RCS Alumni Reflect on College Life: Madisyn Cunningham – Stanford University

Riverdale Review: What field of study are you pursuing?

Madisyn Cunningham: I’m currently undecided. When I first came, I was pretty set on Computer Science, but I’m interested in a lot of things like Urban Studies and Econ, so as of now, I’m undeclared.

RR: Why did you decide to attend a private research university? What are the benefits and drawbacks?

MC: I think part of it was definitely the size. Stanford is a very happy medium between the very small liberal arts schools and the big, big public schools, and for me, that’s a great balance. Benefits include small class sizes and a lot of opportunities for research. There are many people here who are very dedicated to their craft, and you get a lot of access to them. There is also a lot of school spirit. In terms of drawbacks, you definitely would get a little more personalized attention if you went to the smaller colleges. And the thing with Stanford specifically is that everything moves really fast here, so if you fall behind it’s really up to you to catch up. It’s up to you to seek help before you even fall behind.

RR: How would you describe your college experience so far? Would you recommend Stanford to RCS students?

MC: I would say my college experience is great. At Stanford, we’re on the quarter system, not semester. Instead of two semesters, we have 10-week quarters, so the classes move a lot faster. But you get to take more classes and meet more people, so that’s great. Outside of classes, I’ve had success with social life. I am on the women’s rugby team. It’s a club sport, but most of my closest friends are from rugby. I think Stanford offers a great balance between academic rigor and a big sports culture.

RR: What were the biggest challenges you faced during you first year at college?

MC: I would say so far, just living in a dorm. I live in the Black dorm here at Stanford so it is a pretty tight-knit community, but I live in a triple so I have two roommates and privacy is pretty hard to come by. It is especially challenging for me because I’m an only child, so it’s my first time living with people.

RR: How would you describe the social life at Stanford?

MC: I personally think it’s great. There’s this whole “Stanford Hates Fun” movement where a lot of people think that Stanford cracks down on social life too hard. But I think that if you find people that you like, there are always going to be things to do with them, and there are a lot of parties on campus.

RR: Do you have any advice for current Riverdale seniors as they look ahead to college next year?

MC: First of all, in terms of choosing a school, I would say focus more on your needs than the name of a school. If there’s a school that you love and has what would be best for you, choose that school over the most prestigious school on your list. When you get to college, I would say don’t be discouraged if the first people you meet aren’t going to be your best friends. In your first year, especially first semester, it’s pretty overwhelming how many people you’re going to meet, but just remember that you’ll find your people eventually.