New Student Orientation
On This Page:
New Student Orientation Overview
New Student Orientation (NSO) begins on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 when you arrive on campus, and the last formal NSO events will take place on Sunday, September 23, the day before Autumn Quarter classes begin. A detailed calendar of NSO events will be posted here by September 1. NSO is required for all new students and you are expected to participate fully in NSO activities, which will take place from morning to late evening each day. Parents may join you on the first day (Tuesday, September 18); however, you will be involved in NSO activities and programs the remainder of the week and should not make any additional plans outside of NSO.
NSO is designed to provide you with an introduction to the wide array of academic, intellectual, leadership, cultural, and social experiences available to you at Stanford. It is also an important time for forming relationships with your classmates, dormmates, and other members of the Stanford community. During these six days, there will be many engaging programs to attend, but you will also have time to settle into your room and prepare for classes.
Disability-related accommodations for NSO events
For questions about accommodations for NSO events such as wheelchair access and sign language interpreters, please contact us at (650) 72-FROSH or email frosh@stanford.edu.
NSO Events Calendar
The 2012 NSO Student Events Calendar will be posted here in multiple formats by September 1. You will also receive a printed copy of the calendar when you check-in at your residence on the first day of NSO.
If you're curious and would like to see a listing of the events from last year's NSO, you can refer to the 2011 NSO Student Events Calendar. Keep in mind that there will be changes to this year's line-up of events (in the very least, the dates will be different), but this will give you a sense of the range of events that are offered during NSO.
Parent Events
New Student Orientation events for parents and families will take place on the first day of NSO, Tuesday, September 18, 2012. Please refer to the NSO Parent Events page for information about parent events and parking/getting around campus.
Pre-Orientation Programs
Students invited to attend the following pre-orientation programs will need to register in advance for them. These programs will conclude by September 18 so that you can participate fully in NSO. If you are eligible to attend any of these programs, you will receive more information with registration instructions and deadlines during the summer. Below is a listing of the basic program dates for some of the pre-orientation programs:
International Student Orientation (ISO): Saturday, September 15 to Tuesday, September 18
All new international students for whom the Bechtel International Center issues immigration documents are expected to attend the three-day ISO. (Due to space limitations, U.S. citizens and permanent residents living abroad are not eligible to attend.) Eligible students will receive registration information in June with their immigration documents; the deadline to register is July 15. More information will be posted as it becomes available on the Bechtel International Center website.
Stanford Native Immersion Program: Wednesday, September 12 to Tuesday, September 18
Information and registration forms will be sent to eligible students during the summer. For more information, contact the Native American Cultural Center/American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Program (NACC/AIANNHP).
Stanford Pre-Orientation Trips (SPOT): Wednesday, September 12 to Monday, September 17
SPOT is open to any freshmen or transfer student who is not required to participate in ISO, but space is limited and admittance to SPOT is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, including how to register, please refer to the brochure included in the first Approaching Stanford mailing or go to the SPOT website.
Religious Observances During NSO
We respect students’ religious commitments and have ensured that there are opportunities on campus for holiday observance. All orientation and residential staff will be aware of the need that some students may have to arrive late or leave early from some events. Information about religious observations during New Student Orientation will be included in the printed 2012 NSO Student Events Calendar and will also be available online by September 1.
In 2012, the Jewish observance of Rosh Hashanah will occur during NSO. Students and their families are invited to observe the holiday with the Stanford Jewish community. New students unable to travel during Rosh Hashanah (sundown September 16 to September 18), may submit a request for early arrival on September 16 to their residence on the basis of this religious conflict. Each request must be accompanied by acceptable written documentation from an independent (non-relative) clergy. The request form is available here.
The deadline for submitting a request is July 1, 2012. Religious requests are processed by the Office for Religious Life. For further information about religious observances, please contact the Office for Religious Life at (650) 723-1762 or visit http://religiouslife.stanford.edu.
Volunteering for NSO (for staff, faculty, current students, and alumni)
There are many opportunities for members of the Stanford community to contribute to New Student Orientation. Student volunteers, staff members, faculty, and alumni play a vital role in supporting new students and their families and we hope you will join us in welcoming the newest members of our family to the Farm! Go to our NSO Volunteer page to learn about the volunteer opportunities and apply.
