Frequently Asked Questions

Source: https://admit.stanford.edu/faqs Parent: https://admit.stanford.edu/next-steps/sunetid

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).

Can I defer my enrollment (take a gap year)?

Students are welcome to request an enrollment deferral. You can find more information about the process by visiting the Deferring Your Enrollment (Taking a Gap Year) webpage.

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 (with the graduation date) on or before July 1. All enrolling transfers need to submit their final transcripts on or before July 15. 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.

We prefer online submission through the Common Application (or your school’s system partner) whenever possible. This is the fastest method for materials to reach your file.

If online submission is not possible, school personnel should send materials as an email attachment to credentials@stanford.edu. Ask your school to include your full legal name, date of birth, school, and type of material on all correspondence with the admission office.

When ordering college transcripts, please use credentials@stanford.edu as the contact email. If using Parchment, please select the option that says Stanford University Undergraduate Admission - Transcripts/Documents.

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 may be impacted by natural disasters or other extreme situations, and these challenges may make taking the exam difficult or even impossible. Additionally, if taking these exams is a financial burden, we will not expect you to take them.

Please know that we honor the work you are putting in to prepare for AP exams, and we thank you for challenging yourself. 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 for students who 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, permanent resident, or undocumented student, you may still apply. Please complete the appropriate application requirements as soon as possible. We will make every effort to respond to you before May 1, 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. Please know that your visa request process can only begin after you choose to enroll.

How can I connect with my fellow future classmates?

First-years, be on the lookout for an email invitation to download the Stanford Admit Weekend app. You can browse Admit Weekend events and create your own personal schedule. You can also find and connect with your fellow admitted students, even if you are not able to attend Admit Weekend.

We also encourage you to follow @engagestanford and @stanford on Instagram and use #Stanford2030 to share your excitement about joining the Class of 2030!

Please note that there are no official class Instagram or other social media accounts hosted by our office.

After Enrollment FAQ

What happens once I accept my offer of admission?

Once you accept your offer of admission, be sure to create your SUNet ID at accounts.stanford.edu and update your current mailing address by May 1 (First-Years) or June 1 (Transfers) in Axess under Privacy Settings of the My Information 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).

All Approaching Stanford Requirements for new students must be completed in order to enroll in Autumn Quarter courses.

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 their first year.

When will I be able to enroll in classes?

Enrollment for new first-years opens during New Student Orientation (NSO) in September. Continuing students will enroll at the beginning of September, but you will have a new student enrollment hold on your account. If you have completed all your Approaching Stanford Requirements and arrived to campus, you will be able to enroll in classes 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 the Undergraduate Advising Director for Transfers who will release this hold after reviewing your course choices and having an advising conversation with you. If you have completed your Approaching Stanford requirements, you can begin enrolling in your Autumn Quarter classes in Axess in early September once your hold has been released.

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

When is orientation and is it required?

Move-In and New Student Orientation (NSO) will take place in mid-September, the week before the start of Autumn Quarter. All new students are required to live on campus and participate in the full duration of NSO. Students who do not attend NSO will not be able to enroll in courses. International students (non-U.S. citizens, non-Permanent Residents) are required to arrive a few days before NSO to attend International Student Orientation. More information can be found on the Approaching Stanford website.

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

All new students will be invited 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 the Undergraduate Advising Director for Transfers. 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

Information and resources for families can be found on the Families page of our website.