All You Need to Know About The Upcoming 2024 Stanford Summer Session
About
The Stanford summer session provides high-achieving and ambitious students with a transformative educational experience at a world-class university. It combines challenging academics with a rich array of extra-curricular programming while sharing the university's culture of innovation, academic excellence and global responsibility. The Stanford summer session for 2024 will be held between June 22-August 18.
Student and Student Life
The Stanford summer session is available to various student types namely: high school students, undergraduates, graduates, gap year students and current Stanford students.
You could opt to be a residential or commuter student with the main difference being that residential students live on campus while commuter students live off campus and commute to class. There are a few differences between what is offered as a residential student or a commuter student and one can pick which one based on what they prefer.
For instance: Residential students must take a minimum of 8 units while commuter students must take a minimum of 3 units. Residential students have access to register for all off-campus excursions as well as on-campus cultural and sports events while commuter students only have access to register for on-campus cultural and sports events. Residential students have access to dorm lounges, computer clusters and study spaces while high school commuter students do not have access to these things with the exception of program-wide events. Last but not least residential students have summer resident assistants and weekly dorm-based social gatherings while commuter students have access to computer staff and commuter socials and meet-ups.
The calendar of events for the 2024 Stanford summer session is not out yet but you can take a look at the events from summer 2023 to have a sense of what you can expect.
Applying
The Stanford summer session application slightly varies per student type and is a holistic admission process. The early decision application has closed but the regular decision deadline is January 16 2024 by 9 pm PST and decisions get released 10 days later on the 26th.
High School Students
-You have to create an account by registering on the application page.
-Your academic record is evaluated using your high school transcript. There is an essay section, in which they want to learn about your ideas and interests, and what is meaningful to you. The essay should portray your commitment, dedication and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons, both in what you write about yourself and in the courses that you have taken.
- Standardized test scores are not needed but applicants whose native language is not English must submit iBT TOEFL, IELTS: Academic, Cambridge Exam, Duolingo, or PTEA Scores. Scores with the applicant's name must be uploaded within the application.
-Upon acceptance, it is advised to secure your spot due to limited space and to avoid being waitlisted.
-In addition to accepting your offer, the following documents will need to be provided: Acknowledgement that you may waive Cardinal Care coverage, Medical information and proof of insurance, Signed Assumption of Risk form, Emergency contact information (and Local Contact if you will be a commuter), A completed Student Profile (for roommate matching, if you plan to live on campus), Acknowledgement of access to OAE services and a Non-refundable Program Fee payment.
-If you are an international student requiring a Stanford-issued I-20 you will also need to provide a copy of your passports which must be valid through November 1, 2024 and proof of funding.
Undergraduate and Graduate Students
-For undergraduate and graduate students the application is typically the same as the high school student with the need for your college transcripts and the exception of essays.
-If you do get accepted, in addition to accepting your offer you will need to provide: Acknowledgement that you may waive Cardinal Care coverage, Emergency contact information, acknowledgement of access to OAE services and a Non-refundable Program Fee payment.
-The international students requiring a Stanford-issued I-20 will need to provide: a copy of their passport which must be valid through November 1, 2024 and Proof of Funding.
Gap Year Students
-The gap year application is similar to the undergraduate/graduate applications with the inclusion of essays.
To apply for the 2024 Stanford summer session you can go to this website: https://summer.stanford.edu/apply-now.
Courses and Costs
The Stanford summer session offers a range of courses in more than 30 departments. Some popular courses offered in 2023 included Introduction to Biotechnology: Detecting and Treating Disease, Solving Social Problems with Data, Technology Entrepreneurship, and Programming Methodology.
For those attending as a commuter and taking the minimum 3 units, the costs start at $4,962 while living on campus and taking the minimum 8 credit bearing units (typically 2-3 courses) the costs start at $17,328. You can calculate the costs you need based on certain criteria using this website: https://summer.stanford.edu/tuition-and-fees.
The Stanford summer session offers both merit-based and need-based grants.
Merit-Based Grants
The Stanford summer session will provide 40 merit-based tuition grants for undergraduate or graduate students planning to live in on-campus housing who have completed at least one year of undergraduate study. You must have a GPA of 3.5 or better (or equivalent) and submit a short essay to be considered for the grant.
This is available to residential students only and the tuition grant recipients must be enrolled in a minimum of 8 units for the duration of the Summer Session program or through the Final Study List deadline. Athletic courses (e.g. PHYSWELL, WELLNESS, ATHLETIC) do not count towards the minimum unit enrollment.
To apply for a tuition grant you simply have to follow the instructions in the, application and respond to ONE of the following three questions in 250-300 words:
-Tell us about one of your recent projects or assignments that made you excited about learning.
-If you were given the possibility to have dinner with a person you found intellectually interesting, who would it be and why? What would you want to talk about?
-How will attending the Stanford Summer Session help you in your academic and intellectual journey?
Need-Based Grants
The Stanford summer session will provide 30 need-based tuition grants for undergraduate or graduate students who do not plan to live in on-campus housing and who are California residents. The summer session will cover the cost of one 3-unit course and waive the application fee. This does not include non-tuition costs. Students should expect to pay a minimum of $721 (document fee, health service fee, and program fee) for the associated fees.
The grant is only eligible to U.S. citizens and California residents and commuting students only.
The tuition grant recipients must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 units for the duration of the Summer Session program or through the Final Study List deadline. Athletic courses (e.g. PHYSWELL, WELLNESS, ATHLETIC) do not count towards the minimum unit enrollment.
To apply for a tuition grant you simply have to follow the instructions in the application and submit a copy of your Student Aid Report from a completed FAFSA application for the 2022-2023 or 2023-24 academic year.
It is important when doing this to black out your social security number for privacy and security. Failure to do this will result in the Student Aid Report being deleted and your tuition grant application will not be reviewed.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the Stanford Summer Session for 2024 presents an exceptional chance for motivated individuals to engage in a life-changing educational journey at one of the world's leading universities. With a rich array of courses spanning over 30 departments, a vibrant student life, and a commitment to fostering innovation and academic excellence, Stanford offers an environment where intellectual growth and personal development flourish.
Whether you are a high school student, undergraduate, graduate, gap year student, or current Stanford student, the program caters to diverse needs and preferences. The flexibility of being a residential or commuter student allows you to tailor your experience to your lifestyle, with each option offering unique advantages.
The application process, though holistic, is straightforward, and the regular decision deadline is on January 16, 2024. For those considering this extraordinary opportunity, remember that success lies not only in meeting academic criteria but also in expressing your genuine commitment and passion for the courses you wish to pursue.
Moreover, the Stanford Summer Session is committed to making this experience accessible through both merit-based and need-based grants, reflecting its dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning community.
As the application window remains open, I encourage every eligible individual to seize this chance to be part of the Stanford Summer Session. To those who have already applied or are thinking of applying, I wish you the best of luck. May your goals and hard work stand out, and may this summer session at Stanford be a valuable experience in your academic journey.
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