Welcome Letter from the Vice Provosts to Newly Admitted Grad Students

Dear Prospective Stanford Graduate Student,

We are delighted that you have been offered admission to graduate studies at Stanford, and we look forward to welcoming you in the coming months. As a graduate student, you are a vital part of our Stanford community, where graduate students—doctoral, master’s, and professional students—make up more than half of Stanford’s student enrollment. Graduate students have been, and continue to be, central to Stanford since its founding.

The Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE) and Vice Provost for Student Affairs (VPSA) collaborate with your school and program to create an environment where you will grow and thrive. We are eager to welcome you into a community that supports your academic success, professional development, and personal well-being. By fostering a spirit of collaboration, cooperation, and inclusion, we support you in your desire to learn new skills, make new discoveries, and contribute positively to your communities at Stanford and beyond.

While you develop and learn, we hope you also take advantage of Stanford’s openness by taking courses in departments outside your own, seeking out faculty with diverse interests, as well as making connections with fellow graduate students from varying disciplines and parts of the world. In addition to the university's exceptional academic resources, we also encourage you to explore wellness resources and community centers where you’ll find other students, faculty, and staff who are eager to offer support. Lastly, take time for yourself to explore the Bay Area, from the ocean, mountains, redwood forests, to the dynamic and diverse cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.

The Gateway for New Graduate Students offers information and resources to help immerse yourself in your graduate program and the Stanford community. In collaboration with your program and additional campus partners, the Graduate Life Office will also welcome you with New Graduate Student Orientation (NGSO), prior to the start of Autumn quarter.

We look forward to personally welcoming you to Stanford. We are confident that you will find this a truly exciting place to pursue the next step of your educational journey.

C. Matthew Snipp
Interim Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor of Humanities and Sciences in the Department of Sociology

Stacey F. Bent
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs
Jagdeep and Roshni Singh Professor in the School of Engineering