Undergraduate Advising and Research (UAR) provides academic advising, programming, and support for students as they shape their Stanford education. In guiding students to engage with faculty and in supporting students’ personal and intellectual development, UAR encourages students to explore the full breadth and depth of their intellectual opportunities, to find their intellectual homes, and to discover a sense of belonging at Stanford.
UAR is dedicated to introducing you to the full intellectual richness of undergraduate study at Stanford, supporting you in your academic and intellectual pursuits, and instilling within you a deep sense of identity within and belonging to the community of scholars at Stanford. This process begins with the pairing of each freshman with two advisors: a Pre-Major Advisor and an (UAR) Academic Advising Director.
Pre-Major Advisor
The Pre-Major Advisor is a faculty or staff member who volunteers to mentor you and a handful of other freshmen from the point of your arrival on campus until you declare your major. An attempt is made to match your interests with those of one of the Pre-Major Advisors associated with your residence. You will meet with your Pre-Major Advisor during New Student Orientation (NSO) and at least once per quarter until you declare a major (by the end of your sophomore year), after which you will be advised by a faculty member in your chosen department.
UAR Academic Advising Director
The Academic Advising Director (AAD) is a Ph.D.-level, full-time professional UAR advisor whose office is situated in a residence complex. The AAD stays current on curricular and other academic offerings across the University, regardless of her/his own field, helping you synthesize and navigate a set of academic requirements, opportunities, policies, and deadlines so that you can construct a rich and coherent undergraduate experience. AADs also support students who face difficulty with academic performance or progress, and those who seek an exception from academic deadlines and policies.
Other Advising Resources
UAR Advisors at Sweet Hall
Freshmen may also utilize the additional set of advisors in UAR, located on the first floor of Sweet Hall. UAR Academic Advisors are available during daily drop-in hours or by appointment, in the event that your Pre-Major Advisor or Academic Advising Director is unavailable or if you seek specialized advice regarding research, fellowships, and pre-professional interests (e.g., pre-law, pre-health, pre-business).
UAR Advisors at the Athletic Advising Resource Center (AARC)
Varsity athletes are served by UAR Academic Advisors whose offices are located in the Athletic Academic Resources Center (AARC) located in the Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation. The AARC Advisors are uniquely qualified and trained to evaluate student-athletes’ academic eligibility requirements.
