John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Stanford University's Jay Hamilton, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, has released a new publication focusing on the transformative journey of college students. His book, "You Got In! Now What? 100 Insights into Finding Your Best Life in College," seeks to empower students by providing guidance drawn from a myriad of successful individuals, many of whom are affiliated with Stanford.
Hamilton, who also holds the title of Hearst Professor of Communication, emphasizes the importance of personal exploration over conforming to societal or parental expectations, as evidenced by the experiences of Sandra Day O’Connor and Carly Fiorina. “Both followed their interests rather than the expectations of their parents or society, and both were spectacularly successful,” he remarked.
The book, released in March, delves into various lessons, portraying students' potential flexibility and freedom in choosing their academic and career paths. “A key theme of this book is that you have more freedom than you know,” Hamilton stated, highlighting that only a quarter of Americans work in fields related to their undergraduate majors, according to Federal Reserve data.
Hamilton also discusses the value of developing critical thinking skills over merely acquiring information. Citing former Yale University President Richard Levin, he stressed a liberal education's power to foster independence and curiosity.
Additional insights are rooted in personal anecdotes and scholarly contributions from Stanford faculty. One such insight, inspired by the mother of U.S. Senator Cory Booker, focuses on the question of what one would pursue if failure weren't an option. “That question unstuck him,” Hamilton noted, emphasizing its motivational impact.
The book incorporates lessons from various prominent figures, including Nike founder Phil Knight and actor Sterling K. Brown. Hamilton illustrates his points with input from Stanford faculty like professor Carol Dweck, whose concept of the "growth mindset" forms a crucial part of Hamilton’s advice to students.
The idea for this book emerged during Stanford's long-term planning and development of the COLLEGE program. Hamilton aimed to leverage the wisdom of Stanford's alumni and faculty to enhance student success. “If students read this book, and five of the lessons land with them, I'll be really happy,” he concluded.
Readers can further explore Hamilton's insights, supported by illustrations from cartoonist Jim Toomey.
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