Students

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies:
It's a major with a social conscience.

What I like best about Urban Studies:
The incredible range of classes AND the other Urban Studies majors.

Favorite class / professor (and why):
Urban Politics with Professor Fraga. In an increasingly flattening and global world, I found it fascinating to learn about the local politics that affect peoples' daily lives.

Favorite book (and why): East of Eden by John Steinbeck. It's about family, California, and trying to fo the right thing, three of my favorite things.

Career goal / Future plans: I'd like to move to the East Coast next year, work for an education non-profit or in administration for a year or two, and then go to graduate school to get a masters in Education and my teaching credential.

Extracurriculars: Haus Mitt RA, Camp Kesem, VIS Tour Guide, FORGE, SPEaCK, and volunteering for Senator Obama's presidential campaign.

Something else you should know about me: I'm from Alameda, CA and have a lot of hometown pride.

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies:
With more than half of the world’s population living in urban areas, positive change in these environments is not only appealing but necessary.  The city has infinite potential; it is our responsibility to draw it out.  According to Lewis Mumford, “To embody these new possibilities in city life...and to dramatize the activities themselves in appropriate individual and urban structures, forms the task of the coming generation.”

What I like best about Urban Studies:
The Urban Studies Department at Stanford is a great size – small enough that you can get to know the director and the faculty, and large enough to provide a range of classes for students.

Favorite book (and why):
Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities is just too inspiring not to top my list (and probably many others’ lists...).

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies: I chose Urban Studies because I love to explore ideas related to how environment, space, and place shape human behavior and the organization of communities.

What I like best about Urban Studies: I greatly value the department’s small, flexible nature. Not only have I always received incredible faculty support to pursue all of my academic interests, I have been encouraged to draw upon resources at Stanford across seemingly rigid departmental lines. Finally, I am constantly impressed by my conscientious, fascinating, and driven Urban Studies peers.

Favorite class / professor (and why): Urban Politics with Fraga, Introduction to Cultural Studies with Ebron, and Political Theories of Civil Society with Reich and Sievers have been the most provocative and rewarding classes that I have taken toward my Urban Studies major. From various angles, all three of these courses deeply impacted my view of the world and challenged assumptions I did not know I held. I love classes that moves me to think beyond the immediate material.

Favorite book (and why): One of my very favorites is Plainsong by Kent Haruf because the small town Western setting and the vivid characters capture some calm, modest Colorado sentiment that speaks to my concept of home.

Career goal / Future plans: Entirely unknown. I hope to do something that integrates my interests in public service, creative expression, and community building.

Other academic interests (majors, minors): I am also majoring in English and my thesis work is largely couched in the discipline of Cultural and Social Anthropology (CASA).

Extracurriculars: Alternative Spring Break, Stanford Students for Choice, STAMP, cooking in co-ops around campus

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies:
I want to learn about the systems that help explain and reinforce the patterns of inequality that we see in cities and communities today.  Urban Studies is great for that because it is all about change with an emphasis on social justice.  I have freedom as an Urban Studies major to choose classes from a wide variety of disciplines so that I can take ownership over my education and my plans to apply it during and after college.

What I like best about Urban Studies:
I like the Urban Studies Program’s emphasis on direct involvement with people and organizations in the communities we hope to work with and learn from.   This fosters creativity in understanding social realities, as so much of what we study generates an awareness of social issues rather than teaches established answers to social ills.  Urban Studies exists because such "answers" do not.  I am glad to be learning with a community of people who are interested in exploring and pursuing alternatives to the injustices that resonate with us.

Career goal / Future plans:
I would like to be involved with kids, maybe as a social worker.

Extracurriculars:
Stanford Kenpo Karate, Stanford Foster Care College Project, Plant It: Earth

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies:
I'm interested in some day working in the public sector or philanthropy

What I like best about Urban Studies:
I like that it teaches people how to think about real world issues by helping people understand it from a wholistic perspective (political, economic, social, etc)

Career goal / Future plans:
I'm interested in going into media and entertainment and expanding the images and challenging the stereotypes of underrepresented groups in the media.

