How to Survive Your First Week at Stanford

Assorted tips for flourishing in the land of palm trees, Rollerblades and sun.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Running Shoes
• College Textbooks
• Electronic Personal Organizers
• Bedsheets
• Calendars
• Personal Organizers
• Bike U-locks

1. Buy your Cultures, Ideas and Values (CIV) books early, before the rest of your classmates do. Visit the bookstore at night, when lines are shorter.

2. Thumb through "Courses and Degrees," being open-minded about the types of classes you're willing to try.

3. Shop around for classes during the first two weeks. Collect at least the syllabus from classes you're most interested in if there's more than one class you want to visit during a given lecture hour.

4. Wake up early to wait in line if you want to sign up for golf or social dance.

5. Attend key freshman social events like Much Fun Under the Sun (MuFuUnSun) or your dorm's scavenger hunt. Brush your teeth and go to Full Moon on the Quad. Pelt your classmates with newspaper balls at Flicks (the weekly movies).

6. Try Florence Moore (Flo Mo) dining hall for a good weekend brunch, and make your own omelettes and waffles.

7. Jog around Lake Lagunita, taking care to avoid potholes.

8. Visit Arillaga or Tresidder gym for exercise machines and Ford Center for an indoor basketball court.

9. Sunbathe in the Oval or on the Wilbur lawn if weather permits.

10. Learn Stanford-speak: "Fro yo" is frozen yogurt; "Co Ho," the on-campus coffee shop; "Mem Chu," Memorial Church; "fuzzy," a humanities student; and "techie," a science one.

Tips & Warnings

• Stanford allows students to try out classes before signing up for them. Many students spend their first week "shopping around" to find professors and courses that fit their interests.
• MuFuUnSun is an annual outdoor social event for freshmen.
• Freshmen must kiss seniors during Full Moon on the Quad for a proper initiation into student life.
• Stanford's parking enforcers watch every car, everywhere - don't risk parking illegally.
• Always lock your bike to a permanent fixture, using a U-lock.
• Try to avoid going to the post office at noon, when lines are long.
• Bedsheets from the school service are a little stiff and crunchy.
• Don't play the piano at 2 a.m. if you want to remain friendly with your dorm-mates.