Welcome to the Freshman Page
On This Page:
Welcome, Class of 2016. Bookmark this page. It will guide you through your first year at Stanford. The information will be updated regularly to provide you the information you most need to know at that point in time.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Make note of these important deadlines and events.
| Date | Deadline/Event |
|---|---|
| Monday, May 14 | Approaching Stanford Mailing is sent to freshmen. |
| Friday, June 1 | Health Care Information Email is sent to freshmen. |
| Tuesday, June 5 | Approaching Stanford forms due by 5:00 p.m., PST. |
| Wednesday, June 6 | SPOT registration opens at 11:00 a.m., PST. |
| Saturday, June 30 | Vaden Health Forms due. |
- Refer to the Approaching Stanford Schedule for Freshmen for a more complete list of major mailings, emails, and required actions for incoming freshmen.
- Go to the Stanford Academic Calendar, 2012-13 for a full list of academic dates and deadlines.
What You Need to Know Now
The Approaching Stanford Process Formally Launches on Monday, May 14, 2012
The process will kick-off with the first mailing, which is mailed on Monday, May 14 to the current mailing address that you had listed in Axess on Friday, May 4 (when we began printing the mailing labels). It may take up to one week from May 14 for this mailing to arrive at domestic addresses, and up to two weeks for this mailing to arrive at international addresses. In the meantime, you are welcome to review the major publications including in this mailing in PDF format; these are posted below in the Publications and PDFs section.
Complete and submit your Approaching Stanford forms by Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Read pages 1 to 18 of the Approaching Stanford handbook and the Thinking Matters and SLE Course Catalog before starting your forms. Because you can read these in PDF format online, you don't have to wait until you receive your package to get started. You may also find the Frequently Asked Questions page to be helpful. We encourage you to start your forms early and aim to submit them well in advance of the deadline, as we do start reading them and using the information that you provide in them ;as soon as the deadline passes. If you need further assistance, please email frosh@stanford.edu.
You'll need to submit a digital photo as part of your Approaching Stanford forms
Please be advised that you will need to submit a digital photo in Form 14. On the photo upload site, there is a description of specific requirements that your photo must meet, so please start looking for a photo that meets the requirements early on (or take a new one that fits the requirements). After you have submitted your photo, you will receive a brief email from the Stanford ID Card Office when they have approved your photo. Once you receive this confirmation note, you do not need to do anything further with this process; you will receive your ID Card in your check-in packet when you arrive for orientation.
If you experience difficulty when uploading your photo, submit a HelpSU ticket to the Student Services Center.
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Featured FAQs
I'm an international student (or have an international mailing address) and am concerned about how promptly I'll be receiving my mailings. How are you sending them?
For international addresses, our mail house will use a courier service to deliver your hard copy mailings if a courier service is available in your region and your mailing address does not contain a P.O. Box. (Regular mail must be used for delivery to P.O. Box addresses.) If two weeks have passed from the scheduled mailing date and you still have not received your package, please send an email to frosh@stanford.edu and we'll help you locate your package using the tracking information (if a courier service was used). In the meantime, you can review important publications in PDF format by following the links in the Publication and PDF section.
I’m considering Structured Liberal Education (SLE), but have questions about the program. Where can I go/who can I contact for further information?
Check out the SLE webpage at http://sle.stanford.edu. Here you’ll find a program overview, the current syllabus, and profiles of SLE faculty and staff. Also, on Facebook go to "Questions about SLE" page; post your questions here and they’ll be answered by SLE teaching staff, current students, and SLE alums.
Go here to review the full list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Publications and PDFs
For your convenience, listed below are electronic versions of Approaching Stanford-related publications.
Components of the First Approaching Stanford Mailing:
- Approaching Stanford: A Handbook for Entering Students (full version)
- Approaching Stanford Schedule for Freshmen
- Thinking Matters and SLE Course Catalog
Click on the links below to view specific chapters of the Approaching Stanford handbook:
- "Welcome to Stanford University," "Approaching Approaching Stanford," "Welcome to the Stanford Family," "Stanford, Past and Present," and "Approaching Your Forms" (pages 1-18)
- "Approaching Your Liberal Education" (pages 19-42)
- "Approaching Your Campus Community" (pages 43-56)
- "Approaching Life on the Farm" (pages 57-82)
Undergraduate Advising & Research
Undergraduate Advising and Research welcomes and integrates freshmen and transfers into the Stanford family by coordinating the Approaching Stanford process and New Student Orientation, and provides programs throughout the academic year. It does so by addressing students' individual transitional needs, connecting students to resources and opportunities, and cultivating an understanding of Stanford's history and traditions. Incoming freshmen may contact us at (650) 72-FROSH or frosh@stanford.edu
For the Class of 2015
Now that your freshman year is drawing to a close, we encourage you to bookmark the Sophomore Page to keep up-to-date with the resources, opportunities, and events specific to your second year on the Farm.
Time-Sensitive Forms: