Profile

Dan Wendlandt Class of 2005

Hometown: Appleton, WI
Potential Major: Computer Science and Political Science

Why did you choose to come to Stanford?
When looking at schools, I wanted a university with a strong reputation for both the humanities and the sciences, since I planned on majoring in both areas. Many schools offer strengths in one or the other, but Stanford is great in both. It also came down to the people. After visiting several campuses, Stanford definitely stood out as a school where students still have the time to meet new people, get involved in non-academic activities and just have a good time.

What activities are you involved in on campus? Tell us about your favorite.
I'm really involved with the ASSU, which is Stanford's student government. It's a great way to get involved and work on improving the quality of life for students and other community members here at Stanford. I am a member of Stanford's chapter of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, which is a fun way to relax and meet new people through lots of activities. I also love tutoring for a program call East Palo Alto Tennis & Tutoring (EPATT). EPATT pairs Stanford students with K-12 students from the struggling East Palo Alto area. For me its a great way to step away from the stress of classes and spend time focusing on helping others.

What has been your favorite class? Why?
Political Science 122: Intro to American Law. This was a fascinating class that explained, by looking a series of court cases, how our legal system really operates on a day-to-day basis. It gave me a new way of looking at our laws, lawsuits and our entire legal system. Plus, now I actually know what it means when I read something in the newspaper like: "The defendant's motion for summary judgment was denied." Pretty cool.

Who is your favorite professor? Why?
Gerhard Casper, who is also a former Stanford president. He taught my IHUM course, Citizenship, and I was always amazed by the clarity and depth of the knowledge he was able to impart to us. Plus, he was always up for talking after class and had a good sense of humor.

What was your favorite part of Admit Weekend?
My room host (Roho) took me on a tour of the campus, and at the end we hiked up the foothills and just took in the beautiful view of campus and beyond.

What do you love most about Stanford?
Stanford is really a place a place with an incredible number of opportunities that are just waiting for you to take some initiative, pick them up, and run with them. This is most certainly true with standard academics and research, but there is also so much more. You can start a new student group, learn to swing dance, get a grant to do research overseas, network with industry professionals, or become a yoga master. Your Stanford experience will be an incredible thing if you step up and take on new challenges.

What are the people like?
Stanford is filled with many of the most interested and motivated people I have ever met. Plus, the environment is relaxed enough that you can really take the time to meet a lot of people. Each student's personal philosophy and interests are different, which means it's easy for you to grow as a person by just getting to know the people in your dorm and classes.

What is dorm life like?
In a sense, your dorm is like a new family ... a REALLY big family. It's not that everyone will be best friends, but you really get to know and appreciate people after eating with them all year, passing them every day in the halls, and bonding during dorm activities and trips.

What is your favorite dorm food?
I love the Belgian Waffles you can make for breakfast. I have one every day :)

What is your favorite scenic view on campus?
The view out the window from the Bender Room on the fifth floor of the main library. It overlooks the Quad, much of the rest of campus, and the foothills are off in the distance.