Neighborhood Magnolia, also called GovCo, is the last of Stanford’s eight neighborhoods and is also located on Stanford’s western side. Frosh within Neighborhood Magnolia will reside in either Potter, Robinson, and Schiff. These dorms have a variety of room types but mainly feature 2-room doubles.  Potter  A photo of the outside of Potter Potter is one of three all-frosh dorms within Neighborhood Magnolia. Nearby Potter stands the education farms, tennis courts, the driving range, golf course, and Red Barn. Potter is also close to Lake Lagunita and AOERC. Potter is led by Ben and JIl ..read more

In truth, as the days until my NSO counted down all too fast, I was filled with a deep sort of disquiet–after all, the college experience was something yet unfathomable to me. And yet, nestled deep among these apprehensions was an excitement that I could hardly contain–because although the path ahead was deeply uncertain, it would still be solely and uniquely mine to discover at Stanford. Now, looking back not a year since my own NSO, these feelings seem like remnants of a bygone era. It is a period of unimaginable growth–you’ll make mistakes and learn, simply experience the deep pains and gre ..read more

Neighborhood Redwood is one of two neighborhoods located on the west side of Stanford’s campus. Neighborhood Redwood is home to Ujamaa and West Lagunita. Both of these dorms host a variety of room types from single spaces, to 1-room doubles and 1-room triples.  Ujamaa  A photo of the outside of Ujamma next to Lakeside Dining Hall The Ujamaa House is one of Stanford’s ethnic housing options with a concentration of Black first-years and upper class students living together. Ujamaa focuses on the histories, issues and cultures of the Black Diaspora. Ujamaa has a legacy of upperclass stu ..read more

There is no manual or equation to be mastered that helps for transitioning from high school to college and most importantly, a very prestigious college. Today we will be talking about how transitioning into college can look like keeping in mind that we are all from different backgrounds and can’t transition the same way.  Hi again! I’m Omotolani Azeez; a rising sophomore looking to double major in Communication and Symbolic Systems. I was born and raised in Nigeria, moved to New Jersey for high school and then committed to Stanford University. Last summer, while packing and making sure I ..read more

 Roomate Hey everyone, it’s OC Hunter! With move-in day right around the corner, I know many of you have probably wondered who your roommate is going to be for your first year and how exactly that process will go. Today I wanted to share about meeting and living with your frosh roommate the Stanford way.  As you all may have seen by now, you currently do not have a specific room or roommate(s) assignment. This is because Stanford has an ongoing tradition of having random roommate pairings that you meet once you move on to campus. Frosh and transfers do not have the option to choose r ..read more

Lios enchim aniavu. Ketchem allea? (A greeting in my people’s language, Yaqui). First off, congratulations Class of 2027!!! We are extremely excited to welcome you to this amazing and beautiful campus. My name is Antonio Vega (he/him), the community coordinator for the Native American Cultural Center (NACC). I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, and words cannot express how much I love my home. It has everything I love: my family, my community, and beautiful landscapes (yes, I know Arizona is a literal desert, but fun fact: the Sonoran Desert is the most biodiverse desert in the world). F ..read more

Hi all! You are so close to starting your Stanford journey, and we can’t wait to welcome you in person. It’s OC Johan, and today, I’ll be talking about an often-overlooked resource: Office Hour!  What are Office Hours?  You will often hear this term, as almost all faculty and instructors hold office hours. The President and the Provost also have them. Office hours (or some faculty call them “drop-in hours”) are designated times when professors, instructors, or teaching assistants (TAs) are available to meet with students outside of class. During these times, you can discuss anything ..read more

Buenas buenas gente! Bienvenidos a Estanford!!! My name is Danna Chacon (she, her, ella), and I am currently a student staff member and one of the NSO Community Coordinators at El Centro Chicano y Latino. It is so wild how just a year ago I was in the same shoes as y’all and now I am here representing a place at Stanford that has become a new home for me! For starters, I can completely understand the uncertainty of coming to a brand new place, leaving your hometown, and even childhood behind to come to college. For me I moved all the way from the East Coast, Elizabeth, New Jersey, leaving my m ..read more

In the hallowed halls of academic excellence, where success is pursued fervently and accomplishments are celebrated, it’s imperative that we shine a light on an often underestimated facet of students’ lives: our mental well-being. Hello again! I am Omotolani Azeez; a rising sophomore looking to major in Symbolic Systems and Communication. I am your Orientation Coordinator (OC) in charge of Orientation Volunteers (OVs) and today we would be talking about mental health at Stanford University.  Some of the best websites to find mental health support on campus are our Bridge Peer Counseling C ..read more

Hey everyone, it’s OC Alondra! As we begin approaching the beginning of your time at Stanford, you will soon have to enroll in classes, so it is a good time to start thinking about what you want to take.  Aside from the minimum unit requirement of 180 units and major requirements, students must also fulfill the Language Requirement, the General Education requirements (Ways), the Writing Requirement (PWR), and the Civic, Liberal, and Global Education (COLLEGE) requirement.  To fulfill the language requirement, students must take one year of college-level study or the equivalent in a f ..read more