IHUM. Only four short letters but they inspire nightmares in techies and fuzzies alike. With labels like “most boring,” “discussion sections that make you want to pull your hair out,” “IHUM kids are the devil’s spawn” and “worst class I had to take,” this mandatory freshman series scares off many people prior to entering their first lecture.
But, stop right there! While IHUM has a bad rep with a lot of people, many students actually (gasp!) like IHUM. There’s a pretty nasty spiral of silence on the merits of IHUM and all the things you can learn from it. So let’s break down some IHUM myths.
Myth #1
IHUM is the worst class you will take at Stanford.
This is far from the truth. Most of the IHUM lecturers are department chairs, tenured professors, and world-renowned thought leaders. Yet, it’s key to note that despite Stanford’s hefty price tag, not every professor you get will be an amazing lecturer or align with your preferred learning style. As a freshman you’re getting into the groove of college lectures, so don’t immediately adopt a negative attitude. This only sets you up to have a bad time. Instead, walk into IHUM with an open mind. Experience different methods of teaching and encounter material you would not otherwise.
Though commonly conceived as university-mandated torture, a hazing of sorts, IHUM originated to provide students with a broader education in the humanities as a launching point their college career. Yes, this will be the only time for some techies out there to experience all things fuzzy. But no, this does not mean the class will be horrible. If you go in with the intent to learn something and experience something new, you will. Cue “The Little Engine That Could” if that’s what it takes! I think I can, I think I can…
Myth #2
You will learn nothing in IHUM.
One of the most critical things I learned in IHUM was not the material I was presented. Yes, I read some foundational philosophers and amazing works of literature, but more than anything else, I learned how to write.
As freshmen, we tend to view our academic writing through rose-colored glasses. We’ve made it into Stanford after all, how much harder could it be? Tell that to the TF who graded my first college paper. Oh no, my dear friends, let me warn you that we are woefully wrong. To say the standard of Stanford papers is just a bit higher than our high schools might be a bigger understatement than declaring that Kim Kardashian’s wedding ring was kind of big. So, although the intensive essay writing and work with your discussion section leader will be tedious, frustrating, and challenging at times – if you use IHUM to get your writing into gear, you will thank yourself later along with your future TAs and professors.
Myth #3
IHUM is boring.
Similar to Myth #1, don’t go into IHUM predisposed to not like it. With so many options to choose from, you’re bound to find an IHUM course that at least mildly interests you. Don’t pick an IHUM just because you heard it was easy – no matter how easy it may be, if you aren’t interested writing the papers, attending class, and doing the reading, it will certainly be the most difficult course you face during the quarter. Make sure you spend some quality time choosing your IHUM class and read the book summaries of the required reading in the syllabus.
Really, IHUM is all about attitude – and I’ll be the first to admit that we upper classmen don’t help out by sharing our IHUM horror stories. But temporarily forget “He’s Just Not that Into You” and think of these experiences as the exception and not the rule.
I think it’s time to come out of the dusty South Stacks of Green Library and proclaim – I liked IHUM! No, this doesn’t mean I really enjoyed those readings by Aquinas, came out of every discussion section enlightened and didn’t loathe one of my lecturers. On the whole, however, I became a better writer, better read, met some of my favorite professors and great students as well as felt like I conquered one of those “Stanford only” experiences we all go through freshman year.
Maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to change the IHUM cycle of cynicism class of 2015. It’s better than losing out on some great academic opportunities.