Dates & Deadlines
2023 Dates and Deadlines
In preparation for your arrival, review these important dates and deadlines and complete the following items.
May 10 | Approaching Stanford Begins
On May 10, the Approaching Stanford process begins! Check your Stanford email for the Approaching Stanford Handbook and the first of your weekly newsletters. You are responsible for regularly checking your email and completing any required action items throughout the summer. At this time, you will be able to log in to the Approaching Stanford Canvas Course for the Approaching Stanford Requirements Checklist. A small mailing will be sent to your Mailing Address, as listed in Axess.
June 1 | Official Test Scores Deadline
If you self-reported test scores on your admission application, contact the ACT or College Board to have your ACT and/or SAT scores sent to Stanford, if applicable.
An Enrollment Hold will be placed on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who self-reported test scores, but do not submit them.
June 7 | Approaching Stanford Forms & Housing Application Deadline
Log in to Canvas to complete the Approaching Stanford Forms, which include the housing application, and upload your photo for your Stanford ID card. These forms collect personal information, academic course preferences, housing application and preferences, and parent/guardian contact(s) for the university. All forms submitted by the deadline will be given equal consideration. Housing assignments are not made in the order of submission. University staff will begin reviewing the forms to get to know you and to make assignments as soon as the deadline has passed.
June 30 | Academic/Housing Accommodations Registration
If applicable, register with the Office of Accessible Education in order to ensure proper academic and/or housing accommodations have been implemented prior to the fall.
Mid-June | Parent & Guardian Newsletter
The first of this monthly Approaching Stanford newsletter will be emailed to the parent(s)/guardian(s) you listed on your Approaching Stanford Forms.
(To add a contact to our email list after the Forms deadline, students should email approaching@stanford.edu with the contact's name and email address. Please note that we can only add contacts provided by students, therefore the request must come from you, and not your parent/guardian.)
July 1 | Final Official Transcript Deadline
Submit your final high school transcript, along with the transcripts for any external coursework that does not appear on your high school transcript (dual enrollment, etc.), by July 1 to the Office of Undergraduate Admission. If you have previously submitted your final transcript, you do not need to resubmit it. Email credentials@stanford.edu with questions.
An Enrollment Hold will be placed on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who do not submit their final high school transcript.
August 1 | Annual Information Student Update Deadline
You will be required to complete the annual “Student Information Update” every year in Axess. It takes only about five minutes to complete. After you've completed it, the fields will remain available all year round for you to update. Students should complete this requirement by August 1, 2023.
An Enrollment Hold will be placed on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who do not complete the Student Information Update.
August 4 | Vaden Health Requirements & Forms Deadline [Extended Deadline]
Review the 2023-24 Student Health Matters handbook and complete your required Entrance Health Requirements and Forms. You will need to upload or submit an official immunization record to Vaden Health Center. For questions regarding Vaden's Entrance Health Requirements, please submit a Service Ticket to Vaden. Effective April 10, 2023, the university no longer requires – but continues to strongly recommend – COVID vaccinations and boosters for faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, and students. For more, please see Student COVID Vaccination FAQ.
An Enrollment Hold will be placed on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who do not complete their Entrance Health Requirements and Forms.
Mid-August | Student Housing Notification
Email notification of your first-year housing assignment from R&DE Student Housing and Residential Education.
Mid-August | ExploreCourses 2023-24
ExploreCourses, Stanford's official course catalog, will publish 2023-24 course listings in mid-August. Begin browsing 2023-24 courses. Frosh have a "New Student Advisement Enrollment Hold" that will be released during New Student Orientation (NSO), at which time they will be able to enroll in their Autumn Quarter courses.
Mid-August | Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Email
Check your Stanford email for notification of your required VPUE first-year courses (COLLEGE & PWR1; ESF; ITALIC; or SLE) and featured recommended courses (Introductory Seminars and Frosh 101).
