Stanford athletes had access to list of ‘easy’ courses

The article was a joke. The issue wasn't that easy classes exist (as they do at all schools) but that there was a list prepared specifically for athletes, and whether that list gave athletes an unfair advantage over the rest of the student body (most of whom have perfect SAT's, etc.)

There are no allegations of cheating, of players making grades they didn't earn, trancript falsification or the like. And the professors whose classes appeared on the list denied the classes were easy.

Wow. A real scandal.

quote:

Originally posted by fanofgame:
[quote]How do you feel these numbers apply to other academic institutions?[/quote

Its the same.At least at USC it is.16 units a semester is required.Seeing a counselor, and advisor each semester before allowed to sign up for classes is required.

These kids work their tails off.It is tough stuff and I think too many parents of young kids way unerestimate the workload, and how many frosh struggle in these types of school.

And then on top of school you have to perform on the field,It is TOUGH.It is a life lesson that if they stick with it , they will be excellent job prospects as they have had to deal with a lot.

I am with you, mine had to take 18 whether he wanted to or not the first year and that was tough on him. I am sure he took some stuff that was "easy", I know he signed up for an online class thinking it easy, he claimed that was the hardest class he had to take (finance as an elective).
I am sure that taking particular classes pertains to each individual student.
I don't remember working half as hard in college as son did, and I never played a sport either.

quote:

Originally posted by DXBIBLE:
There are no allegations of cheating,
Wow. A real scandal.

Shame Shame SHAME! I had a feeling there was SOMETHING fishy going on there...

How can we forget Andrew Luck who has decided to stay at Stanford for his last year instead of being drafted to get his architectural design degree? He is an impressive student athlete!!

I also know another Stanford football player who is majoring in business and will graduate this December after playing for the past 4 years.

It is definitely up to the student athlete to choose his courses wisely - to know his education goals, educational weaknesses & strengths, and what he can handle.

The academic advisor at my nephew's D1 school definitely advised him to take an easier load and an easier major - he didn't listen - took what he needed to to be on track to major in what he wanted.

quote:

I don't remember working half as hard in college as son did, and I never played a sport either.

That point cannot be emphasized enough and is one not often appreciated by 1st-time parents of athletes. Along with infielddad's numbers from his class.

As much as I thought I knew about college and time commitments, I was still stunned at the commitment level needed by a student-athlete.

A great resource for all students is ratemyprofessors.com. Having the right professors is far more important than having easy courses.

An article by a former Stanford football player about this subject. Just thought it was interesting and relevant.

Stanford football player writes about recent 'list' flap

Took a hard science in college. 22 hours were just class and labs. We put in at least another 20 hours a week in the lab [not mandatory], plus at least 20 hours a week in the library studying extra. I can't imagine a student doing all that plus sports practice, travel, and games and not crashing eventually!

.

quote:

Originally posted by TPM: I am sure he took some stuff that was "easy", I know he signed up for an online class thinking it easy, he claimed that was the hardest class he had to take....

...have to laugh...mine was ultra academic...and decidedly non musical...and the hardest class he had in college was likley a music appreciation class he took as an elective...one that the music majors avoided like the plague...one taught by a music Nazi...whoda thunk it?

Yes, It REALLY pays to know not only what but WHO...

44
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OB44,
I do believe that son was going to sign up for a music appreciation class, until he heard how hard it was. Not that he was looking for the easy way out, but he, like most believe that electives would be easier than regular course study, not true.

I heard that one of the QB's who was a redshirt (5th year) took a cooking class one semester and really struggled with it.

quote:

Originally posted by infielddad:
Here is the breakdown of the week for most Stanford Athletes:
Total hours: 168;
Amount of time in practice/sport participation: 42%;
Amount of time for extra athletic work/mental preparation to excel: 18%;
Amount of time in class and studying: 34%;
Amount of social time: 4-5%;
Amount of time for personal attention/personal reflection: less than 1%.

These guys don't sleep? Wow, they are super-human.

Sure athletes have it easy and take easy courses.That must be why my son was in his hotel room on a Saturday night doing homework.......in one of thhe most beautiful cities in the US....Waikiki,Hawaii!!!

When I played in college the coach called me and asked what courses I was going to take, He then pulled out a file with a list of teachers that taught those subjects and recommended I take those instructors for these courses. Since athletes had first choice of classes I was able to get these instructors. To me, there is nothing wrong with this. The majority of students are always trying to take the easiest instructor for whatever class they are taking. The only advantage I got was that the research was already done for me and as an athlete, I was pretty much guaranteed the course I wanted.

I know two kids who have been/are at Stanford. Both are class acts, and I have no doubt they can make it academically there with or without those courses. I notice it's not a list of "secret" courses. Odds are the Journalism school kids are just mad the courses were filled before they could register.

Here's one that those intrepid journo majors might want to look into when they sober up Monday morning.

At my institution of higher learning, the pre-med kids had it wired from Day One. They purposely tanked their achievement tests in math and science so they could take the kiddie math and science for elementary education majors. They'd get A's just for waking up, and sat with 4.0 GPA's after two years when they headed into the tough courses. That way a C in microbiology or one of the nasty courses wouldn't kill their GPA and they still got into med school.
The downside was that the curve was blown for the El Ed majors, because of all the smart kids invading their sanctuary. They didn't know what hit them, so with their terrible GPA's, they ended up teaching in Madison, Wisconsin.

I played baseball and majored in economics. For electives I took every easy course possible. There were courses I had to take in summer school and the fifth year due to only being available in the afternoon. Who cares! I got my degree and a job. In the first interview with all the major corporations I was first asked 1) what's your major? and 2) What's your gpa? They didn't ask if I took Rocks For Jocks (Geology 101), Praying For A's (Theology 101), A's In The Hood (Urban Studies 101) and available Poly Sci courses at every level that was an easy A. They didn't ask if it took an extra semester to graduate.

My daughter played softball and majored in forensic science. I told her to take as many easy electives as possible. She was still awarded the gold key. She got the job she wanted. I'll give my son the same advice.

It's not like those courses weren't loaded with non athletes. We were also given a list of jock unfriendly professors who took it out on student-athletes for missing classes.

I did wish the visiting professor for Urban Studies 102 had been informed it was on the list. I showed up for the final, read the questions and thought to myself, "I'm bleeped!" It's the only grade below B- I got in my life.