Informal checklist to Stanford

First of all: Welcome to the Farm! Lets run through some quick tips and a lot of links.

• Get a US phone number. Stanford has excellent internet coverage on campus, and this will get you around pretty well. However, a US phone number will help you because many companies use this to register you for loyalty programs, your bank account etc. It will also make it easier to get around when you’re not on campus. Because hopefully, you will not spend all your time on the Farm. A typical plan with data will set you back $30–50 per month.

• In the US the credit card is basically a necessity. You pay with it all the time: whether you do groceries or make big purchases. It is important to get a credit card as soon as possible: transaction fees from your home country will add up rapidly. Unfortunately, as a foreigner you will have zero credit score. If you want to understand the US banking system: check out the ‘Haven Money’ online course that Stanford offers.
  This means that as a foreigner, you will usually be rejected out of hand by most banks. Luckily, the Stanford Federal Credit Union (SFCU)has a good relationship with Stanford University. If you bring all your paperwork, including your admission letter (especially for PhD students) and documentation showing that you’re credit worthy, they are usually happy to open a bank account and consider your credit card application favorably. Their credit card is maybe not the top card available but it offers a decent credit line, helps you build credit score and it offers some points (which you can exchange for ~1% cashbacks).
  As foreigner it is probably easiest to go to one of their branches (the one near Serra street is usually more quiet during September Rush), as you’ll probably need to show documentation.
  Make sure to bring: i20/ds2019, i94, passport with visa, admission letter to Stanford and if you have any form of (on-campus) employment, some proof of that. (promo: If you provide my code “F2F5F0X” during your application, we both get $25 or $50, depending on time of the year).

• Transferring money between your own currency and US dollars can be expensive. There are several services that ease this process and make it cheaper. I arrived eventually at wise.com (formerly TransferWise, promo) which has a transparent fee that seems relatively low.

• If Stanford has to pay you (as PhD student once your fellowship runs out, or as Master student when you are Teaching or Research Assistant) you’ll need a Social Security Number (SSN). If you already know that you’ll need one anyway, and if you’re already eligible, it may be worthwhile getting it sooner rather than later. With this SSN, you also start to build your credit score with each payment you make, which will help you get a better credit card in the future.
  Follow instructions on the website of the Bechtel center. You will need to make an appointment at the Social Security office, which is pretty straight forward. You will likely need a letter from the Bechtel center, and you need to check with them when you can make the appointment (sometimes it takes a while for them to ‘release’ your status in the system after you complete the ‘maintain your status’ workshop).

• Citizens from a number of countries can fall under an exception from a tax treaty between your home country and the US. If this applies to you, it can mean that the tax you have to pay in the US is significantly reduced! It is worth checking if you fall under one of these exceptions if you expect any income (fellowship or assistantship), check the relevant help page on Stanford Fingate.

• If you live off-campus, you may qualify for some benefits of the Stanford Commute Club. If you commit to not using a car to get to campus, you can earn up to $300 per year in Clean Air Cash. They also provide ZipCar credit, carpool permits and emergency rides home.
  Besides that, you may qualify for the free Caltrain Go-pass (eligibility fluctuates). The exact benefits change from time to time, so do check out their website. If you register for this, make sure to find a friend that is already a member, and share the referral bonus!

• You probably don’t want to carry around your passport all the time (make sure to carry your passport if you go near a border or airport!); and carry a California drivers license or California ID instead. In both cases, you will need to make an appointment at the Department for Motor Vehicles. See the instructions at the Bechtel international center. You will probably need to bring a proof of residence, your passport with visa, Social Security Card, i20 and most recent i94. The latter two are often not mentioned because documentation is aimed at US citizens.

• Getting a drivers license is quite doable. Depending on whether you have a license from your home country, it is easier or harder. Compared to many European countries, the test is pretty light. However, even if you already have a license, you may want to get one or two lessons with an instructor or a friend, to get a feel for the different road structure (lots of mountains), specific rules (turn right on red? thinking in feet?) etc. Making an appointment with the DMV probably takes a wait anyway. Regardless, first step will be to get your drivers permit (theory exam). Waiting times can range from days to several months. Look out for the most convenient location!

• If you want to drive, but not own a car, you can consider becoming a member of ZipCar. They have several cars around campus, which you can hire by the hour or day. It seems expensive, but is much cheaper than owning. As a student, you can get a cheaper membership.

