Tell me about SLE

<p>I just decided to enroll and withdraw all of my regular decision apps. I'm completely smitten with Stanford. That said, I've been looking into what will be confronting me my freshman year, and I've come across a lot of stuff about the Structured Liberal Education program. I see a lot of SLE people saying their anti-social stereotype is completely untrue, but do people outside the program think that? Is it worth all of the work? My studies will ultimately be geared more towards math and science, not the humanities, but I do have a solid interest in philosophy and the like. Can any current students both in and not in the program comment on it?</p>

<p>I have the same question</p>

<p>I'm not SLE but I lived in the half-SLE dorm. As for the anti-social bit, it is true and untrue. Some of our hardest partyers were SLE but many of the SLE kids are more introverted. If you are SLE and want to party, you can definitely find people to do that with or make friends in other dorms. In general, East Flo Mo (where SLE is housed) is tamer than other dorms. </p>

<p>Also, about half of the SLE kids live in four class housing and half in all-frosh Alondra (I think its about half and half). Four class dorms are generally tamer than all-frosh and there is a good chance you will get placed into one of them. However, there were a couple of kids from the four class SLE dorms that spent every night partying in Alondra with us. You can seek out easily the social atmosphere you want. Keep in mind that SLE may change dramatically next year and my info may be off (they are thinking about expanding it etc...)</p>

<p>So I would say not generally antisocial, but maybe more cerebral (athletes mostly don't have the time for SLE but with exceptions).</p>

<p>Is it worth the work? I'm not in it but...most SLE kids like the comprehensive nature of the program as well as the direct contact with profs. Plus, you don't have to leave the dorm to go to class!</p>

<p>If you are math/science, keep in mind that SLE is 9 units/quarter. You really don't want to start with more than 15-18 first quarter (depending upon your preparation). This leaves you room for 2 big 4-5 unit classes at most. If you are engineering/pre-med/other really tracked science, SLE can be hard and you won't have time for introsems which you should make room for. Only 5 of the about 15 people in the dorm who began the year SLE & premed were still that at the end of the year. </p>

<p>Have any more questions about SLE ask and I'll ask around. :)</p>