Bechtel International Center
Graduate Student Orientation Schedule
2025 Orientation Schedule
Main content start
Updated on: June 27, 2025 - Schedule subject to change! Check back as we get closer to orientation!
Bus Trips and Tours: There are two identical bus trips to Henry Cowell Redwoods on Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday Sept. 21, and a bus tour of the Berkeley-Bay Area on Sunday, Sept. 14. Tickets are $50 per person and includes snacks/drinks on the bus and a box lunch. Tickets for the Sept. 20 Henry Cowell Redwoods trip and the Sept. 14 Berkeley-Bay Area tour will be sold at the Bechtel International Center-Assembly Room on Tuesday, September 9 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for the Sept. 21 Henry Cowell Redwoods trip will be sold at the Bechtel International Center-Assembly Room on Tuesday, September 16 at 12 p.m. Credit/Debit card or digital payments only. Space is limited and tickets sell quickly. NOTE: No children will be allowed on this trip. Tickets are limited to new Stanford students and scholars only.
Dinners at the Bechtel International Center: Please join us on three different nights for dinner. See the Orientation schedule for details. Tickets are $20 and include food and a non-alcoholic beverage. Tickets will be sold online and purchases checked at the door. Space is limited! Wine, beer, and other alcoholic drinks will be for sale during the dinners (two drinks for $5).
Thank you to our orientation sponsors: Stanford Credit Union, campusSIMS, and Flywire.
All events are held at the Bechtel International Center, unless otherwise noted. Spouses and families of students are cordially invited to all activities except bus trips and tours which are solely for students and scholars.
Monday, September 8
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status *Must reserve a seat to attend. Click on lick to reserve seat. |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Student Services Center and Student Financial Services (also on Sept. 15): Student Services Center and Student Financial Services representatives explain important enrollment deadlines, full-time student enrollment requirements, enrolling in correct class sections, and how to withdraw/drop courses. Other topics discussed are: Understanding and paying University bills; who to ask questions about your bills; and third-party contract billing. |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status *Must reserve a seat to attend. Click on lick to reserve seat. |
| 3:00-4:00 p.m. | Transplants Taking Root: Skills and Resources for Mental Health and Well-Being at Stanford: A presentation by Well-Being at Stanford and CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services). This session is designed to bring awareness to the kinds of issues you are most likely to face as a new student. This interactive session will include exercises and discussions and will focus on typical adjustment phases and self-care. |
| 5:00-6:00 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
Tuesday, September 9
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status *Must reserve a seat to attend. Click on lick to reserve seat. |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Medical Care-Insurance, Entrance Medical Records, Required Inoculations: In this session, representatives from Vaden Health Center (the on-campus student clinic) will discuss health services and how Cardinal Care health insurance works. |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status *Must reserve a seat to attend. Click on lick to reserve seat. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Bus ticket sales in the Assembly Room for 9/14 Berkeley Tour and the 9/20 Henry Cowell Redwoods |
| 3:00-4:00 p.m. | Banking in the U.S.A-Options for Managing Your Money (also on Sept. 16): Information about different kinds of bank accounts, credit and debit cards, how to build credit, identity theft prevention, U.S. banking services, and money transfers. Presented by a representative from the Stanford Federal Credit Union (SFCU). |
| 5:00-6:00 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
Wednesday, September 10
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Culture of the U.S. Classroom (also on Sept. 15): A session about the cultural aspects surrounding student life: What is Stanford’s academic system? What are Stanford’s academic regulations? What is the Honor Code? How can you be successful? A panel of Stanford students and staff will address these and other questions. |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Stanford As We See It Student panel featuring Stanford University international students both past and present. |
| 3:00-4:00 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 6:00-7:00 p.m. | Dinner: Indian food. Sponsored by Charlie Porter Insurance Agency of Menlo Park. Tickets are limited AND must be bought in advance. Purchase tickets online using a QR code posted in the Bechtel International Center starting on Monday, Sept. 9 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Thursday, September 11
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | F-1/J-1 Employment in the U.S. (also on Sept. 18): On/Off-campus employment information. |
| 1:00-1:30 p.m. | Social Security Number (SSN) and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Information (also on Sept. 18) |
| 2:00-3:00 p.m. | Automobiles (also on Sept. 16): A presentation on buying a used car, licensing, and insurance. |
| 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 6:00-7:00 p.m. | Dinner: Chinese food. Tickets are limited AND must be bought in advance. Purchase tickets online using a QR code posted in the Bechtel International Center starting on Monday, Sept. 9 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
Friday, September 12
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Living Safely at Stanford (also on Sept. 17): A presentation by Stanford’s Department of Public Safety about laws and customs, contacting police, keeping property safe, personal safety, alcohol rules (DUI), safe hiking, phishing scams, telephone scams, bicycle safety, and a brief talk about earthquake awareness and preparedness. |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Ice Cream Social – Meet and Greet with International Student Advisors |
| 2:30-3:30 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 6:00-7:00 p.m. | Dinner: Italian food. Sponsored by Flywire. Tickets are limited AND must be bought in advance. Purchase tickets online using a QR code posted in the Bechtel International Center starting on Monday, Sept. 9 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
| 7:00-9:00 p.m. | International Karaoke Night! Sing and share songs from your home country solo, in pairs, or groups. Or sing popular American songs. It’s your turn to star at this fun event! |
Saturday, September 13