Mid-August | Academic Advisor Introduction
Receive an introduction email from your Academic Advisor with information about the required summer Advising Presentation. You will also be able to schedule a small group advising appointment with your assigned advisor prior to NSO to have an initial advising conversation around academic interests, course selection, opportunities, and resources. Browse the course planning resources and make a list of questions to share with your advisor.
Late August | Move-In Information
Email notification with instructions for moving to Stanford, including packing/shipping guidelines, a printable map, and details of what to expect. New Student Move-In will take place on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, national and county health conditions permitting.
September 1 | Civic Engagement Information Acknowledgment Deadline
Every fall, a Civic Engagement Enrollment Hold is placed for every student to encourage them to review information on civic engagement and to register to vote, if eligible. To have the hold released, simply check a box to acknowledge the recommendation of civic engagement. You do not need to register to vote to lift the hold. For more, see stanfordvotes.org.
An Enrollment Hold will remain on Autumn Quarter Enrollment for students who do not acknowledge the Civic Engagement recommendation.
September 15 | Cardinal Care Health Insurance Deadline (US Citizens & PR)
Between August 14 – September 15, you must log into Axess and formally waive or acknowledge Cardinal Care. Students who fail to waive Cardinal Care by September 15 will be automatically enrolled for the plan year (September 1, 2023–August 31, 2024). International students planning to waive Cardinal Care must also submit the International Student Insurance Coverage Certification Form.
September 18 | Stanford Required Online Education Courses
Check your Stanford email for notification about these required online courses in mid-August. Complete them by September 18, before NSO begins:
- Office of Community Standards: Fundamental Standard and Honor Code
- Alcohol Education for College
- Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
- Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates
- Sustainability - Zero Waste Training
September 18 | Stanford Survey of New Students
Check your Stanford email for your unique survey link that will be sent on August 28. Complete this important university survey by September 18.
September 20 | University Bill Payment Deadline
In early September, log into Axess to view your first University bill. Also set up Authorized Users and Direct Deposit, if desired. Your first University bill is expected to be due by September 20, 2023. The 2023-24 payment schedule will be posted in summer 2023.
September 19 | New Student Move-In Day
New students will move to campus on September 19*, 2023, national and county health conditions permitting. Check-in will take place at the Neighborhood Housing Service Centers from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All new students should be checked in by 5:00 p.m. on Move-In Day. At check-in, students will receive their Stanford ID card and their dorm room key.
*Pre-Orientation Programs: Students participating in pre-orientation programs that take place on campus may have an earlier move-in date. Please see details of your program when your participation is confirmed. International Student Orientation will begin on Saturday, September 16.
September 19-24 | New Student Orientation (NSO)
Welcome to Stanford - NSO will introduce you to the Stanford community! NSO is held the week prior to the start of Autumn Quarter and is required for all new students. We will have a full schedule of programs and events that you will be expected to attend. Please do not make any plans off-campus during this week.
Family members and guests are welcome to accompany you to New Student Move-In and the first day of NSO: September 19. Please plan to say your goodbyes just before dinner on September 19, as you will be fully engaged in NSO programs and events for the remainder of the week.
Stanford supports students, faculty, and staff in celebrating religious holidays of significance to them. NSO and residential staff are aware that religious commitments may influence attendance at some events.
NSO | Autumn 2023 Course Enrollment Opens
The New Student Advisement Enrollment Hold will be released during NSO and Autumn Quarter course enrollment for new students will open. You will have until September 26 to register your preliminary study list in Axess. Learn how to enroll in classes through SimpleEnroll or Axess.
Note that you will only be able to enroll in courses if you have completed all other new student requirements, including: submission of your school transcripts, submission of test scores (if applicable), completion of the Vaden Health Requirements, completion of the Student Information Update, and acknowledgment of the civic engagement recommendation.
September 26, 5:00 p.m. (PDT) | First Day of Autumn Quarter & Preliminary Study List Deadline
Register your Autumn Quarter courses in Axess by the Preliminary Study List Deadline of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, the first day of the quarter. You can make adjustments to your study list until the Final Study List Deadline at 5:00 p.m. on Friday of Week 3.