Recap: Undergraduate Majors Night 2018

Students, faculty, and staff from across the DLCL gathered to represent the Division at Majors Night on October 15. Majors Night is an annual event designed to help underclass students find out more about specific programs of study; held early in Autumn Quarter, the event attracts first-year students interested in exploring the many options available to them as they begin their studies at Stanford, and second-year students who are narrowing their options as they approach the spring deadline to declare a major. The event is often particularly illuminating/eye-opening for first-year students, as they see the diverse breadth of programs Stanford offers gathered together, with humanities and STEM departments side by side.

Juniors and seniors are often recruited by departments to be on hand to answer questions and share their experiences. Representing each department of the DLCL were Peer Advisors, upperclass majors nominated by faculty to serve as student ambassadors for all things related to their respective majors. Peer Advisors at Majors Night fielded questions on which classes are taught in foreign languages, how major course requirements can fit into study abroad plans, and the workload for various classes. Faculty were also in attendance to help answer questions and offer their perspective, including Dr. Alexander Key (Comparative Literature), Dr. Héctor Hoyos (ILAC), Dr. Marisa Galvez (French), and Dr. Russell Berman (German). Senior Lecturer Dr. Cintia Santana was also on hand to share information about the DLCL Minor in Translation.

This year the DLCL enjoyed a prime location next to the Bing Overseas Study Program table, a fortuitous placement that allowed students to both explore their study abroad options and how that time spent abroad could count toward a foreign language major once they return to campus. Denise Winters, Undergraduate Student Affairs Officer for the DLCL, coordinated the Division’s presence at the event. Winters said the event is well-attended each year, and this year was no exception, with plenty of interest in the DLCL’s varied offerings.

Students who are interested in majoring in one of the DLCL departments are encouraged to contact the Peer Advisor with further questions:
Comparative Literature - Miguel Samano, msamano [at] stanford.edu (msamano[at]stanford[dot]edu)
Iberian and Latin American Cultures - Will Penniman, willyp [at] stanford.edu (willyp[at]stanford[dot]edu)
French - Will Buckingham, wbucking [at] stanford.edu (wbucking[at]stanford[dot]edu)
Italian - Natalie Ponce, nponce [at] stanford.edu (nponce[at]stanford[dot]edu)
German Studies - Hannah Frakes, hfrakes [at] stanford.edu (hfrakes[at]stanford[dot]edu)
Slavic Languages and Literatures - Rose Cerulli, rcerulli [at] stanford.edu (rcerulli[at]stanford[dot]edu)
 
Written by Cortney Hamilton