[Mick]

I think it is a false narrative that the graduate transfers have a legitimate chance to stay to finish their undergraduate work if they only wanted to.  It used to be true that athletes and non-athletes could do that but my understanding is that Stanford now insists that you show your progress to finish in four years.  They allow athletes to take higher than normal loads, and in fact assist in this with summer units, so that they too, finish and get out in four years. I think this is a crucial Stanford change that needs to happen to keep Stanford from being hurt in multiple sports.  I don't think we can blame Shaw for this problem.  However, it is a big issue for our next coach.  I think that athletes should be allowed to be on a five year track with the understanding that their fifth year of scholarship is not guaranteed and they might have to go on regular financial aid.  I also think this should be made available to other Stanford students who have reasons to need five years.  

Cheers,
Pete F.

Different school, but I recall that many of my engineering friends and virtually everyone with a double major took five years to finish. Completing an undergrad degree in three years, on the other hand, was so rare that only one person in our class of 850 was able to do it.

[Mick]

I think it is a false narrative that the graduate transfers have a legitimate chance to stay to finish their undergraduate work if they only wanted to.  It used to be true that athletes and non-athletes could do that but my understanding is that Stanford now insists that you show your progress to finish in four years.  They allow athletes to take higher than normal loads, and in fact assist in this with summer units, so that they too, finish and get out in four years. I think this is a crucial Stanford change that needs to happen to keep Stanford from being hurt in multiple sports.  I don't think we can blame Shaw for this problem.  However, it is a big issue for our next coach.  I think that athletes should be allowed to be on a five year track with the understanding that their fifth year of scholarship is not guaranteed and they might have to go on regular financial aid.  I also think this should be made available to other Stanford students who have reasons to need five years.  

Cheers,
Pete F.

Different school, but I recall that many of my engineering friends and virtually everyone with a double major took five years to finish. Completing an undergrad degree in three years, on the other hand, was so rare that only one person in our class of 850 was able to do it.