What Living at Stanford Is Like
In keeping with the vision of its founders, Jane and Leland Stanford, the university is a residential teaching and research university, allowing for a blend of academic and residential life. About 6,200 undergraduates-approximately 95 percent-and about 4,350 graduate students-about 55 percent-live on campus. Although physically large, Stanford is built on human scale. Stanford provides a comprehensive and highly effective safety net of student support services.
Sections:
Residential Life and Housing
Stanford is distinguished from other colleges and universities by its approach to life in the residences, overseen by the Office of Residential Education in partnership with Student Housing, which is part of Residential & Dining Enterprises. The residences are the center for social life, but are also places where learning occurs through teaching, planned activities and spontaneous interaction.
Leland and Jane Stanford envisioned a residential campus—students and faculty living together to create a close community of scholars. Housing is one-third of the Stanford campus. There are as many choices, options, programs and lifestyles as there are buildings. Many Ivy peers, because they are older, tend to have residence halls that are traditional and similar in style, and students largely live in those houses for three or four years. Stanford evolved in a more happenstance way, so the housing environment is more eclectic. That means students have many choices as they grow, change and cultivate different interests.
All freshmen and new transfer students are required to live on campus. Freshmen are guaranteed four years housing and transfer students as many as three, depending on class level when they enter the university. To be guaranteed housing, students must apply by the deadline and be willing to live anywhere on campus. Freshmen will live in an all-frosh or a four-class residence, a cross-cultural theme house or Freshman- Sophomore College.
Residential Education is responsible for life within the residences. The five goals of residential education at Stanford are: 1) intellectual engagement, 2) academic progress and success, 3) development of a pluralistic community, 4) leadership training and 5) personal and social development. A resident fellow (RF), who is a faculty member or senior administrator, lives in each freshman residence with his or her family.
Every freshman house has a residential and advising team, coordinated by the RF. RFs supervise a staff of upperclass resident assistants (RAs) and have responsibility for the intellectual and community life within the residences. The RAs provide peer personal advice and referrals to campus resources and promote educational, cultural and social activities. There is also a Residential Education office staffed by a residence student affairs specialist. All freshman residences have academic directors, who are full-time professional academic advisors from the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. Many include a Residence Dean, who helps students acclimate to college life and offers assistance during challenging situations.
If your son or daughter has any special issues or problems, you may want to contact the RF directly. You can get the number from the Office of Residential Education, (650) 725-2800.
Student Housing is students' friendly landlord, responsible for managing and maintaining the physical plant of student residences, assigning students to housing and operating the Housing Front Desks that serve all residences. All housing locations have full-time management staff members who ensure that residences are safe, clean, comfortable and supportive of educational endeavors. 
Student Housing oversees 78 different undergraduate residences: 68 university-assigned houses, seven fraternities and three sororities. Occupancy ranges from 30 to 300 students. The residences vary greatly in activities and architecture. Most rooms are shared by two students. All residences, with the exception of fraternities, sororities and one upperclass all-women's house, are coed. New students express their preference for housing through forms available in Approaching Stanford.
Freshmen and transfer students do not know who their roommates are until they arrive on campus. This longtime Stanford practice ensures that no preconceived notions are formed. But because roommates do not talk in advance, inevitably some confusion occurs about which appliances families should bring to move into the residence. Trust us, these logistics are usually quickly resolved.
Over the summer, Student Housing staff match roommates with an eye toward compatibility, relying on information students have provided through Approaching Stanford. Still, living with others can be challenging. Parents are encouraged to allow students to resolve their differences among themselves, aided by student services staff members. As tempting as it is to intervene with specific suggestions, often the most valuable help a parent can provide is to encourage students to talk to resident fellows and resident assistants.
When they become upperclassmen, students will choose their roommates and will be assigned housing based on a lottery system called "the Draw." Under the aegis of Student Housing, the Draw underwent substantial review and change in 2009 to make it more equitable and more transparent. In addition, housing at Stanford was substantially reorganized, allowing for increased spaces in all-freshman residences and "unstuffing" of all dorms. Read more.
Contact Student Housing at (650) 725-2810 or (650) 725-1600.
