Stanford University—with its sunny suburban campus in California—enjoys the prestige that comes with being a globally recognized institution. Since its founding in 1885, this school has produced some of the world’s most forward-thinking minds. Proudly wearing the colors of cardinal and white puts you beside famed alumni who have established innovative companies like Google, Nike and Instagram. If you think that’s impressive, then remember that we’re only talking about the tech sphere here. Stanford University has produced noteworthy figures in a variety of disciplines; you could be among them by rolling in one of 40 departments across three academic schools. Whether you aspire to be the next billionaire, Nobel Laureate or astronaut, there’s a program here to help you achieve success. You can’t do that all on your own. Outstanding professors have a wealth of rich experiences and connections to get you going. Read on to discover the best and the worst that this celebrated college has to offer.
Computer science is quickly becoming one of the nation’s most in-demand professions. Mehran Sahami prepares you for a bright future in the field with an approachable demeanor and well-prepared lectures. He even films and uploads his classes online for future reference—convenient! Many students credit him with helping them fall in love with computer code, despite its obvious challenges. Do you have a sweet tooth? Well he might just give you a piece of candy for asking a good question.
Kurt Carrasquilla gets down to business when it comes to teaching, well, business. He has developed a very clear and concise teaching style over the years, and his insight into financial planning will become foundational knowledge for your future courses. In his classroom, no question goes unanswered. That philosophy brings everyone together, allowing what’s typically a complex subject to be viewed with a newfound depth. Yes, his lectures are hard. Yes, they’re definitely worth it in the end.
Stanford University has produced mathematicians aplenty. Economics professor Mark Tendall readies the next generation with his thorough instructions on working through equations. He’s known as a funny and interesting man with an undeniable enthusiasm for teaching. Exams are all straight-forward; there’s no trick questions to be found here. It’s not a shock that scholars regard him as one of the best professors in the department.
Chemistry experiments sometimes go up in flames. Unfortunately, so do Chris Moylan’s lectures. He promotes the kind of rigid and tense learning atmosphere where you feel uneasy asking a question or for help. Couple this with his arrogant attitude that veers toward snobbish, and you’ve got a formula for GPA detonation. Coursework is made as hard as possible for the sheer sake of it. Slip up on an assignment and he might not think twice about failing you. For insight and empathy, look elsewhere.
For science majors, physics is among the most grueling courses. You’re not going to be doing yourself any favors by taking it with Peter Michelson. His boring, disorganized lectures do little to prepare you for those impending tests. If you thought the practice test might be your saving grace, you thought wrong; little to no information provided on them is relevant to the exams—a major gripe among stressed out Stanford students. At the very least, it’s an incredibly taxing class to have to sit through.
John Ferejohn is in the game of politics—political science more specifically. To be blunt: students have absolutely no idea about what’s happening in his lectures. They’re far from concise, and his PowerPoint slides are prone to malfunction. The advice of many is to simply download the material in lieu of attendance. That might work out for some in terms of grades, but that’s not really what the college experience is about as a whole. Find someone who inspires you!
Now that you know which professors to seek out and which ones to skip, why not delve into the food options on campus.
Ryan James is a ’13 alumnus of Ohio University’s College of Arts & Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in writing and media. He currently works as a copywriter for a Fortune 500 e-commerce corporation based in Columbus, OH.