| 2:00-4:00 p.m. | “Dish Walk”: Meet new friends and enjoy a Stanford tradition of “Walking the Dish” in the foothills above Stanford. Meet at the Bechtel International Center-Assembly Room. Bring a hat, a bottle of water, and wear good walking shoes. This event is free! |
Sunday, September 14
| 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | Berkeley-Bay Area Bus Tour: This all-day tour includes a walking tour of the University of California, Berkeley campus, lunch at Berkeley’s International House, followed by a drive across the Bay Bridge, and a visit to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point and Ocean Beach. The bus will leave exactly at 9:00 am. Please make sure to arrive at the Faculty Club 439 Lagunita Dr, Stanford, CA 94305 (across the street from the Bechtel International Center) by 8:45 am. The whole-day trip will cost $50 per person and includes lunch. THERE IS LIMITED SPACE, BUY YOUR TICKET EARLY! Tickets can be purchased beginning Sept. 9 at the Bechtel International Center. NOTE: No children will be allowed on this trip. |
Monday, September 15
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status *Must reserve a seat to attend. Click on lick to reserve seat. |
| 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Culture of the U.S. Classroom (also on Sept. 10) |
| 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Student Services Center and Student Financial Services (also on Sept. 8) |
| 3:00-4:00 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
Tuesday, September 16
| 12 p.m. | Bus ticket sales in the Assembly Room for the 9/21 Henry Cowell Redwoods |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Banking in the U.S.A-Options for Managing Your Money (also on Sept. 9) |
| 2:30-3:30 p.m. | Automobiles (also on Sept. 11) |
| 4:00-5:00 pm | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 6:00-7:00 p.m. | S'mores Event: Come grab a s'more! At two locations! Join us either at the Lake Lag Fire Pit (across from the Bechtel International Center) or the grill near the Assembly Room to roast some marshmallows and meet fellow international students. A s’more consists of toasted marshmallow over a fire and chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker. Register here to attend this event. |
Wednesday, September 17
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Living Safely at Stanford (also on Sept. 12) |
| 2:30-3:30 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception (co-sponsored by Stanford Federal Credit Union): Join the festivities! Enjoy great traditional American pizza and meet new friends! Win raffle prizes from the Campus Bike Store, Athletic Department, and more! We will also have information tables set up by student groups and programs for spouses and families. Featuring a special welcome address. Come meet the Bechtel International Center staff and CCIS Community Advisors. Live music by the Bobby Earle Band! |
Thursday, September 18
| 9:00-10:00 a.m. | CATAPULT: CA/TA Panel on University Learning and Teaching In this interactive workshop and panel presentation, you’ll learn tips from experienced international student peers and identify resources to support you in your teaching assistant (TA) or course assistant (CA) assignment, whether you start this year or in the future. CA/TA Panel on University Learning and Teaching doesn’t have to be stressful. Please register to participate in Catapult. |
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | F-1/J-1 Employment in the U.S. (also on Sept. 11) |
| 1:00-1:30 p.m. | Social Security Number (SSN) and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Information(also on Sept. 11) |
| 3:30-5:00 p.m. | President’s Reception: Stanford President, Jonathan Levin will host a welcome reception for new graduate students. Enjoy light refreshments while meeting other new students! Location: Main Quad, 20 Palm Dr. For more details on the reception, visit: https://glo.stanford.edu/ngso |
Friday, September 19
| 8:00 am-12:00 p.m. | Teaching at Stanford-An Orientation for Teaching Assistants: Come learn about the process of becoming a Teaching Assistant (TA) and gain skills on how to be an effective TA. Continental breakfast will be served at 7:30 am. Location: Hewlett Teaching Center-Science and Engineering Quad (Hewlett Building). |
| 12:00-2:00 p.m. | Graduate Orientation and Lunch Information Event (GOALIE): Check out the many student clubs, organizations, and resources available to you. This information fair is offered by the Graduate Life Office (GLO). Free lunch provided. Location: Canfield Courtyard, between the Law School and Meyer Green. |
| 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
Saturday, September 20
| 9:00 am-4:00 p.m. | Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Join us for a guided trip of this beautiful 40-acre grove of towering old-growth redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The bus will leave exactly at 9:30 a.m. Please make sure to arrive at the Faculty Club 439 Lagunita Dr, Stanford, CA 94305 (across the street from the Bechtel International Center) by 9:15 a.m. The whole-day trip will cost $50 per person and includes snacks/drinks on the bus and a box lunch. THERE IS LIMITED SPACE, BUY YOUR TICKET EARLY! Tickets can be purchased beginning Sept. 9 at the Bechtel International Center from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. NOTE: No children will be allowed on this trip. Tickets are limited to new Stanford students and scholars only. |
Sunday, September 21
| 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. | Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Join us for a guided trip of this beautiful 40-acre grove of towering old-growth redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The bus will leave exactly at 9:30 a.m. Please make sure to arrive at the Faculty Club 439 Lagunita Dr, Stanford, CA 94305 (across the street from the Bechtel International Center) by 9:15 a.m. The whole-day trip will cost $50 per person and includes snacks/drinks on the bus and a box lunch. THERE IS LIMITED SPACE, BUY YOUR TICKET EARLY! Tickets can be purchased beginning Sept. 16 at the Bechtel International Center. NOTE: No children will be allowed on this trip. Tickets are limited to new Stanford students and scholars only. |
Monday, September 22 - Classes Begin! Have a great first day!
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
| 2:30-3:30 p.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
Tuesday, September 23
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Maintaining Your Legal Status |
Wednesday, September 24
| 10:30 am-12:00 p.m. | Welcome Coffee for Spouses, Partners, and Families of International Students and Scholars: Join us for our weekly informal gathering! It is an ideal way to meet other spouses and families, to get information about living at Stanford, and to learn about the many options for enriching your stay. Returning spouses speaking many languages will host this event, so fluent English is not necessary to attend. Held every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Bechtel International Center rear courtyard. |