Frequently Asked Questions

General

  • How do I enroll?

    To confirm your enrollment, log in to your Stanford portal, complete the Admission Response form, and submit the non-refundable deposit of $200 on or before May 1 (REA and RD), or June 1 (Transfers).

  • What is my SUNet ID used for?

    Your SUNet ID is your account name that identifies you as a member of the Stanford community. Your SUNet ID and password are your online credentials.  A SUNet ID is required to establish a Stanford email address, where you will receive all Approaching Stanford and official university communications. For security reasons there is a 24-hour delay after establishing your SUNet ID before you will be able to log into Stanford University websites. Email  credentials@stanford.edu with questions or technical issues.

  • Are there any conditions to my offer of admission?

    Stanford reserves the right to withdraw your offer of admission if:

    • you show a significant drop in academic performance or fail to graduate;
    • there has been a misrepresentation in the application process;
    • we learn that you have engaged in behavior prior to the first day of enrolled attendance that indicates a serious lack of judgment or integrity;
    • you alter your class/course schedule without prior approval from the Office of Undergraduate Admission; or
    • you are holding a place, past our enrollment response deadline, in the first-year class of a college other than Stanford.

  • Do I need to submit final grades from this school year?

    Yes. All enrolling first-years need to submit their final transcripts (including graduation date) on or before July 1. All enrolling transfers need to submit their final transcripts on or before July 15. All transcripts must come from a school official (counselor or registrar) and can be sent to credentials@stanford.edu.

    If A Level, IB, or other national exam predictions were part of your application, those official results must be sent to us as soon as they are available.

  • Do I still need to take AP tests?

    We view Advanced Placement exams as an integral part of an AP course and the culmination of your hard work in a particular subject area. We hope you will be able to follow through and take the exam, especially if you indicated you would do so in your application.

    There are a number of additional reasons for taking these culminating exams. It sets a good example for all students at your school and honors the effort your teachers are putting in to prepare you for the test. It’s incredibly rewarding for a teacher when students do well on AP exams. While Stanford may not offer credit for a particular test, an AP exam result is a professional evaluation of your proficiency in a subject. We hope you will challenge yourself and take the exam when possible.

    With that said, the decision is in your hands. We understand that teaching and educational access have been severely impacted by COVID-19, and this may make taking the exam difficult or even impossible. We would also never ask a student to put their health at risk to access an exam. Similarly, if taking these exams is a financial burden, we will not expect you to take them.

    Please also know that we honor the work you are putting in to prepare for AP exams, and we thank you for challenging yourself in potentially less than ideal conditions for both learning and day of test-taking. Students will not have their admission decisions impacted by the results of their AP exams.

  • How do I find out about financial aid?

    Financial aid notifications will be available in your Stanford portal if you filed a financial aid application by the appropriate priority filing date. If you have not yet applied for assistance and you are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, you may still apply, but we cannot guarantee that you will receive a financial aid notification before you must make your admission decision.

  • I am not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Is there anything I need to do before enrolling at Stanford?

    All enrolling students who are neither U.S. citizens nor legal permanent residents must initiate the visa document process through Stanford. Instructions will be posted in your Stanford portal no later than April 1.

  • How can I connect with my fellow future classmates?

    Be on the lookout for an email invitation to join Cardinal Quad, our platform for connecting newly admitted students with the Stanford community. Here you will have the opportunity to talk with your fellow first-years and learn more about campus life and the wonderful opportunities at Stanford.

After Enrollment FAQ

  • What happens once I accept my offer of admission?

    Once you accept your offer of admission, be sure to create your SUNetID at accounts.stanford.edu and update your current mailing address by May 1 (first-years) or June 1 (transfers) in AXESS on the Student Center tab. All students must have a SUNet ID, which is required to access secure Stanford websites and services, including AXESS, Stanford email, and course enrollment.