Cardinal Mall
Residential & Dining Enterprises' (R&DE) Cardinal Mall offers one-stop shopping for students' campus needs. Students can purchase extra Cardinal Dollars for use at R&DE eateries; buy linens that fit Student Housing beds; rent a refrigerator or microwave; order storage, dry cleaning or housecleaning services; and purchase many other products and services.
Accounts can be set up and orders placed before students arrive on campus. If you wish to purchase a twin extra-long linen set, place your online at Cardinal Mall so a set can be reserved and ready upon arrival. Products are delivered directly to the Housing Front Desk in each residence for pick-up. We recommend that students wait until after move-in to rent a refrigerator or microwave so that arrangements can be coordinated with roommates. Go to Top
What Should You Bring?
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Do not send packages to Stanford before arriving. Many parents send packages in advance to the hotel at which they have reservations, providing they have discussed it with the hotel. There are many stores in the area, in addition to Cardinal Mall. Families should pack in small, lightweight boxes in case the student is assigned to a second- or third-story room. Most residences do not have elevators. Do not bring pets, halogen lamps or candles or any kind of weapon, all of which are prohibited. Below is a sample of items suggested by members of the Parents' Program:
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Each dorm room typically provides the following:
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Student residences are wired for TV cable service. Student programming and a few local channels are provided at no charge. Additional cable service is available through subscription from the university. In addition, Stanford operates its own telephone system. Local calling with call waiting and a pre-installed phone are standard in all residences and are included in the telecommunications fee. Optional services are available. Visit http://www.stanford.edu/services/telephone/students. Go to Top
Sending Letters and Packages
Shortly before school begins, your son or daughter will be assigned a post office box number, which will be his or her address throughout the undergraduate years. Do not send mail to that box until after Sept. 15. Packages may be sent to boxes by U.S. mail. UPS and Federal Express packages, however, should be sent to the dorm address, but be advised that student residences are locked at all times, so include a cell phone number for your student on the order. Do not ship belongings to arrive prior to Sept. 15. Also, remember that the zip code for the P.O. box is 94309, while the zip code for residences is 94305. Go to Top
Storing Goods at Stanford
Throughout the year, very limited storage is available to students on a first-come, first-served basis in some residences. RD&E offers Stanford storage for a fee through the Cardinal Mall. A number of commercial storage companies in the surrounding communities also serve students, including storing automobiles over the summer. Go to Top
Bringing a Computer to Stanford
Through the Stanford University Network (SUNet), Stanford provides one of the most extensive university computing environments anywhere. Services include e-mail, individual web pages, a distributed file system, off-campus access to the Internet, a widespread wireless network and a variety of computer servers. The Stanford Bookstore, which is independent of the university, offers computer purchase discounts for students.
Students access resources on SUNet using the ID they received in correspondence with the Admission Office and in a letter from Vice Provost John Bravman in the first mailing from Approaching Stanford. Approaching Stanford includes instructions for setting up an account and establishing a password. Students and parents are advised to learn about computer security guidelines and Stanford's filesharing and copyright infringement policies. Consequences of violating copyright law can be substantial. Students are responsible for information sent to their Stanford account. If students do not use this as their primary account, they can have e-mails forwarded to their preferred address.
Although nearly all Stanford students own a computer, students are not required to have one on campus. Each student residence has a cluster of computers, a scanner and a laser printer supported by Residential Computing and available 24 hours a day. Cluster computers, running both Windows and MacOS operating systems, are connected to SUNet and are equipped with a rich offering of software applications. A total of about 1,000 computers are available for student use throughout campus.
Students can connect their personal computers to SUNet throughout the residences and adjacent common areas via high-speed Ethernet ports or wireless networking. One or more resident computer consultants (RCCs), who are upperclass students, live in each dorm as part of the residence staff to provide technical support and education. In addition to helping students get hooked up to the network, RCCs offer 1-unit, for-credit "Introduction to Computing at Stanford" courses. In many residences, RCCs also teach a more advanced multimedia production course, "Intermediate Computing at Stanford."
If your son or daughter requires adaptive computer equipment, such as speech recognition, contact the Office of Accessible Education at (650) 723-1066 for advice.
