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What are the best majors to chose at Stanford University?

Hi! I'm a sophmore in high school and I would like to know the pros and cons of Stanford University. For example, what is Stanford's top majors, is it a good university, and what is its admission process? Thanks! #college #college-major #university #college-admissions #college-majors #stanford

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Ann’s Answer

High Luka,

This question is a little trickier to answer. Stanford is an extremely reputable school, and has a lot of really great programs. However, my recommendation is that you start with thinking about what subjects and careers interest you. I have gone through a lot of school, and I have counseled thousands of college students. From my experience, if you don't love what you are learning, then you will surely struggle. I am going to include some exercises I have my college students do when they are considering changing majors. Please let me know, if you have further questions.

Ann recommends the following next steps:

Identify which subjects in enjoy and which you don't like or struggle with.
Make a list of all the careers you are interested in.
Check out the careers you think you might like on https://www.onetonline.org/. This site will tell you the skills and education you need. Look at the type of knowledge need and narrow down you focus to subject you are good or that interest you
Check out Stanford's programs to see if you have a match.
Thank you comment icon Ms. Burk, thank you so much for your answer and the above steps! Luka
Thank you comment icon Of course! Ann Gianoglio Burk, MBA
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Gwen’s Answer

Hello Luka!  I agree 100% with the previous response that was shared with you in that you definitely have to do the research and think about what you most enjoy studying to ensure you choose a major that is best for you.   I have a son who is currently a Sophomore attending Stanford University (class of 2021) so I thought I would share our Stanford experience with you and some of the insights my son shared with me after completing his Freshman year.  Pros - there are so many positives about this school.  The campus itself is the most beautiful campus of all we visited; pictures really do not do it justice.  The weather is great year-round, the food is excellent and very health-focused, and the dorms are pretty nice.  Overall it is an atmosphere that is a bit more laid-back than some might expect.   I also have a son who graduated from Harvard in May 2017 and the general atmosphere between the two schools is night and day in terms of intensity and competitiveness.  Stanford has great athletic programs and of course they offer an extensive variety of majors to pursue and not all are technically focused.  You will have opportunities to learn from world-class teachers that bring very unique perspectives to their classrooms. Cons - Stanford is on a Quarter system which means the school year starts later than most/all colleges and they finish later in mid-June.  This can be a challenge as you pursue internships but I imagine companies will work with Stanford students to accommodate.  With the quarter system, the coursework is much faster paced and can be challenging to keep up especially if you get behind for some reason.  My son had a difficult time transitioning from a semester system to quarters but by the end of the year, he seemed to have figured it all out and feels more confident going into his Sophomore year.  The campus is huge and riding a bicycle to class is about the only way to make sure you get where you need to be on-time.  There isn't much for Stanford students to do in the city of Palo Alto so there tends to be less things to do off-campus unless you travel to San Francisco which is not difficult, but it does take about 45 mins-1 hour one way.  Travel between your home and Stanford will always be a full-day event - you get adjusted to this and just know flying days are long days.  Admissions process - my son chose to apply under the Early Admissions  option while he continued to apply to other schools.  The Common Application is your main application but there are a few additional short-essay questions to complete as well.  You will likely have an interview with a local alumni once your application is submitted.  Aside from that, there is nothing more to the admissions process than waiting for an answer.  If you are accepted, you and your family will be invited to attend their Admits Weekend in the spring - I recommend you go as it will let you experience the campus firsthand.  Finally I will leave you with this - my son was accepted to both Harvard and Stanford.  He chose Stanford and does not regret his decision.  Please let me know if you have other questions about Stanford.  Best of luck to you!

Thank you comment icon Ms. Hagan, thank you so much for your answer and for sharing your experience! Luka
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