    Matriculating students will receive an email to their Stanford email account in early May (first-years) or early June (transfers), with a link to the Approaching Stanford website. Approaching Stanford is the process that will give you more information about the required Approaching Stanford Forms, orientation, housing assignments, curriculum options, health services, campus activities, computing resources and other necessities for life on the Farm. You should check your Stanford email account on a weekly basis throughout the summer. The Approaching Stanford Forms are required for all new students and must be submitted in early June (first-years) or late June (transfers).

  • When do I need to apply for housing?

    All new undergraduate students are required to live on campus for their first year. The first-year undergraduate housing application is a part of the Approaching Stanford forms which you will be able to access on the Approaching Stanford website beginning in early May (first-years) or early June (transfers). Forms are due in early June (first-years) or in late June (transfers). New students do not complete the housing application in Axess, which is only for continuing students.

    If you have a medical condition requiring a housing accommodation, please contact the Office of Accessible Education.

    New incoming undergraduate students cannot live in summer housing on campus prior to your first year.

  • When will I be able to enroll in classes?

    Enrollment for new first-years opens during New Student Orientation (NSO) in September. The classes offered will be posted in August 2023, but you will have a new student enrollment hold on your account until you arrive on campus and meet with your advisor in person during NSO.

    Incoming transfers will also have a new student enrollment hold on your accounts initially preventing you from enrolling in courses. Transfer students must schedule an appointment with our Transfer Advising Team who will release this hold after reviewing your course choices and having an advising conversation with you. Once your hold has been lifted, you can begin enrolling in your Autumn Quarter classes in Axess in the late summer.

    New incoming undergraduate students cannot enroll in Summer Quarter prior to your first year.

  • When is Orientation, and do I have to go?

    Move-In and New Student Orientation (NSO) will be held in September, the week before Autumn Quarter begins. NSO is required for all incoming new students. Students who do not attend NSO will not be able to enroll in courses – no exceptions will be granted to this policy. International students (non-US citizens, non-Permanent Residents) will arrive a few days earlier for International Student Orientation which is required for international students in addition to NSO. NSO and ISO dates are have not been finalized yet. Please do not book travel until the university confirms the dates.

  • Can I talk with an academic advisor about my prospective major or academic plan?

    All new students will be required to have an initial academic advising conversation (via phone, video, or in-person) with your Academic Advisor before arriving for New Student Orientation. You won’t be assigned a specific Academic Advisor until mid-August, so any general questions can be directed to approaching@stanford.edu. For new transfer students this meeting will happen with your Transfer Advising Coordinator. While we encourage you to have some ideas about what you’d like to study at Stanford, we do not expect you to choose a major or to craft an academic plan before enrolling here.

Family FAQ

  • Is Stanford the best fit for my student?

    In reviewing applications and making admission decisions, our admission officers look beyond grades and test scores to determine “fit.”

    In making an offer of admission to your student, we believe that she or he has the intellect, passion, character and drive to make important contributions to our classrooms and community—while adding to our proud legacy of alumni who make a positive contribution to the world.

  • How will my student be supported at Stanford?

    From the moment they arrive on campus for New Student Orientation through graduation, we help all students navigate their journeys through college.

    • New Student Orientation lasts a week before the start of Fall Quarter, and students are introduced to the academic, social, support and community resources at Stanford. Residential community staff, professional staff and trained peer coordinators foster a positive experience.
    • Academic Advising staff are available year-round to support students in their pursuit of an intellectually fulfilling course of study.
    • Tutoring and support, including for students with learning differences, is available throughout a student’s time at Stanford. The goal is to support students as they navigate individual majors and classes and mature in their academic work.
    • Students are encouraged to take advantage of health and wellness resources, including 24/7 peer and phone counseling, residential support and professional services.
    • Every student’s safety is prioritized at Stanford. The Department of Public Safety provides 24/7 police and fire services, on-call evening shuttle rides, safety and security awareness classes, emergency text alerts and more.

  • How will Stanford prepare and equip my student for future success?