Other academic interests:
Coterm in Communication (Media Studies)

Extracurriculars:
Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Ujamaa RA 2007-2008, MAC Coordinator for the CDC, Technical Communications Program

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Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies:
I like the fact that Urban Studies is such a broad field. Since I'm not 100% positive on what I'm going to be doing after Stanford, this major enables me to keep my options open until I make a definite decision.

What I like best about Urban Studies:
Urban Studies is interdisciplinary, and that's one of my favorite aspects of it. I get to experience a lot of different types of classes, from art to politics. The courses required for this major are varied and interesting, which keeps me excited about my classes.

Favorite class / professor (and why):
So far, my favorite class has been a tie between two of the core classes: Introduction to Urban Studies, taught by Professor Kahan, and Urban Design, taught by Professor Gast. The first had really enlightening class discussions, and the second was incredibly different from any class I've ever taken. Both were very interesting courses.

Favorite book:
This is a tough one because I love to read. I think, having to choose, it might be Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. It's the first book in a (really long and increasingly entertaining) series and it was amazing.

Extracurriculars:
Sigma Theta Psi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.; Stanford Dining Committee; Organizational Conduct Board; Founder's Day Committee.  In my spare time, I like to play tennis with friends

Other academic interests (majors, minors):
I'm hoping to double-minor in Architecture and Modern Languages

Career goal / Future plans:
I haven't quite decided for sure on any career plans yet, but for now I'm planning on applying to graduate school for Architecture.

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies:
Urban Studies is the major that I feel allows me the most control over selecting the courses I use to cater to my areas of professional interest. For my education, Urban Studies' competitor has been the Public Policy Program, which was turned down because it focused so much on the skill development side of things.  While those skills are necessary and something that I will develop, they for me seem to be demanded at the cost of applied learning about a field in public policy, such as Social Policy.  This dilemma is less the case with Urban Studies.

What I like best about Urban Studies:
Urban Studies is a flexible interdisciplinary program that has allowed me to choose the courses I apply to my major as long as I have a valid justification for how the courses are germane to my area of Urban Studies emphasis.

Extracurriculars:
I do not engage in "Collegiate" extracurricular activities, but am personally involved in numerous political activities, including, but not limited to, public transportation planning and advocacy and being a stakeholder of the Child Welfare System.

Other academic interests (majors, minors):
Public Policy, Law School, City/Urban Planning

Career goal / Future plans:
Law (Prosecutor or Appellate Court Attorney), Public Policy, and Transit Planning and Development

Something else you should know about me: My past is extremely extensive and dealt me many trials, tribulations, and down times. However, if I could change the past, I wouldn't because I love who I am today and if it weren't for my past, I may not be aspired to become the skilled, determined and goal-oriented person that I seek to be today.

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies: A lot of other majors that I was interested in seemed too constricting. Urban Studies opens doors to a lot of disciplines while letting students connect them to contemporary urban issues.

What I like best about Urban Studies: The fact that all the students truly care about the welfare of our cities is sort of bonding agent that makes classes enjoyable. In my senior seminar class, it’s great to get to learn about all of my peers’ research interests. Sometimes I fast-forward to the future and imagine that we’re all in some sort of community or city council meeting. There’s a lot of potential and talent in that room - very motivating!

Favorite class: Introduction to Urban Design – I enjoyed doing site visits in San Francisco and working in a team to think about and draw out our planning proposals for underdeveloped areas.

Favorite book: The Traveler’s Gift – this book encouraged me to pursue my passions and persevere through all the obstacles along the way. It’s also practical and beautifully written. I definitely recommend it.

Career goal / Future plans: I hope to eventually work/study in Pacific Island communities, either in the U.S. or in the Pacific Islands. I also have a passion for working with youth and have thought about working in a setting in which I could do a combination of direct service, such as counseling or teaching, and social entrepreneurship in education and performing arts.

Extracurriculars: Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, Polynesian dance (mainly Samoan and Tahitian)

Something else you should know about me: I am a true believer that San Diego honestly gets its title as America’s Finest City! 619, yeah!!!!

