stanford freshman's experience on the farm

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
21

<p>I went to a very academically intense high school so I was well prepared for Stanford classes. I have a bit less background in math/physics then some of my classmates but I have a solid enough background and good enough study skills that it works out. Socially... hmm... I went to an all girls high school and in almost every situation I interact with guys like any girl from a co-ed school would. The only exception is that I learned to see every guy as a potential prom date in high school and now there is still a tiny bit of that mentality, but here seeing every guy I meet as a potential boyfriend. I feel that in general I was pretty well prepared for college. </p>

<p>The one thing I wasn't prepared for is that I no longer get all As. It's MUCH harder to get a straight A here than it was in high school. It comes as a shock to most students that they aren't getting all As since most people (like me) assumed they probably still would be. </p>

<p>I don't think I'd change much about what I did in high school. I have really really good study habits which have actually improved since I've arrived on campus. The only thing I wish I had done is get into vocal performance so I could be in a cappella here because it is SO cool. Next year maybe. </p>

<p>I don't go off campus often. I went once for dinner in Palo Alto and visited a friend once in San Fran but that's it. I also went to Target one day to get stuff for Halloween. It's not hard to go off campus but there's enough on campus that most people don't bother. </p>

<p>If I knew what I know now last year Stanford would definitely be my first choice and I wouldn't have bothered apply to Yale or Swarthmore after getting in here EA. I don't think there's anyone here who wouldn't come back to Stanford if they could do it all over again. </p>

<p>Living expenses... hmm... that mostly depends on if you can put up with the same type of food every day. Once a week or so I usually get non-dining hall food, so maybe $5 or so for that. Total other expenses so far probably about $150 including pass to Flicks (they show recently released movies on campus once a week), any sports games, Halloween stuff, food for my room, etc. </p>

<p>For Thanksgiving there are families who will take in a couple of Stanford students for the day so they can not be all alone on Thanksgiving. </p>

<p>For the fin aid you're best off applying to whatever schools you want to go to and then compare fin aid packages. It's possible that for you you could get more aid from Stanford. Who knows.</p>

22

<p>how's the clubbing scene? =)
i always wondered if there were any clubs near stanford. haha, not that i'm a psycho party girl and not that it would affect my willingness to go there, but you know, i'm ready to have some fun in college, even if it's just on weekends after a killer week of school.</p>

23

<p>Do you know how the biology department up at Stanford is? I am especially interested in the human bio major. Also how are the english, chinese and economics departments at Stanford?</p>

<p>Finally, what is the social/party life like there? How are the frats?</p>

24

<p>I'm a prospective Humbio major, and let me tell you that is one of the deciding factors when I chose Stanford. No where else can you find a major as interesting as this one if you're interested in medicine. It not only gives you the scientific meat of biology, but also places science in a social context. The A side emphasizes the science part while the B side emphasizes the social science. For example, let's say you're studying human physiology in A. The disease. The mechanism. In part B, you'd be studying about the structure of our healthcare system. I'm taking an upper division class right now in HUMBIO called Healthcare in America: The Institution and Organization that Shape US Healthcare Policy. It's quite an amazing class. I feel like I've learned so much in the last 10 weeks.</p>

25

<p>Frats parties are only fun if you're with your friends. They get old pretty damn quickly. But come on, you're not going to college for the sole purpose of partying now are you? There are so much other stuff to do on campus than dancing to the same playlist of music week after week. I have to say, the happy hours at dorms are a lot of fun because it's a chance to socialize and be merry.</p>

<p>Financial aid at Stanford is amazing. They're paying every cent of my undergraduate education (even my books). It's comparable to that of MIT, but way better than Columbia.</p>

26

<p>Frats seem to be a kind of institution at Stanford. While they do not dominate the social scene as they do at say, Duke, several frats host parties each weekend, and some of them are quite out of control. At least once a weekend you hear sirens (taking kids to the hospital, usually). </p>

<p>There's a much larger variety to the social scene than I had thought. Yes, there is a large segment of the population that does the frat thing, but a lot of the row houses (smaller dorms) host smaller parties and there is always a unbelievably large number of cultural events each week. </p>

<p>As for "clubbing," you live near Palo Alto, so I doubt there's really much. I can't say for certain though. SF, however...</p>

27

<p>How hard is the humbio program static? Is it hard to get A's??? Is Stanford a good choice for premed???</p>

28

<p>I am not a Stanford student, but I can tell you that humbio and bio have the really high attrition rates...</p>

29

<p>i was just wondering who your peers are at Stanford. Are these people social and friendly or just complete lifeless brainiacs? Also, have any of them accomplished anything big in high school? Are there any surprising cases of students at Stanford with less-than-qualified stats? i.e. any students who had C's in high school, low SAT scores, etc?</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

