NSO - Wednesday

2015 NSO - Wednesday, September 16

Breakfast

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. - Open residence dining halls

Students without a dining hall are welcome to dine at Wilbur Hall.

Language Placement Tests

8:50 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Various locations (see below)

The tests listed below are mainly oral tests. Some include a written portion. For Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish, you should have already taken a written placement test online. If you have not already taken this online test, contact languagecenter@stanford.edu. Doors close at 8:50 a.m. sharp. Bring your SUID card. Placement test results will be posted online tonight at http://language.stanford.edu/placement.

Arabic Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 260-012
Chinese Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 420-040
French Oral Test - Cubberley Auditorium
German Oral Test - Bldg. 30-101, 102
Hebrew Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 240-110
Hindi Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 60-118
Italian Oral Test - Bldg. 260-001
Japanese Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 260 (002, 003, 004, 007)
Korean Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 300-303
Latin and Classical Greek Written Test - School of Education 334
Portuguese Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 260-008
Russian Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 260-011
Spanish Oral Test - Dinkelspiel Auditorium
Spanish Written Test for Home Background Speakers - Bldg. 260-113
Tagalog Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 260-308
Vietnamese Oral and Written Test - Bldg. 60-119

Chemistry Placement Test

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Hewlett 201

If you are interested in taking CHEM 31X and you did not score a 5 on the Chemistry AP exam, you should take the chemistry placement test. Bring a pencil, eraser, calculator, your SUID card, and know your SUNet ID. Your placement will be emailed to your @stanford.edu account by midnight. Students who want to start in CHEM 31A do not need to take the test. See chemistry.stanford.edu/undergradprograms/choosing-classes for more information. If you also need to take a language placement test, plan to take it during the language make-up session on Friday morning.

Physics Placement Diagnostic

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Hewlett 200

If you are planning to take any of the calculus-based PHYSICS 40 series or PHYSICS 61 this year, and you did not score a 5 on all AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C (Mechanics and E&M) exams, you should take the physics placement diagnostic. Bring a pencil, eraser, and your SUID card, and know your SUNet ID. Later in the week, advice will be emailed to your @stanford.edu account with guidance on placement into the PHYSICS 40 or 60 series or a recommendation to take a math course in Autumn before beginning PHYSICS 41 in Winter. Students planning to take the PHYSICS 20 series do not need to take this diagnostic. See choosing-physics.stanford.edu for more information. If you also need to take a language placement test, plan to take it during the language make-up session on Friday morning.

Discover Stanford and The First Lecture

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. - Memorial Auditorium, NSO nametag required

Per our founders’ wishes, Stanford’s undergraduate curriculum aims to prepare you for “direct usefulness in life” by engaging you in a wide-ranging search for knowledge, regardless of perceived practical applications. Professor Margot Gerritsen will offer your First Lecture on the purpose of a liberal education and how you will become more than your major. With remarks from the Provost, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, and the Dean of Freshmen. Note: You will not be returning to your residence today until dinner.

Zero-Waste Lunch (Freshmen)

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. - Lomita Mall, beside Bldg. 370

Pick up a box lunch and eat along Lomita Mall. Look for instructions and volunteers to help guide you in composting your lunch materials for this zero-waste lunch. Then check out the informational tables to learn more about sustainability on campus and what it means to eat a zero-waste lunch. Note: Your SUID card will not work in the dining halls today for lunch.

Transfer Lunch with Advisors & Answers for Transfers Part I

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. - Wilbur Dining Hall, West Side

Enjoy your zero-waste lunch with new transfer students, transfer advisors, and Stanford staff. Returning transfer students will share their experiences and their suggestions on how to make the most of your time at Stanford.

Designing your First Quarter (freshmen)

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Various locations (see below)

Your Academic Advising Director is the key advising resource in your dorm complex. Come meet your AAD and learn about preparing for your first quarter, how to choose classes, the advantages of working with your various advisors, and more.

Florence Moore Hall - Bldg. 320-105
Freshman-Sophomore College - Bldg. 370-370
Lagunita Court - Bldg. 200-002
Roble Hall - Bldg. 420-041
Stern Hall (Burbank, Donner, Serra, Zapata) & Muwekma-Tah-Ruk - Hewlett 200
Stern Hall (Larkin, Twain) - Bishop Auditorium
Wilbur Hall (Arroyo, Cedro) - Hewlett 201
Wilbur Hall (Junipero, Okada, Otero) - Bldg. 420-040
Wilbur Hall (Rinconada, Soto, Trancos) - Cubberley Auditorium

Academic Planning Sessions

2:15 p.m. – 5:05 p.m. - Various locations (see below)

The following academic information sessions are designed to help you choose your first-year courses, plan for academic success, and prepare you for meeting with your advisors. There may be scheduling constraints, but all sessions are offered twice. Faculty speakers are listed on the NSO Academic Planning Sessions page.