If you are considering buying a new computer, virtually any new computer will be sufficient. If you would like to send or bring a computer you already have, Residential Computing recommends that it meet certain minimum configurations, but most computers bought within the last few years should be fine. More guidance and buying advice is available in Approaching Stanford and online at http://rescomp.stanford.edu. If you have additional questions, e-mail help@rescomp.stanford.edu or call Ethan Rikleen, senior network administrator, Office of Residential Computing, (650) 723-8306. Go to Top
Bringing a Bike
Freshmen are not permitted to have cars at Stanford. As a result, the most popular form of transportation for new students is a bicycle, which is one of the quickest ways to get around campus. The League of American Bicyclists recognized Stanford with a "Bicycle Friendly Community" Gold Level designation. As a further reflection of the importance of bikes on campus, Parking & Transportation Services has created a web page with information designed especially for parents.
Some students bring a bike from home. Others purchase one through the Campus Bike Shop at Tresidder Union or from one of the many bike shops in nearby communities. The Campus Bike Shop also will, for a fee, reassemble bikes shipped to campus. Students should purchase a dependable U-shaped lock and always secure their bikes to a bike rack (there are more than 12,000 spaces for bikes on campus.) Bike theft is a challenge. Many students choose a "clunker" bicycle (slightly used but functional) for everyday use. Bikes can be registered during New Student Orientation. Parents are asked to strongly encourage use of bike helmets by their children. Bike-related information, including maps, bike registration, free safety classes and other resources are available at Parking & Transportation Services. Go to Top
Having a Cell Phone
Stanford has negotiated discounted wireless cellular rates with AT&T Wireless and Sprint for currently registered students. Visit http://www.stanford.edu/services/wirelessdevice/cellular/personaluse.html. Go to Top
Stanford Dining
Stanford Dining is committed to providing a nutritious, high-quality, great-tasting, diverse and sustainable menu at each and every meal. All freshmen living in university-managed housing are required to purchase a meal plan. Dining options are offered for every appetite--light, medium or constantly hungry. Students are billed for their meal plans quarterly.
Stanford Dining is a nonprofit department and a division of Residential & Dining Enterprises that derives revenues from its dining operations. The award-winning dining staff includes academy-certified chefs and registered dieticians. Besides the residence dining halls, Residential & Dining Enterprises also operates restaurants and cafes across campus that provide a wide variety of menu options that are conveniently located for student access. They include The Axe and Palm in Old Student Union and Union Square, Subway and Fraiche Yogurt in Tresidder Union.
Stanford Dining offers 19 meals per week. Approaching Stanford describes the meal-plan options:
- 19 All-You-Care-To-Eat Meals/Week
- 14 All-You-Care-To-Eat Meals/Week (Plus 420 Cardinal Dollars/Year)
- 10 All-You-Care-To-Eat Meals/Week (Plus 750 Cardinal Dollars/Year)
Cardinal Dollars function like cash or a debt card and can be used at any of the restaurants and late-night cafes RD&E operates, as well as the dining halls. A Cardinal Dollar is equal to US $1. Many RD&E venues serve meals until 2 a.m.
From the Stanford Dining website, students can manage dining accounts, get information on dining halls and view menus. From the "Manage Your Account" page, students can check their balances, purchase additional Cardinal Dollars and change their meal plan. The "Menus" page allows students to view residential dining's daily menus and get nutritional information. Another feature, Cardinal on the Run, allows students to place take-out orders online and in advance, to assist with their busy schedule.
Approaching Stanford has information on meal plan exemptions if needed. For instance, your son or daughter may request a exemption because of religious dietary requirements.
Additionally, Stanford Dining offers a special peanut-sensitive dining program at Ricker Dining Hall. It was the first program of its kind in the nation.
Stanford Dining is dedicated to providing EatWell options in all of its dining facilities. EatWell provides fresh, flavorful, wholesome, sustainable food that allows students the nourishing menu selections that impact students' wellness and health-how they feel today, tomorrow and as part of a healthy lifestyle. As an integral part of its EatWell program, Stanford Dining is passionate about protecting our global and local non-renewable resources. The focus is on continually minimizing environmental impacts in all areas-from purchasing food to managing waste. Stanford Dining is constantly increasing local, organic products at all dining locations. Dining partners with local farmers to minimize costs while still providing the highest-quality local, organic products.