    A Stanford education thoughtfully nurtures leaders, thinkers and innovators. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to mentoring and supporting students as they explore their passions. Our departments and career education programs offer expert guidance through the career selection, job search, graduate school and fellowship application processes.

    Stanford graduates rise to the top of their professions and transform the lives of others. They are community leaders and prominent global figures in fields from the arts to business and academia. Students have access to a network of over 228,000 alumni in all 50 states including the District of Columbia, and in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide. The Stanford education prepares students to meaningfully contribute to humanity at each season of life and in any corner of the world.

  • What makes Stanford different?

    Academic Freedom
    Freedom of inquiry and the free expression of ideas are fundamental to the mission of the University. These values are embedded in our motto, “The wind of freedom blows.” From our flexible curriculum to our innovative, outside-the-box thinking, it’s felt in every aspect of life and learning at Stanford. To us, freedom means:

    • An emphasis on interdisciplinary study, thinking and research; approximately 25 percent of students pursue one of over 40 interdisciplinary degree programs such as Human Biology, Earth Systems, International Relations, Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and Urban Studies.
    • More than 200 introductory seminars, each capped at 16 students and taught by Stanford’s world class faculty members.
    • 11 Stanford-run campuses around the world; approximately half of Stanford undergraduates study abroad.
    • Curricular flexibility that allows students to double major, add a minor, write an honors thesis, take graduate courses and even graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees (often in as few as five years).
    • Over $5.82 million in undergraduate research funding—more than any other university in the country.
    • A 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures close mentorship.
    • Access to top graduate faculty; undergraduates may take seminars in the Stanford Law School, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford University School of Medicine.
    • Encouragement of the free exchange of ideas from campus speakers to seminar discussions to late-night dorm conversations.

    Extraordinary Diversity
    Stanford’s student body mirrors the complex, dynamic world our students will inherit. In addition to diversity of experience, interest and opinion:

    • Approximately half of our students identify as people of color.
    • 12 percent come from other countries.
    • 19 percent are the first in their family to attend college.
    • There are more than 600 campus organizations, including more than 30 religious groups.
    • Stanford boasts a five-star LGBTQ Campus Climate Index rating.
    • Our generous financial aid offerings ensure that students of any financial background can afford to be here (approximately 66 percent of Stanford students receive some form of financial aid).

    Remarkable Resources
    As one of the world’s leading research universities, students have access to extraordinary resources. From the opportunity to learn with Nobel prize-winners to rooting for championship teams, Stanford students also have access to:

    • An 8,180-acre campus with nearly 700 major buildings.
    • Three undergraduate schools offering more than 70 undergraduate fields of study.
    • 130+ research centers, laboratories, institutes and other academic facilities.
    • Students and faculty at seven graduate schools (Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Business, Law School, School of Humanities and Sciences, School of Earth Sciences, School of Engineering and School of Medicine).
    • 16 unique art galleries on campus, including Cantor Arts Center with 24 galleries within the museum and 45,000+ works of art.
    • 85+ outdoor sculptures, including 20 by Auguste Rodin.
    • 19,000 bike rack spaces.
    • 81 residential housing facilities.
    • 30+ dining options.
    • A 1,200-acre biological preserve near campus.
    • World-class athletic facilities, including the Avery Aquatic Center, Arrillaga Recreation Center, Cobb Track and Angell Field, Sand Hill Fields (soccer and softball), Stanford Golf Course and Campus Tennis courts.

    Learn more at Stanford Facts at a Glance

  • What can I do to help my student prepare over the summer?

    Foremost, enjoy this special time as your student prepares for life at college. Help him or her prepare to live independently so that they can enjoy the academic and extracurricular opportunities at Stanford as soon as they arrive on campus.

    In early May, the Approaching Stanford website will be updated, and parents will find helpful resources including content on academic planning, course selection, health insurance, meal plans, residence options, transportation, billing and other important topics.