Active Learning Strategies

2:15 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Bldg. 370-370
4:15 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. - Bishop Auditorium

Do you know your learning style? Do you want to polish old study habits or learn new techniques? The study skills required for academic success at Stanford may surprise you. This session will teach strategies to ease your transition from high school to Stanford study.

Choosing Courses in Computer Science

2:15 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Hewlett 201
3:15 p.m. - 4:05 p.m. - Hewlett 201

This session is intended for anyone thinking about taking computer science classes, from those with no background to those who are considering this major. Faculty will discuss areas of this discipline and at what level it would be appropriate for you to begin coursework.

Choosing Courses in the Arts

3:15 p.m. - 4:05 p.m. - Bldg. 370-370
4:15 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. - Bldg. 370-370

Faculty will offer valuable tips on selecting introductory or gateway courses that open doors to further exploration in the arts, and that prepare you for study in particular majors.

Choosing Courses in Engineering

3:15 p.m. - 4:05 p.m. - Hewlett 200
4:15 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. - Hewlett 200

Faculty will discuss the notably wide breadth of fields encompassed in the School of Engineering. Learn about the foundational and introductory courses that will guide exploration of your interest and the possibilities in engineering.

Choosing Courses in Foreign Language

2:15 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Bldg. 260-113
3:15 p.m. - 4:05 p.m. - Bldg. 260-113

Faculty will discuss practical questions and the deep resources Stanford offers for language study and describe the key role language study will play in opening avenues for your many interests in programs, including literary and area cultural studies, international relations, and overseas study.

Choosing Courses in the Humanities

2:15 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Bldg. 200-002
3:15 p.m. - 4:05 p.m. - Bldg. 200-002

Faculty will offer valuable tips on selecting introductory or gateway courses that open doors to further exploration in the humanities, and that prepare you for study in particular majors.

Choosing Courses in Mathematics

2:15 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Bishop Auditorium
3:15 p.m. - 4:05 p.m. - Bishop Auditorium

Faculty from Mathematics, Computational and Mathematical Engineering, and Statistics will describe preparation for study in any of the majors that have these courses as foundations, and will recommend different starting points and sequences available for students based on their backgrounds.

Choosing Courses in the Natural Sciences

3:15 p.m. - 4:05 p.m. - Bldg. 320-105
4:15 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. - Bldg. 320-105

Faculty from Biology, Chemistry, Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, and Physics will describe preparation for study in any of the majors that have these courses as foundations. Learn about where you should begin in each of these course sequences given your background.

Choosing Courses for Pre-Med

2:15 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Hewlett 200
4:15 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. - Bldg. 260-113

This presentation will guide you in assessing your interests in the health professions and will include details on course selection and other criteria necessary to prepare for a career in the health fields.

Choosing Courses in the Social Sciences

3:15 p.m. - 4:05 p.m. - Bldg. 420-040
4:15 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. - Bldg. 420-040

Faculty will offer valuable tips on selecting introductory or gateway courses that open doors to further exploration in different social science disciplines and that prepare you for study in particular majors.

Research and Independent Projects

2:15 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Bldg. 320-105
4:15 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. - Hewlett 201

Original scholarship in a wide range of disciplines can be an integral part of your undergraduate experience. Come get inspired by the range of project possibilities in research, the arts, and senior synthesis. Learn some key steps in getting started and think about the timeline that might make the most sense for you.

Thinking Matters, PWR, and Intro Sem Classes

2:15 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Bldg. 420-040
4:15 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. - B ldg. 200-002

Faculty directors and staff will answer your questions about strategies for achieving your goals in Thinking Matters, PWR, and Intro Sems. The session will also highlight the role of the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking in your undergraduate education.

Faculty presenters and additional information & Handouts

Transfer Drop-In Advising

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. - Sweet Hall, 1st Floor

Transfer Advising Coordinator Sally Mentzer will be available for drop-in advising. Repeated on Friday and Saturday.

Dinner

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. - Open residence dining halls