Stanford Dining welcomes and looks forward to serving the Stanford student community, parents and guests. E-mail questions or comments to diningplans@stanford.edu or call (650) 725-1508. Go to Top
Safety at Stanford
The Stanford University Department of Public Safety provides law enforcement, security, safety, crime prevention and emergency services 24 hours a day on the campus. All Stanford police officers are deputy sheriffs of Santa Clara County and exercise full law-enforcement powers to make arrests, enforce all applicable federal, state and local laws, and provide any other law enforcement services required.
The department's Community Service Division provides security services and enforces parking regulations. Stanford Department of Public Safety also provides programs and presentations on crime prevention, safety and security through the Community Outreach and Crime Prevention units.
Each year, Stanford publishes and distributes a booklet in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The information in this booklet includes campus security programs, recommended personal safety practices, the authority of the university police and campus crime statistics for the most recent threeyear period. Parents can obtain a copy online or by calling (650) 723-9633, e-mailing publicsafety@lists.stanford.edu, or writing the Stanford Department of Public Safety, 711 Serra Street, Stanford, CA 94305-7240, Attn: Crime Stats.
Bicycle safety is very important on campus. Bicyclists are subject to all traffic laws. Santa Clara County requires that all bicycles be licensed and registered. Per the California Vehicle Code, a bike light must be used when biking at night. Stanford Department of Public Safety also strongly suggests that students wear a bike helmet and lock their bicycles to prevent theft. Go to Top
Emergency Protocols
Stanford's emergency management program has been in place for many years. The emergency plan has evolved from one primarily focused on earthquake preparation and response to include an "all-hazards" approach to emergency planning. As part of the rogram, which is a continuing process of planning, implementation, evaluation and revision, Stanford conducts exercises for different types of emergencies. Officers in the Department of Public Safety, who have full police powers, also drill frequently in preparation for emergencies.
Stanford's emergency website can be implemented immediately at http://emergency.stanford.edu. The parent website also would carry information in case of an emergency at http://parents.stanford.edu, as would the emergency hotlines at (650) 725-5555 and (800) 897-4253. The university has the capacity to send out mass e-mails and text notifications to students and employees through the AlertSU system. Go to Top
Health Care at Stanford
At Vaden Health Center, students' health and well being are the highest priorities. On-campus health care resources are extensive. Many students come to campus with pre-existing physical and mental health conditions. We encourage you to consider your student's transition plan for care. The director's office can be a resource at (650) 725-1364. Professional staff is available to help.
All students at Stanford must have health insurance. Vaden Health Center, which provides campus health care for all registered Stanford students, offers a comprehensive insurance plan called Cardinal Care for students not enrolled in another health insurance plan. Coverage is worldwide. It includes medical, surgical, mental health care, hospitalization, emergency care and pharmaceuticals.
Check your policy before your student completes the health insurance waiver form. Health insurance plans vary in the coverage they offer. "Using Your Own Health Insurance" offers families useful advice. Students are automatically enrolled in Cardinal Care each quarter they are a registered student unless they complete an insurance waiver via Axess by the waiver deadline.
Approaching Stanford outlines the six "must-do" requirements related to medical coverage and information. It outlines how students log onto the Vaden website to do the following:
1) Personal information
2) Immunizations
3) Health history
4) Tuberculosis screening
5) Agreement to treatment
6) Notice of privacy practices
Approaching Stanford also includes extensive information about required immunizations for measles, mumps and rubella, and recommended immunizations for Meningococcal meningitis, Hepatitis B, Chicken pox, Hepatitis A, Tentanus dephtheria and HPV.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that can be spread in close living or classroom environments. Recommendations for tuberulosis screening are updated at http://vaden.stanford.edu/new_students/entrance_req.html#tb.
Vaden provides service in the following three areas, supported by a mandatory Campus Health Service Fee charged to all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled on the main campus. The following services are covered by the fee and are distinct from those offered by Cardinal Care or a student's private health insurance.
- Primary care medical services at Vaden include medical appointments during weekday hours, urgent care at Vaden during weekend and evening hours, 24-hour telephone medical advice for urgent conditions, confidential web-based messaging to a student's clinician, and web-based booking of weekday appointments
- Counseling and Psychological Services includes psychological evaluation and short-term therapy, initial psychiatric medication evaluation and 24-hour crisis service
- Health and wellness programs include alcohol and other drug evaluation and education, nutrition counseling and education, sexual health and relationship consultation and education, sexual assault and relationship abuse consultation and education, and peer health education programs and services
Dental and Eye Care
Cardinal Care covers an initial visit to a dentist for injury to natural and sound teeth only. It also covers one annual eye examination. Students also can purchase Vital Savings, a dental and vision care discount program offered by Aetna. Contact Vaden Health Center to obtain a list of local dentists who have agreed to treat Stanford students.
