Approaching Stanford

Enrollment Timeline

June & July

In the early summer, browse course listings for the past academic year (2022-23) in ExploreCourses, Stanford's official course catalog. While courses for the upcoming academic year (2023-24) will not be published until August, you can use this time to read about courses that will allow you to explore academic interests and potential majors. Explore what interests you, even if you are unfamiliar with the discipline. Many of Stanford’s fields will be entirely new to you. Note your interests on the Academic Planning Worksheet and use course planning resources to help in your exploration. Review the schedule for summer placement assessments, if appropriate.

August

In August, the 2023-24 course listings will be published in ExploreCourses and you will receive email notification of your preliminary assignments for your required first-year VPUE courses (COLLEGE and PWR 1, ESF, ITALIC, or SLE). These required courses will be added to your Study List automatically. This email will also introduce you to Introductory Seminars and Frosh 101, courses designed specifically for frosh that are optional, but strongly encouraged.

After you receive your housing assignment, your assigned Undergraduate Advising Director (UAD) will contact you by email to begin the advising conversation. They will ask you to watch an "Introduction to Academic Advising: Exploring Your Stanford Courses". The 2023 presentation will be available in July/August.

Your UAD will also invite you to sign up for a virtual small group advising appointment. At this initial advising meeting, you will be able to discuss your academic interests and Autumn Quarter course ideas with your advisor, to ask your questions, and to listen to questions asked by your peers.

Be proactive about connecting with your UAD and gathering multiple perspectives on how best to explore your interests within Stanford’s curriculum. In preparation for your first advising meeting, watch the Advising Intro Presentation, complete the Academic Planning Worksheet, and use the course planning resources for new students.

As you identify possible courses for Autumn Quarter, log in to Simple Enroll and enter these courses as “planned” courses. A “planned” course indicates interest only – it does not reserve a space for you in a course, nor does it commit you to enrolling in it. Later, when enrollment opens for first-years, you will return to Axess and click "Enroll"  on your "planned" courses. If needed, you can also enroll in a course directly through Axess without using Simple Enroll.

September & NSO

While upperclass students can begin to enroll in their courses as of August 30, as a new first-year student, you have a "New Student Advisement Enrollment Hold" on your account and will need to wait until you have moved to campus and started New Student Orientation. 

The New Student Advisement Enrollment Hold will be automatically released during NSO after the Academic Advising Presentation. At that time, you will be able to log in and begin to enroll in your Autumn Quarter courses.* 

There are two methods to enroll in classes - most students should use Simple Enroll, unless you require accessibility support:

*Note: In order to enroll in courses, you must also have completed all other obligations required of new students, including submission of health requirements, final high school transcript, and test scores (if applicable). 

Preliminary Study List Deadline

The deadline to register your Preliminary Study List for Autumn Quarter is the first day of the quarter at 5:00 p.m.

Final Study List Deadline

You have until the end of the third week of classes to make changes to your study list before the Final Study List Deadline at 5:00 p.m. on Friday of Week 3.

Quarter System: One challenge will be getting used to the fast pace of the quarter system. During these first few weeks, students often choose to explore and attend a few classes prior to making their final choices. You can review syllabi (lists of assignments, readings, etc.), look at the textbooks for the courses, listen to lectures, and talk to your advisor. However, do not take too long to finalize your list. Faculty begin assigning work on the first day of class and midterms may begin as early as your third week. Good time management skills are absolutely essential for keeping up with your classes and for balancing your coursework with your other commitments.