Hey guys, I'm seriously considering applying to Stanford and I'm really interested in knowing about their class size. I've heard so many different things online and I'm not sure how accurate they are. Anyone from Stanford or who's got some reliable info, could you help me understand what to expect? How big are typical classes there and does the size change as you progress through your major? Thanks!
Hello! When looking at class sizes at Stanford, it's important to remember it can vary based on the type of class and the year level. As a top-tier institution, Stanford prides itself on its commitment to fostering close relationships between students and faculty.
The most recent official data from Stanford reports that approximately 74% of its classes have fewer than 20 students, and only around 6% of classes have 50 or more students. This suggests that for most of your classes at Stanford, you'll be in a somewhat intimate learning environment which facilitates close interaction with your instructors and peers.
As you delve deeper into your chosen major, you could expect classes to become smaller. Seminar-style classes and more advanced courses within specific majors typically have fewer students than the large introductory lectures, allowing for more specialized instruction and discussion.
Of course, the specifics can depend on the department or course subject, but overall, most students report a reasonably personal academic experience, despite Stanford's status as a larger research university. So while some larger lecture classes, especially introductory ones, are somewhat inevitable, their occurrence should be limited.
Hope this clarifies things for you!
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