Services for Students with Disabilities
The Office of Accessible Education (OAE)--(650) 723-1066, TDD: (650) 723-1067--coordinates services and resources for undergraduate and graduate students who have a variety of disabilities, including mobility impairments, chronic illness, sensory disabilities, learning disabilities and psychological disabilities. The OAE enables students with disabilities to participate fully in the educational experience at Stanford while meeting the academic standards maintained by the university.
In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the OAE offers accommodations and auxiliary aids and services to students with documented disabilities. Direct support services include, but are not limited to, note taking, Brailling, oral or sign language interpretation, stenocaptioning, books on tape or electronic text, examination accommodations and special housing arrangements. During the academic year, the OAE runs a golf-cart service called DisGo Cart for use by students who have temporary and permanent mobility impairments or who use a wheelchair. To arrange for an on-campus ride, call (650) 725-2484 (5-CHUG).
Also under the Office of Accessible Education is the Assistive Learning Technology Center. Screen magnification, speech recognition, text-to-speech screen readers and graphic outliners are among the resources to make information technology and education more accessible for those with disabilities. Students can access nearly all of these programs from any of the Student Computing clusters in Meyer, Tresidder and the residences, as well as the Lane and SSRC Reading Rooms in Green Library.
The Schwab Learning Center, another unit within the OAE, offers enhanced services specifically for students with learning differences and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Among these services are screening assessments for learning differences, individual learning strategy sessions and tutoring in various academic disciplines.
The Center for Universal Design in Education serves to advance the development of instructional methods, tools and strategies that are inherently flexible, customizable and accessible to all students with different backgrounds, learning styles, abilities and disabilities.
Student Activities at Stanford
Stanford students can participate in any of about 600 organized groups under the auspices of the Office of Student Activities that address a range of interests: international, political, environmental, religious, ethnic, academic and recreational. Go to Top
Community and Cultural Centers
There are eight community and cultural centers that promote the appreciation of diverse identities, cultures and values. Many of the centers also offer peer-tutoring programs to students. The centers are:
- Asian American Activities Center
- Bechtel International Center
- Black Community Services Center
- El Centro Chicano
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Resources Center
- Native American Cultural Center
- Student Disability Resource Center
- Women's Community Center
Student Government
The Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) is the representative government for Stanford students. The ASSU runs a variety of business and service projects, including banking for student organizations, legal counseling, a lecture notes service and weekly campus movies. Go to Top
Fraternities and Sororities
About 13 percent of students join one of the 17 fraternities or 12 sororities recognized on campus. Seven fraternities and three sororities offer housing. The fraternities and sororities hold "rush" in the first weeks of Spring Quarter. Freshmen may not join Greek organizations until that time. Go to Top
Religious Worship and Organizations
Stanford's support of an inter-faith university chaplaincy throught the Office of Religious Life presumes that faith and spiritual quest, both in the individual and the community, are consonant with the academy's most vital pursuits of meaning and purpose. Some 40 religious groups representing many faiths meet for fellowship, prayer and educational, social and service activities. Memorial Church, at the heart of the university, was one of the earliest and is still among the most prominent interdenominational churches in the West. Go to Top
Athletics and Recreation
Stanford promotes excellence in both academics and athletics. Through the Department of Athletics, there are opportunities for athletic participation and competition at all skill levels. The university's teams, called the Cardinal, compete in Division I sports. There are 35 varsity sports offered-19 for women, 15 for men and one coed-and 19 club sports. Stanford has been recognized for the past 13 years with the Directors' Cup, which honors the nation's top all-around athletic program.
More than 9,000 students, faculty and staff participate each year in intramural programs. Each quarter, about 2,000 students participate in 85 physical education classes offered in about 20 different activities.
