GSAC documents

New student info

Mentoring

Resources

Events

Fun stuff

GSAC home

Getting yourself established

Checking in

When you first arrive at Stanford, check in with your department's Student Affairs administrator; they can give you additional help and help you get settled.

• GES: Elaine Andersen (650-725-0574)
• Geophysics: Kimberly Ashley (650-724-3293)
• Petroleum Engineering: Ginni Savalli (650-723-8314)
    or Jeanne Mankinen (650-725-2716)
• IPER: Danielle Nelson (650-723-6117)

Transportation and Parking

Bicycling is the best way of getting around Stanford. If you need a bike, there are a number of places where you can find them:
www.stanford.edu/group/rains/shopping/rains_shopping2.htm

Bicycle registration and other resources:
transportation.stanford.edu/alt_transportation/BikingAtStanford.shtml

Cars aren't strictly necessary, though some people like to have them. If you're thinking of getting one, read this:
www.stanford.edu/dept/DoR/GSH/Sec2g.html#g24

If you do get a car, you'll need a campus parking permit:
transportation.stanford.edu/parking_info/ParkingInformation.shtml

Housing

General Housing page
www.stanford.edu/dept/hds/index.html

On campus
www.stanford.edu/dept/hds/shs/gradhousing/index.html

Off campus (Community Housing Services)
www.stanford.edu/dept/hds/chs/index.shtml

If you are planning on arriving during the weekend
and you have on-campus housing, please check with the
Housing office whether you can pick up your key during
the weekend or if somebody else can pick it up for you
(for example, your mentor). This is so you can have
housing since the very moment you get here. We
recommend you arrive during the day.

Health Insurance & Medical Requirements

Before you can begin your studies at Stanford, you must complete certain health-related forms, immunizations and tests. You will need to take care of before July 30th! Information can be found here:
www.stanford.edu/group/cowell/newstudent/medreqs.html

Stanford ID

Upon arriving to Stanford you will need to get your Stanford ID card at the Stanford Card office which is located in Old Union, Rm. 100. This office is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.
cns.stanford.edu/overviews/campuscard.html

Bank accounts

Remember to bring your drivers' license (or passport, for international students), Stanford ID and US currency or travelers checks ($55 to $300 depending on the type of account and bank) when opening a bank account.

There are three banks that have ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) on campus (Tresidder Union):

• Stanford Federal Credit Union: www.sfcu.org
• Wells Fargo: www.wellsfargo.com
• Bank of America: www.bankofamerica.com

Tax information

Internal Revenue Service
www.irs.ustreas.gov
California State Franchise Tax Board
www.ftb.ca.gov
Tax Treaty Information
co.stanford.edu/compliance/foreign/treaty.html

Computer accounts, phones, e-mail, etc.

The "Computing Resources" page on this site contains a New User checklist which will provide you all the info you need to set up e-mail, unix accounts, etc. (This can wait until you're on campus.)
pangea.stanford.edu/computerinfo/newusers/

You will also need a campus-wide ID, called a SUNet ID, to use a lot of the computer services on campus.
www.stanford.edu/dept/itss/services/sunetid/

In addition, the campus-wide Computing & Communication page provides additional info about phones, voice mail, email, networking, etc.
www.stanford.edu/home/computing/

Mailbox

You will be assigned a mailbox in your respective department. Your address is:

• Geophysics: Department of Geophysics, Mitchell Building, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305
• GES: Geological and Environmental Sciences, 450 Serra Mall, Building 320, Stanford CA 94305-2115
• Petroleum Engineering:362 Panama St., Department of Petroleum Engineering, Green Earth Sciences Building, Stanford CA 94305
• IPER: 397 Panama Mall, Room 132, Stanford CA 94305-2210
  

There is a post office on campus. In addition, there are pick up points for FEDEX and UPS packages.