Frequently Asked Questions

The Application Process

• I currently attend Stanford. Do I need to apply here to enroll in summer courses?
• Do I need to supply high school or college transcripts?
• Do I need to submit TOEFL scores as part of my application?
• What do you base acceptance on?
• Is there financial aid available during the summer quarter?
• I’m over the age of 18. Can I opt not to carry health insurance?
• Are there any distance learning options available?

• How do I know if my units will transfer?
• When a course is offered for a range of units (for example, 3 – 5 units), what does this mean for students in that course?
• Is there course shopping during the first week?
• Is tutoring available during the summer quarter?
• How do quarter units compare to semester units?
• Are there graduate level courses offered during the summer quarter?
• Does attending the summer session improve my chances of being accepted as a Stanford transfer/graduate student?
• Are there research jobs I can get while I’m taking summer classes?
• How do I get a course syllabus?

• Are any social activities planned through the dorm?
• Is there family housing available during the summer?
• Approximately how many students attend classes on campus in the summer months?

• I currently attend Stanford. Do I need to apply here to enroll in summer courses?
  No. Current Stanford students should use Axess to sign up for summer classes.
• Do I need to supply high school or college transcripts?
  Stanford’s summer quarter is an open enrollment program welcoming visiting adults and college students from around the world. Adult students with college experience are invited to apply. No transcripts are required for admission.
• Do I need to submit TOEFL scores as part of my application?
  By deciding to attend Stanford for the summer quarter, we assume you feel confident in your ability to succeed in college level courses taught in English. No TOEFL scores are required as part of your application. However, it may be useful to know that most applicants to Stanford score above 110 on the Internet-based test or 637 on the Paper-based test.
• What do you base acceptance on?
  You need to be 18 or older, and have evidence of successful college experience, as noted on your application.
• Is there financial aid available during the summer quarter?
  Stanford does not offer any form of financial aid during the summer quarter for visiting students. Check with your home institution to see if they will extend financial aid to cover your summer tuition.
• I’m over the age of 18. Can I opt not to carry health insurance?
  All students registered at Stanford are required to have health insurance. Students are automatically enrolled in Stanford’s Cardinal Care plan as soon as they register for their first class. There is a charge of $756 for this insurance which can be waived during the enrollment process by submitting proof of alternate coverage. International students must submit proof of alternate U.S. coverage in order to waive this fee.
• Are there any distance learning options available?
  e-Learning Mathematics offers university-level distance-learning courses designed for disciplined, enthusiastic, self-motivated students who desire the flexibility and self-directed nature of this nontraditional learning environment. These courses are only available to undergraduates or graduate students attending our Summer Session. More information about these courses, and the required special application, can be found at the e-Learning home page.

• How do I know if my units will transfer?
  Your best plan of action is to check with your home college or university in advance to confirm that they will accept units from the class or classes you plan to take at Stanford.
• When a course is offered for a range of units (for example, 3 - 5 units), what does this mean for students in that course?
  The range of units indicates that a student may select the preferred unit count from the options given. Additional work or assignments may be required for the higher unit count.
• Is there course shopping during the first week?
  Many students use the first week of the quarter to check out different classes that may be of interest. It’s important to adhere to the guidelines in Axess - Stanford’s on-line enrollment system - with regard to deadlines for adding/deleting classes and submitting study plans. It’s also important to remember that Stanford’s summer quarter condenses the ten-week quarter into an eight-week session, so it’s critical that you decide on your courses quickly and commit to your study plan.
• Is tutoring available during the summer quarter?
  Yes, a variety of courses have tutors available during the summer months.
• How do quarter units compare to semester units?
  To convert quarter units to semester units, multiply the quarter units by 2/3. For instance, 3 quarter units are equal to 2 semester units.
• Are there graduate level courses offered during the summer quarter?
  Most courses offered are undergraduate courses, although a handful of graduate level courses are available as well. Unless otherwise specified, courses numbered from 1 through 99 are primarily for first- and second-year undergraduates; courses numbered from 100 through 199 are for third- and fourth-year undergraduates; and those from 200 through 699 are for graduate students.
• Does attending the summer session improve my chances of being accepted as a Stanford transfer/graduate student?
  Attendance during the summer quarter at Stanford does not improve your chances of being accepted as a transfer/graduate student at a later date.
• Are there research jobs I can get while I’m taking summer classes?
  The Summer Session office does not facilitate research assistant positions during the summer quarter. If you are interested in pursuing this topic, you should contact the appropriate department directly.
• How do I get a course syllabus?
  The first place to look is at the website http://syllabus.stanford.edu. If you do not find the course you seek posted at the syllabus website, then you will need to contact the academic department offering the course. The Summer Session office does not have course syllabi.

• Are any social activities planned through the residence?
  Students are hired to serve as residential staff during the summer quarter. They are responsible for planning a variety of social activities for students living on campus. Each participant is expected to contribute to a community fund, known as "house dues," to help cover the cost of these events. These social activities are only available in the undergraduate residences.
• Is there family housing available during the summer?
  Students who are registered for summer quarter have priority for on campus housing. Typically, there is plenty of housing available, but Couple and Student With Children housing is more limited. Applicants who meet the initial Allocation deadline in early May have the best chance of getting their first choice of housing.
• Approximately how many students attend classes on campus in the summer months?
  One of the attractive things about attending Stanford during the summer quarter is class size. Overall, fewer students are enrolled and classes are smaller, allowing more time for one-on-one interaction with instructors. But the campus is by no means empty. A variety of different programs run all summer long, and there are plenty of interesting people to meet through class interaction and dorm activities. Enrollment figures hover around 2,500 students for the summer quarter.