be placed in a room that doesn't get much direct sunlight, because it really makes a difference.</p>
<p>Everyone here is a nerd! Haha but really, there are so many different types of people and not just one Stanford-stereotype. Don't worry about it.</p>
<p>Your semester-system friends will be jealous of you because we start the year later than them and end in December earlier than them. It does get kind of lonely when most people are still away at school, but it's not a big deal. I like the pace of the quarter much better than semester.</p>
<p>According to the AP credit PDF, credit will no longer be give for Statistics and Psychology (and some others I think) starting with our class.</p>
<p>I have a question about AP credit in general. At some other schools I was looking at, they would give you credit for any test you take, but you could only get placement with certain tests and it depended on the department. There are a few AP courses I am taking this year that are not on the Stanford list--is there any benefit in taking the test (besides experience)?</p>
<p>Over the summer I stayed at Governer's corner dorms (Schiff, Potter, Robinson etc.) Are most of the dorms like them? Also, what exactly does a 'quarter system' mean? different holidays? Different numbers of midterms/finals?</p>
<p>rooster08, thanks for the info! How/when did you meet other students who would enjoy talking about crazy science topics with you? And how/when did you manage to become friends with Osheroff? It sounds like I can find what I like about Swat at Stanford, which is encouraging.</p>
<p>If you're sure you're going to Stanford, then don't take the AP tests not on the list. They won't count for anything.</p>
<p>I haven't been to FroSoCo or Potter/Robinson but I'm guessing they all have two-room doubles, which aren't available in other freshman/4-class dorms. If you don't apply for FroSoCo, most likely you'll be in a one-room double or a two-room triple next year.</p>
<p>The quarter system simply divides the year into 4. This includes summer quarter, so the regular school year is actually more of a trimester system. Each quarter is about 10 weeks long.</p>
<p>Stanford's AP credit-granting is designed so that you only get credit if there is equivalence in Stanford courses that you could be "getting credit for". For instance, a 5 on BC Calc places you out of 2 4-5 unit courses (41 and 42) and you therefore get 10 units.</p>
<p>Two room triples are really nice. Especially if one of your roommates moves out and you have a two room double meant for three people for two months. Too bad we're getting a new roommate (upperclassman returning from abroad- yuck!) next quarter.</p>
<p>I'm an 08er too... And I have to agree with everything all the current Stanfordians have said-- Stanford is just simply AWESOME! Just that our Football team seems to suck. But thats a minor glitch.</p>
<p>"rooster08, thanks for the info! How/when did you meet other students who would enjoy talking about crazy science topics with you? And how/when did you manage to become friends with Osheroff? It sounds like I can find what I like about Swat at Stanford, which is encouraging."</p>
<p>I didn't really make a concious effort to meet other students who enjoy talking about science. I guess that I naturally made friends who were intellectual because people who share the same interests tend to naturally find each other. I am sure that you can find tons of friends here who are interested in talking about science topics. </p>
<p>I became friends with Osheroff just by going to his office hours and chatting about miscellaneous things. Here you can always go to a professor's office hours and have a chat even if it is unrelated to the course. </p>
<p>You can definitely find the qualities you like about Swarthmore and Stanford simply because this place is so diverse and encompasses so many interests. The flip side is that the campus is not homogenous. I think it makes this place more interesting but some people might like a stronger community where everybody shares the same interests and acts the same. There are pros and cons to each, so it really comes down to what you like.</p>
<p>Ok I just read a lot of the undergraduate student reviews on Stanford on that website, and it's not looking too great. Is there a sense of community at Stanford? Are there advisors to help you with choosing a major etc.? Seemed to be a huge flaw with the reviewers. Is there racial segregation? And is it true that you don't learn that much in 'fuzzy' classes? I'm planning to major in international relations, which is why I'm asking. Is there a lot to do on weekends or are Palo Alto and the campus pretty dead? Sorry about the loads of questions! One last one... do you think undergrads would get a better overall education at a liberal arts college instead? One of the main reasons I liked it so much was that I thought I'd get the best of both worlds and gain several advantages of a liberal arts college at Stanford. Thoughts? thanks!!!</p>
<p>Yeah, the comments on studentsreview.com worried me as well. I think I read them back in September and they really threw me. I'm planning on majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, and I'd hate to be treated "as a student who doesn't learn anything substantive" and live with the conception that "those who go into humanities are not smart and don't work hard."</p>
<p>Don't worry about those reviews, those are just written by the rare people who have had very negative experiences at Stanford. Of course every school has flaws, but I've talked to so many people who give over-the-top praises about Stanford, both current students and alumni. I think that's what ultimately pushed me into choosing Stanford over Harvard or MIT, because even some students at those other schools told me that they hated the atmosphere or flat-out I should choose Stanford over their school.</p>
<p>Stanford's population is much bigger than the typical small liberal arts school, so there's less closeness just because of the size, but I still get a sense of community and spirit. I think advising isn't as bad as it's made out to be; I haven't declared a major yet but during freshman year you get 2 advisors, and the upperclassmen are all really eager to help with anything. There is racial segregation which becomes very apparent after freshman year (which also isn't helped with the ethnic-themed housing and ethnic frats/sororities), but I don't sense any negative racial tensions at all. The major thing that Stanford lacks is a college town, but that keeps most of the activity on campus. It's nice sometimes to make weekend trips to SF or go out to Palo Alto for dinner, but otherwise the most exciting things to do on weekends are usually parties, which don't cater to everyone's idea of fun. There's lots of fun to be found in the dorms; with at least 80-90 students in your building something's bound to happen.</p>
<p>As for dreamer9's last question, that can never be answered for sure. Both Stanford and liberal arts colleges have their pros and cons, and it's up to you to decide what kind of school you'd be best suited to.</p>
<p>Laurak, there is a friendly war between fuzzies and techies, and I do think the school is slightly biased toward the techies just because so many more units are required to complete the majors and the curves for those classes make them far more competitive. However, from my own view as a premed, I admire the fuzzies too because I know a lot of us premeds and engineers cannot write an A-worthy paper for the world. It's a matter of differences in learning and thinking, and I think ultimately both sides respect each other.</p>
<p>the thing about the negative posts about the student review is that it said it only applies to the engineering school. I am sure all other majors at Stanford have excellent times at stanford, but it is the engineer majors' experiences that I am worried about, for I want to major in that area....</p>
<p>People go to Stanford TO major in engineering more than nearly every other school besides the scary tech schools, which, if you want any sort of college experience that isn't all work and no play, you can't get if you go to one of them. Like pinky said, the review is noTorious for being the people who don't like Stanford... most of us don't feel the need to post on such a board because we don't feel the need to defend the awesomeness of our school... it's totally self-evident.</p>
<p>ok thanks... that really helped. Those reviews did have me doubting my view of Stanford though at least a bit. Also, when you choose housing, do they allow you to pick which dorm you want to be in or just options like co-ed, all frosh etc.?</p>
<p>I'd really like to know about spending at Stanford. I know it's a really expensive area, but I have the feeling most spending is done on campus. (I spent the summer at Duke however, where the motto was "Duke likes to rip you off.") I don't really understand my financial aid package (17 pay 2.5 loans 22 grants) - what will I have to pay on top of that? Does that mean my parents are expected to contribute 17 to tuition and then pay 5k more for XY and Z required expenses? What will I be expected to buy? (Note: This summer I learned Amazon is your friend for textbooks.)</p>