Stanford's athletic facilities are exceptional. Facilities are provided for squash, basketball, volleyball, weight training, badminton, fencing, climbing, wrestling, gymnastics and conditioning exercises. Stanford maintains one million gross square feet of indoor facilities and 94 acres of outdoor fields. Among Stanford's facilities are the Stanford Golf Course, Maples Pavilion, the Sunken Diamond baseball field, the Taube Family Tennis Stadium, the four-pool Avery Aquatic Complex and Stanford Stadium. Go to Top
Arts and Culture
Talisman, performing at Baccalaureate, is one of many popular student a capella groups on campus.
The arts are an essential part of life at Stanford University. Dance, drama, creative writing, filmmaking, music and the visual arts are part of the cultural community. The creative process is evident everywhere on campus: exhibitions, plays, concerts, readings, film showings and lectures take place year-round, reflecting the work of students, faculty and visiting artists. Such activities spring from, among other places, the departments of art, drama, music and communication, and such special programs as Black Performing Arts.
In addition, Stanford Lively Arts, the university's presenting program, annually brings to campus a full season of dance, theater and music from world-renowned artists. Stanford students enjoy discounted tickets. Go to Top
Traditions at Stanford
The irreverent Wacky Walk at Commencement has become a Stanford tradition.
Among the time-honored traditions at Stanford are:
Big Game, the annual fall football game against the University of California at Berkeley;
Gaieties, a student-written, student-produced musical performed the week before Big Game;
Full Moon on the Quad, at which freshmen are kissed by seniors at midnight under the first full moon of their first quarter at Stanford; and
Wacky Walk, in which students exuberantly enter Commencement exercises, generally at a run and often in costume. Go to Top
Getting Around at Stanford
Freshmen are not allowed to have cars on the Stanford campus. But most find navigating the area to be no problem. See the useful guide Thriving at Stanford (without a car). Biking and walking are the most popular ways to get around campus. Bicycle registration, which is required by Santa Clara County, can be obtained at Parking & Transportation Services (P&TS) or during New Student Orientation. Bicycling is ideally suited to Stanford's climate and terrain, and Parking and Transportation Services commits resources to making it safe and enjoyable on the Stanford campus. More information about bikes can be found in Approaching Stanford or on the P&TS web page for parents.
Stanford's free Marguerite shuttle takes students and visitors all around campus and to and from neighboring communities and attractions. Two shuttle routes have been created especially to serve students: the Midnight Express and the Shopping Express. The Marguerite connects with trains to San Francisco and San Jose and to other transit services traveling beyond the Bay Area. Bikes can be taken on the train and on all buses. Go to Top
Going off Campus
Stanford is adjacent to the cities of Menlo Park and Palo Alto, both of which have movie theaters, shops, bookstores, coffee houses and restaurants. Students and their parents usually find everything they need within a few miles of campus. Stanford Shopping Center, on the edge of campus, has 140 upscale shops, including major department stores and a supermarket.
There are a number of special transportation programs available to freshmen. For instance, the Freshman Emergency Ride Home program provides freshmen with a taxi ride back to campus if they are caught without a ride near campus or to the Vaden Health Center or Stanford Hospital in a non-major medical emergency. (Students should call 911 for a major medical emergency.) Parents should encourage their student to register for the program.
Students who need access to a car have three convenient options:
Zipcar is a car-sharing program with cars conveniently located on campus and available for hourly and daily use by Zipcar members. Membership is open to Stanford students age 18 and over, and special Stanford rates start at $8 per hour, which includes gas and insurance. Learn more.
Zimride is a new carpool application on Facebook with more than 2,000 Stanford users that enables students to arrange rides with others in the Stanford network--or to choose to share a ride with the broader Zimride user community. Zimride is also available without a Facebook account.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has a branch on campus that rents to Stanford students age 18 and over, offering discounted hourly, daily and weekly rentals for Stanford affiliates. The Residents Rental Program offers weeknight car rentals for $10. Go to Top
What's the Weather Like?
The weather in Palo Alto stays summer-like and warm-to the 70s and 80s-through October. The region is cool and wet during the winter. Rainwear is essential. A chilly morning fog that burns off by midday is typical. Clothing warm enough for temperatures to the 30s is recommended from December to March. Spring temperatures return to the 70s, and many students quickly don shorts, T-shirts and sandals. Summer in Palo Alto is warm and dry.
Last updated May 22, 2009