30

<p>There is a surprisingly wide spectrum of students at Stanford. There are kids who have done amazing things, and then there are kids who just do normal things in high school and earn very good grades.</p>

<p>The ones with C's and low SAT's in high school will be the ones admitted for diversity purposes and athletes.</p>

31

<p>Let's not forget alumni either. There are kids here whose parents are on Stanford's departmental board, grandson of a previous president of Stanford, 4th generation legacy, etc. But this does not mean they aren't hardworking because some of them are very diligent. </p>

<p>When you matriculate college, you start to realize that the world is a lot bigger than grades and SATs. NO ONE asked about your SAT scores. It doesn't make you any less of a person. </p>

<p>We just had cafe night last night (ie a dorm talent show). Everyone here is so freaking talented and passionate and FRIENDLY. They keep school in perspective. There are people here who can sing like Alicia Key on the piano AND swing fireballs on their hands to bollywood music. There are people who can a masterpiece on the trombone with a 10 minute practice session and later sing in an operatic voice. Then there are people who can write the most powerful and vivid piece of poetry that will make you cry (I can attest to this because I did). There are blackbelts in Tae Kwon Doe, swing dancers, a cappella singers, etc. Anyway, I love my dorm THAT much more to see just how more beautiful everyone is.</p>

32

<p>Hmm, I haven't taken the HUMBIO core but the class I am taking right now is fantastic. Outside readings span from 40 pgs to 70 pgs a week on healthcare issues. Some of them can be very dry, while other can be captivating. I'm in a class full of upperclassmen, and I studied my @$$ off for the midterm, so it was not that bad. Here was what the exam consisted of: 7 short answers and 1 long essay based on 400 pages of reading and 8 chapters in the book. You have 50 minutes to write a coherent paper on the evolution of HMO.</p>

33

<p>Wow, Staticsoliloquy congrats on the financial aid! You're living my dream.:0</p>

34

<p>Is Stanford generous with financial assistance?</p>

35

<p>yes, very much so.</p>

36

<p>There's a myriad work-study opportunities.</p>

37

<p>um, i'm a freshman at stanford too and can answer questions. i'm from southern ca as well and i'm probably going to be a fuzzy major, although i don't know exactly what yet. i live in a four-class dorm, even though i really wanted to be in an all frosh, but i love my dorm so much and the people i have met here are awesome. there are upperclassmen who are kind of reserved, but some of my best friends are sophomores and transfers and there are always people to help and give advice and let you know about opportunities (this comes in VERY handy when it's the night before problem sets are due!)</p>

<p>it's funny that one of the early questions was about teaching in the math department. i am currently taking math 51 (the class after ap calc) and found exactly that...a teacher who didn't speak english well but more importantly couldn't teach at all. it sucked and i'm struggling in the class for other reasons (like my lack of liking math in general) but the good thing is that there are a ton of lectures, and since they don't take roll i just go to a better one and it helps a lot. there are good and bad teachers here, but overall they are better than high school and a lot of them are amazing. the recommendation i would have for future freshman is that they use the shopping period to not only shop for good classes, but also for good professors and TAs. I'm going to do that in future, for sure!</p>

<p>I'd also like to say, for the record, that athletes aren't stupid! Seriously, one of the smartest people on my floor is a varsity athlete who was recruited, etc.</p>

<p>i have to say that i've never seen so many friendly people in one place as i've seen in stanford. everyone is so open and inviting and nice that it kind of freaks you out at first. you do have to take the initiative to talk to people, its not like you can just sit in your room from day one and expect others to reach out to you, but it's surprising how fast you click with the people around you. there are a couple super hard core kids here, they are in a very small minority.</p>

<p>academically it's manageable, athough i've been having a little trouble because of my propensity to procrastinate (what i'm doing right now...) but i also came from a less rigorous high school than some and i kind of slacked off towards then end of the school year because i knew what i could get away with. i definitely didn't come in expecting all As, but i don't really know many people who did.</p>

<p>going through school, i never really believed it when people told me i would like college so much better or that it would really be that different, but it is. I can't remember the last time i felt this happy and active :)</p>

<p>mmm...i can answer questions about classes, fuzzy stuff a little bit, the band (to a certain extent), dorm whatever, social life, etc.</p>

38

<p>what type of school activites are you guys in?...like extracurriculars. how are the club sports?</p>

39

<p>What's the band like? Are they really as energetic and "crazy" as peolple say?</p>

40

<p>The marching band is pretty crazy. It seems like anyone can join, and the ability to play your instrument is not essential ;). But everybody loves them.</p>

<p>There are other groups (wind ensemble, jazz band) if you are in it for the music.</p>