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies: 
I would like to learn more about how the government works to serve people within cities to improve life for all in my community.

What I like best about Urban Studies:
I like how we can automatically see what we learn in class in our surroundings.

Favorite class / professor (and why):
Race Ethnicity and the Future of California Politics- Professor Luis Fraga; This class covered all of the topics that would help me learn about the richness and diversity in the state of California.

Favorite book (and why):
Rain of Gold - Victor Villasenor

Extracurricular:
Part of derechos- Latino Pre-law society; have worked at El Centro Chicano for the last 3 years; was part of an Aztec dance group; will be an ETA at Casa Zapata this year; worked for Victoria's Secret; Worked as a New Student Orientation Coordinator for 2006; participated in the ATT Summer Management Program; Went to Stanford in Washington and worked with U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services;

Something else you should know about me:
I don't take no for an answer! I always find a way to overcome challenges. I am the oldest in my family, therefore my time at Stanford must be well spent to be an example to my younger sister. After graduating this year, I will be the third in my entire family to get a college degree, and nothing is going to stop me from going to graduate school.

Other academic interests (majors, minors):
I am planning on majoring in political science and have an interest in health as well as business. Although my interests are scattered I have high ambitions and a huge desire to help people.

Career goal / Future plans:
I would like to run for state politics at one point in my life if someone asks me to run for office, but for now my ambitions are to become a successful lawyer and business woman.

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies:
I tried HumBio and Psych and this major is smaller, more focused, more interesting

What I like best about Urban Studies:
The kind of student the major attracts and the professors

Favorite class / professor (and why):
The Urban Underclass with Professor Rosenfeld

Favorite book (and why):
The Bible - it's one of those books you can open again and again and it's always an entirely new journey

Career goal / Future plans:
inspire and be inspired

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies:
I took Urban Studies 110 freshman year and couldn’t get enough. 

What I like best about Urban Studies:
The people in the department, the variety of classes I have been able to take to fulfill the requirements of the major

Favorite class / professor (and why):
Fred Stout’s Utopia’s and Reality in Modern Urban Planning

Favorite book (and why):
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon.  No need to explain, it’s probably the best novel to turn up in recent history.

Career goal / Future plans:
Urban planner, ideally in a large city, overseas or working for a major real estate developer.

Extracurriculars:
Stanford Film Society Co-President, Theme Associate at La Maison Française

Favorite class / professor (and why):
The Urban Underclass, Michael Rosenfeld. This class is the truth. Great introduction to the major for me.

Favorite book:
The Giving Tree...oh, did you mean in Urban Studies?

Extracurriculars:
Sigma Theta Psi Multicultural Interest Sorority, Inc.

Something else you should know about me:
I don't fit in a box.

Other academic interests:
Also majoring in English Literature

Career goal / Future plans:
Save the world, of course.

What I like best about Urban Studies: I love the mix of disciplines that comprises Urban Studies and the blend of theory and practical applications in the curriculum.

Favorite class / professor (and why): Urban Underclass / Professor Rosenfeld (It gave me the ability to explain phenomena I always knew existed but could not justify.)

Favorite book (and why): San Manuel Bueno, Martir by Miguel de Unamuno (It challenged my conceptions of God and religion... in a language I only half-understood.)

Career goal / Future plans: Urban Planner, Project Manager/Consultant, Department of Transportation

Other academic interests (majors, minors): minoring in Architectural Design

Extracurriculars: Varsity Diving, Catch-A-Fyah Carribean Dance Group, SLE tutor

Something else you should know about me: I LOVE to dance.

Why I'm majoring in Urban Studies: I'm interested in the design of cities and architecture and hope to pursue a career in real estate development.

What I like best about Urban Studies: You have a great deal of freedom in picking classes that suit your interests.

Favorite class / professor (and why): Urban Studies 113/Gerald Gast: Introduction to Urban Design -- It is a very hands-on class that allows you to observe planning practices first-hand.

Favorite book (and why): Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi -- it's the book behing the movie Goodfellas. Real life mafia stories.

Career goal / Future plans: Real estate development.

Extracurriculars: Varsity Football, Rugby