<p>I will be attending Stanford in the fall as a freshman. I was just wondering to current Stanford students right now if there’s anything they wish they knew before they came, or any tips we should know.
For an example, like they wish they took certain classes, didn’t take certain classes, or what quarter we should try to get certain classes?
And IHUM recommendations??? I was thinking Humans and Machines, Beyond Survival, or Art of Living?
Any suggestions?</p>
<p>THANK YOU!</p>
<p>Many people here thought of themselves as introverts before coming. Most of them now act like somewhat extroverted. It’s not so much an effort as it is a cultural infection.</p>
<p>Also, you’re effectively guaranteed that you’ll be accepted for whatever you are, so there is no palpable advantage to trying to act like something you’re not. Unless you’re a meanie or a cliquey.</p>
<p>GeekNerd, thanks for that post–I appreciate hearing about the big picture at least as much as about specific details. Maybe your first observation (that former introverts find themselves more outgoing there) stems from your second one (that everyone is accepted for who they are). ; )</p>
<p>Have you come across many meanies or cliqueys? I can imagine some kids may show up and seem that way because they are nervous or insecure about the huge transition, but then it would mostly go away as they become more acclimated…does that sound about right?</p>
<p>One of my best friends described themselves as being a really mean person. The person has yet to precipitate that behavior.</p>
<p>Start your homework shortly after it has been assigned. The night before you might find that your assignment begs some mulling over. Don’t insist on doing it in one sitting.</p>
<p>Don’t take 20 hours of in-class commitment Fall Quarter.</p>
<p>Take Social Dances of North America, by Richard Powers. Sign up for that the day registration opens. Popular classes fill quickly. You’ll meet a random sample of the school in this class, and it equips you for dances fairly well.</p>
<p>Renew you PO box promptly when the e-mail comes around.</p>
<p>If you’re going to be up at 4AM, get something to eat before 2AM, which is when everything closes.</p>
<p>Get access to a community center, so you can have a building (other than the library) to study in after hours.</p>
<p>Always have your student card on you.</p>
<p>Most people won’t have dates for frosh dances. Go with a bunch of friends.</p>
<p>Courserank is useful. </p>
<p>Get your RA’s phone numbers as soon as you can. This will be good for lock-outs.</p>
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<p>And your towel with you, of course.</p>
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<p>What number of in-class hours would you recommend as the upper limit?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>thanks so much for all the help!</p>
<p>wat about for the IHUMS?</p>
<p>I’m a senior now, so a lot of your IHUMs are different than mine were, but my best friend took Humans and Machines back then and LOVED it. The fact that it is still around speaks volumes for it. Honestly though, IHUM is IHUM, and you will either love it or hate it; most hate it, I loved it. Something I wish I had known is not to worry TOO much about the “4-year plan.” Everyone worries about it, but it all works out in the end, seriously. I am managing a major and a minor without ever successfully making a 4-year plan, and yet worrying constantly about its absence in my life. Don’t waste the stress! Also, bring a great board game with you like Apples to Apples or Bananagrams.</p>
<p>Here are some things I’ve taken from my freshman year. Everyone’s experience is different, so take what you want, leave some behind. Sounds like you were asking for mostly academic related things, but it’s fun to look back on freshman year so all of this just sorta spilled out. Apologies for the length. </p>
<p>You should know…</p>
<p>This will be an incredible year for you. </p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to take some risks. Get out of your comfort zone. Talk to people you usually don’t hang out with. Get to really know people in your dorm! Everyone has a story. Don’t be so quick to judge others based on their actions or appearances. Go to the dorm events, they’re the best. </p>
<p>You will make friends who will become very close to you. I almost guarantee it. It might not be instantly, but by the end of the year you may find yourself wondering how you ever survived without these people.</p>
<p>Ok enough Hallmark moments. Stanford specific…</p>
<p>Get something that holds your ID card and your room key together. There’s a cool thing in the bookstore that’s like a short lanyard with a plastic ID holder on the end. I went through many lost ID cards before I finally bought one of those. Good investment.</p>
<p>Talk to your RA and staff. Just chill with them, hang out, whatever. They’re some of the coolest people on campus, but a lot of my dormmates saw them as older authority figures so there was frequently an unnecessary barrier there. </p>
<p>During NSO really make an effort to meet a lot of your dormmates. Cliques form fast. The people I talked with during NSO and the first week were people I could have conversations with anytime throughout the rest of the year even if we weren’t good friends because we had this tiny connection from the beginning of the year. On the other hand, most people didn’t have the same kind of rapport with people in the dorm they didn’t talk to before cliques were established. </p>
<p>But ignore the formation of cliques. If you have a solid group of friends, that’s cool. But be open to whoever. Eat meals with whoever. Talk with whoever. Or you might be a member of that clique who doesn’t talk to anyone else or do anything with anyone else. It doesn’t seem fun to have that be the only thing people constantly say about you behind your back. </p>
<p>Do Secret Snowflake only if you’re gonna do 5. It’s 5 or nothing, baby. </p>
<p>Go to class. Seriously. Even Ihum unless you guys are watching a movie or something. I regret skipping classes so much. But if class overlaps with something epic like seeing the Dalai Lama (he’s going to be on campus in October. Get your tickets) or going to Coachella, skip dat shiz. </p>
<p>Go to athletic games aside from football. Volleyball is so much fun to watch. Gymnastics. Synchronized swimming. </p>
<p>The neighborhood surrounding East Campus / Mayfield Ave is beautiful. Explore it! It is also filled with massive dream houses. </p>
<p>Warning: Late Night (fast food sold until 2 am at various places on campus) will most likely make you gain weight.
