What's a Neighborhood UAD and why should I meet with one?
Every undergraduate student at Stanford has an Undergraduate Advising Director (UAD) in their residential neighborhood. Your Neighborhood UAD is a Ph.D.-level advisor with an office in or near your residential complex. Your Neighborhood UAD brings at least a decade of experience in higher education as well as expertise in a field of academic study (our UADs have degrees in such fields as Anthropology, English, History, Management, Marine Geophysics, Modern Thought and Literature, Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, Physics, Political Science, and Sociology).
As a full-time professional advisor here at Stanford, your Neighborhood UAD focuses on the students in his or her residence, and can assist with both routine and complex matters pertaining to academic requirements and policies, course selection and sequencing, investigating majors, research, fellowships, and post-graduate study.
Reasons to Meet with Your Neighborhood UAD
UADs are available for appointments and drop-ins, both in person and remotely over the phone or zoom.
Some of the many reasons you might want to make an appointment with your Neighborhood UAD include:
- Discussing course choices
- Exploring possible majors and fields of study that speak to your skills and interests
- Identifying the prerequisites for majors that appeal to you
- Checking progress toward degree requirements
- Learning about academic resources (tutoring, academic skills coaching, etc.)
- Discovering research options and opportunities (including funding for original research)
- Finding fellowship and funding prospects (including guidance for grant writing)
- Gaining a fuller understanding of Stanford policies and procedures
- Requesting an exception to university policy (e.g. taking more than 20 units in a quarter)
- Considering leaves of absence for personal, professional, or academic reasons
- Uncovering the secrets of networking with faculty at Stanford
- Going over your BOSP or IntroSem applications
- Getting support and information if placed on academic probation
- Seeking academic support or guidance in times of crisis