• Whether you live on or off campus, it’s a MUST to own a bike. As a Dutch native, I may be prejudiced towards bikes, but you’ll find quickly that it is indeed the main means of transportation on campus. Most of the campus is car free, and finding a parking spot is a hassle (and can be expensive). The campus is also mostly flat and the weather is excellent for biking aside from the five rainy days or so in January/February.
  You can get a very cheap bike (starting around $200) at one of the megastores in the San Antonio Shopping Center (Walmart/Target), which are usually even pre-assembled. Stanford provides free Marguerite transportation to San Antonio. But remember: you get what you pay for. If you can find one, a second hand bike may be a good option.
  You may also choose to get a higher quality bike (starting around $400). There are several bike shops on and around campus. You may want to check out the Campus Bike Shop next to Tresidder for relatively affordable bikes — including second hand.
  Unfortunately bikes are very high in demand in September, with thousands of students arriving on campus within a few weeks.

• Get familiar with the traffic rules. As a bike driver you have the same rights and obligations as a car driver. You have to stop for each stop sign (there are MANY stop signs), you have the same alcohol restrictions (don’t drink and drive) and you can make a right turn on red lights after making a full stop.

• Stanford provides access to a number of buffet style all-you-can-eat dining halls and take-away food courts. The food courts are all accessible for graduate students, but the dining halls are primarily designed for undergraduate students. Graduate students do have access to a number of dining halls — and some dining halls even offer late night access. Note that access to dining halls during school breaks is very much limited (Thanksgiving, Winter break, Summer quarter).
  In the dining halls you pay with meal plans (you buy meals in advance and the more you buy, the cheaper they are). Your meal blocks don’t expire as long as you use one meal per quarter, and you can use them for guests too.
  In some of the food courts, you can pay with cardinal dollars using your student ID. The nice thing of this is that for each $10 you get $11 in Cardinal dollars — giving you roughly a 10% discount!

• Sometimes, you’re working hard in your department, and going out for dinner is too much a hassle — ordering in food may be a good option. There are a few common options that are popular, that usually offer good introduction deals, so you can try them out: Doordash (promo: we both get $7 off), UberEats (promo: use “eats-lodewijkg2ue” at checkout).

• As you arrive new to California, you’ll likely need a number of things to get settled: cutlery, blankets etc. As a student, you’ll have access to three months of free Amazon Prime with your Stanford email address, which gives you free delivery. For some items, it may be cheaper to look at a shop like Walmart (promo: we both get $10 off).

• Stanford has a list of software packages available for free for students. Check out software.stanford.edu for more information.

• If you want to improve your English, Stanford provides plenty of options. There are many classes ‘English for Foreign Students’ allowing you to perfect speaking, writing or reading skills. If you have a specific paper you’re working on and want some help with, HUME offers workshops, consultations and bootcamps to get it in a good shape.

• But if you’re looking for something more informal, check out the one-on-one LOT mentorship program or the Thursday English Afternoons (TEA) where you can simply practice.

• Take a look at the programs on American culture offered by CCIS at the Bechtel International Center. They provide for example classes ‘English through…’ taught by volunteers, and have a weekly movie night ‘Windows on the West’ (with excellent free dinner!) showing movies that every American probably knows, but non-Americans have probably never seen — followed by a discussion. Many of their events are announced through their Facebook page.

• There’s no need to get bored, there’s usually multiple events you can attend. Stanford has a thriving sport culture, with teams or individuals competing against other colleges and universities across the US, in almost every sport. Admission to most games is free (for American Football and a few other popular sports you may have to claim tickets online) and a great opportunity to explore different sports.
  But if you’re more into theater, concerts or lectures: Stanford has you covered. Make sure to explore events.stanford.edu and live.stanford.edu for the full overview or subscribe to some of the many mailing lists announcing events and activities across campus (ask students around you with similar interests what their favorite mailing lists are). Most events are free of charge.

There’s much more insights to share. Is there something I totally overlooked and should add? Shoot me an email or tweet, and I’ll look into it.

While the campus and its population can be a lot to take in, there’s a lot of support for you to be successful. Probably the best thing to realize is that the ecosystem is created in a way for you to succeed — so if you need some help, it’s probably available somewhere. You just need to know where to look. Now enjoy your time at Stanford!