But it hits the spot after a night of frat party hopping.
And after a late study sesh. And with friends. Pretty much, ANY TIME. but watch the lbs. </p>
<p>Beware the first weekend of college (after NSO). It’s friggin insane. The night many freshman discover their limits… by going over them. </p>
<p>And if you’re unhappy during NSO, that’s okay. I feel like most people are because they feel alone, homesick, insecure. Don’t hide in your room, be proactive.</p>
<p>Being locked out of your room sucks. Remember to have your key with you at all times. (the small lanyard thing makes this easy).</p>
<p>When you have downtime, chill with people in the dorm instead of losing yourself in netflix watch instantly. </p>
<p>It’s nice to have friends outside of your dorm. Make some friends that don’t live in your dorm. </p>
<p>Proofread the emails you send out to the chat list. lol. </p>
<p>College is what you make of it. When your dorm wants to go broomballing at midnight but you don’t go cuz you want to finish your problem set, you may regret it. The people who went then finished their problem set at 4 in the morning after they got back most definitely did not regret the few hours of lost sleep for an epic game of broomball that will always be remembered. </p>
<p>Speaking about problem sets, work together with people in your dorm. </p>
<p>Keep a journal, or record some memorable events. Your memory will fail you but your pen won’t! </p>
<p>All nighter? Same story for at least two other people in your dorm at any given night. This is a good bonding opportunity. COMPUTER CLUSTER! </p>
<p>IHUM is all right. The overwhelming opinion is that it is a complete waste of time, but I disagree. I’ve always expected to have to read classic literature in college, and then write papers about it. It’s really not that bad especially if you’re interested in the course material. </p>
<p>Follow the bike directions on the circles. </p>
<p>20 units is killer. I had serious issues winter quarter because of such a heavy workload. Watch yo’self. </p>
<p>Don’t take yourself so seriously. If you get a grade you aren’t pleased with, realize what went wrong and apply that to the next assignment or class. </p>
<p>Dining hall food can get repetitive. Be creative if you want. Animal fries, anyone? Frozen yogurt trifle? All the ingredients are there. </p>
<p>Explore the campus! The Dish, the observatory, Campus Drive Loop (running the loop is great exercise and a nice tour of the campus), the stables, other dining halls, etc. </p>
<p>MILK STANFORD FOR ALL IT’S WORTH. You’re paying for it. There are a lot of resources, many which go untouched. Grants, research, connections, etc. Don’t do the bare minimum… someone else would’ve gladly taken your spot at Stanford and done much more with it. </p>
<p>The green library has pretty much every dvd. Movie night, yay.</p>
<p>You will encounter mean people. Probably some in your dorm. Don’t let em get to you. </p>
<p>Fountain hopping is overrated. </p>
<p>Establish relationships with professors you like. Office hours. Genuine questions and interest in the material. </p>
<p>You’re here for an education, but much valuable learning comes from the people around you and from the life experiences with them. </p>
<p>Don’t take classes just because it fulfills a GER and you don’t want to take the time to find a class that actually would do you some good. Ugh, my big regret.</p>
<p>I’m really excited for you. A little jealous, in fact. Freshman year, with all its ups and downs, was one of the best years of my life. Have fun and learn.
Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions.</p>
<p>^thanks for the awesome reply</p>
<p>i have asked so many people and never gotten that kind of answer :)</p>
<p>whoa, great advice! thanks :)</p>
<p>I didnt know that cliques form that quickly. whats your advice on making a “solid group of friends”? and how awkward or fun is NSO?</p>
<p>ditto that that’s a great post!! so true. i laughed hard at the note about secret snowflake and about proofreading emails on the chat list, hahaha…</p>
<p>not to interject on badandelion, but i will put in my 2 cents. i also think that cliques form fast, but they also dissolve and grow just as quickly freshman year. everyone is still trying to find themselves. your original group of friends may not be the one you stick to all year, and you can be in multiple “cliques” (i hate that term) and have many friends from many places.
anyway, cliques form fast because let’s face it - NSO is fun, but it’ll be very fast paced and awkward b/c you have all these events to attend and unfamiliar traditions to learn and stuff to plan and nobody knows anyone or anywhere or what they’re doing and it’s all supposed to be really fun and it kinda seems like you’re supposed to love it and have tons of fun and friends immediately but this is impossible. it will be weird and awkward and tiring but fun and it gets much much better after the first couple of weeks. i think a lot of people have a hard time in the very beginning because it’s Stanford - you’re supposed to love it, right? and you feel bad if you don’t because it’s such a great opportunity. but it is hard being away from home and adjusting to this new and different experience, so don’t feel like everything has to be great immediately. i guarantee it will get SO MUCH better after the beginning.</p>
<p>What is the availability of e-textbooks? Is it currently possible to go entirely paper-free as far as textbooks are concerned?</p>
<p>@earthwise</p>
<p>thanks for the awesome reply! I really feel much better now because thats exactly what I wanted to hear haha!</p>