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NewsvineFor many graduating seniors, spring quarter senior year is defined by a mixture of excitement, fear and nostalgia. In the future, seniors may remember fondly their final quarter spent with drawmates, old friends and senior class events. But how do academics fit into all of this? How is the graduating class of 2008 spending its final quarter academically on the Farm?
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We all know that Resident Assistant (RA) down the hall cramming to finish an honors thesis, or that senior friend frequently spotted atop an inner tube in the Claw. What is going on? Is the spring of senior year taken seriously anymore? Or, on the other end of the spectrum, are Stanford seniors taking spring quarter too seriously?
“I chose classes based on interest only,” remarked Alex Bandza ‘08, a graduating senior who is taking 20 units in addition to writing an honors thesis. Bandza admits he is taking on a lot, but has no regrets.
According to Paddy McGowan, director of institutional research at the Office of the Registrar, that puts Bandza amongst the 277 graduating students who are currently enrolled in 18 units or more. That means nearly 1 in 5 seniors and co-terms graduating this spring have chosen to spend their final quarter with an 18+ unit quarter.
“These last two weeks will definitely be crunch time,” Bandza admitted. But even with such academic rigor, Bandza says he still finds time to go out approximately once a month.
This phenomenon is more rampant than ever. The registrar reported that 42 students have chosen to enroll in more than 20 units, exceeding the 20-unit limit by submitting a petition or by enrolling in both undergraduate and graduate units. Is taking such a large course load at the end of senior year the latest Stanford trend?
Recent graduate Jon Chang ‘07 weighed in with a word of caution for any juniors planning to go down this path.
“When you leave college, you leave college,” he said. “It’s not the same anymore.” Chang thinks fondly upon memories from his final quarter at Stanford. “Spend your time at Stanford with friends, and enjoy the moment.”
Although Chang’s wisdom may be wise, it may not always be an option. Senior Sheppard Peng ‘08 is spending this quarter enrolled in 18 units to fulfill his language requirement, an entry-level class for his biology major and a General Education Requirement in ethics.
“I was so focused on my major that now I have to fit these requirements in at the end,” Peng commented.
There does exist a cohort of seniors like Peng on campus, but overall, statistics reveal that the class of 2008 also has a substantial number of seniors taking it easy, or, in some cases, taking no classes at all. The registrar reported that the average graduating, currently enrolled senior is taking 13.15 units — 12.77 is the average without co-terms.
In addition, 148 students are not enrolled in classes at all. In other words, nearly 10 percent of the graduating class has opted to take a graduation quarter, apply for a permit to attend or apply for a permit for services only. These three statuses all have slightly different implications, but all involve no units while remaining on campus. This situation, which some dub “Camp Stanford,” has become increasingly popular among seniors.
“It’s given me the opportunity to travel a bit, and relax before law school starts,” remarked Sean Sandoloski ‘08, who is thoroughly enjoying his time at Camp Stanford before beginning Yale Law School in the fall. “I work at undergraduate admission, and I joined Netflix,” explained Sandoloski in response to how he fills his time. “And those two aren’t always mutually exclusive.”
Academic Advisor Sally Mentzer of Undergraduate Advising and Research (UAR) offered a perspective on why Stanford seniors vary so much in their academic load.
“Each senior is so different,” she said. “Some will graduate fairly sure of what they want to do, while others are still weighing their options.”
Mentzer advises students of all class years, some of whom she advises throughout their entire four years at Stanford.
“The hardest senior to advise is one who has chosen something, but it is not in line with their true interests,” she added. Perhaps the dichotomy of some seniors knowing their career path while others still figure it out creates the dichotomous senior year spring quarter.