Ignite: Public Service Pre-orientation

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to participate?
Ignite is open to all incoming frosh.

How much does Ignite cost?
The program fee for Ignite is $500. The fee covers accommodations, meals, and activity expenses for the program. 

Is there financial aid available?
Yes! If you have a financial need, assessed by the Office of Financial Aid, you will be awarded financial help to pay part, or in some cases all of the fee. 

You can indicate you want to be considered for financial aid in the lottery registration process. If you win a spot or if you get a spot through the waitlist, the program will work with the Office of Financial Aid to determine the level of support we can offer. 

Securing a spot in the program is need-blind. Your financial situation has no bearing on whether you receive a space in Ignite.

How do I register for Ignite?
Ignite registration opens at 12am PST on Monday, June 5 and closes at 11:59pm PST on Wednesday, June 21. You may register here during that timeframe.

Does registration ensure I get a spot in the program?
Not necessarily. The program has only 30 spots. If more than 30 students register, which we expect to happen, we will run a lottery to award spots. 

If more frosh register for the program than spots available, Ignite will run a lottery to award spots on Thursday, June 22. Those awarded a spot will be informed on Friday, June 23. The remaining frosh will be put on a waitlist. 

For the frosh selected to participate in Ignite, the deadline to secure a spot by paying the program fee is Monday, July 10. After July 10, Ignite will open the waitlist and add as many frosh as spots allow.

If I win the lottery for a spot in the program, how do I secure my spot?
You secure your spot by paying the program fee. Once we receive your payment, your spot is secure. Securing a spot for those receiving financial aid from the program will be managed on a case-by-case basis.   

How does the waitlist work?
If you do not receive a space through the lottery, by default you’ll be placed on the waitlist and be notified when a space has opened up on or after July 10. Whoever from the waitlist secures their space with their payment first will be awarded the spot.

What activities can I expect to participate in?
You get the opportunity to experience fun orientation activities and Stanford traditions, engage in conversations about public service, get to know Stanford faculty and staff, and meet Bay Area public service community partners. Mostly, though, you’ll have a chance to connect with other frosh!

Is the program physically demanding?
The program is not designed to be physically demanding, but Stanford’s campus is one of the largest in the country and there will be a lot of walking.

Is Ignite connected to Otero (the public service-themed dorm)?
Ignite is not connected to the Otero dorm. Being a part of Ignite does not affect your chance of living in Otero when you come to campus.

Where will I sleep and what will I eat?
The program provides housing and meals (respecting dietary restrictions). Frosh move into their permanent housing, where they'll stay for the rest of the year. Move-in dates are set for the Ignite program by campus housing. Once we finalize our list of participants, campus housing will adjust the move-in dates for these students. 

Will there be free time for participants?
You get some free time in the mornings and later evenings, but not much. We want this program to be a fully immersive experience, and you can expect to have more free time during New Student Orientation (NSO).

Will there be transportation from the airport?
The program does not provide transportation, but we can help you with advice on ways to get from the airport to campus.

Will I get a choice of which public service topics to engage with?
Each group is led by two Stanford students who worked over the summer to set up programming with a community partner of their choice. You will have an opportunity to let us know which is most interesting to you. We’ll do our best to place you where you want, but there are no guarantees. 

Do I need to have a background in public service or any special knowledge to participate?
Ignite is designed to be an introductory experience where we explore public service at Stanford and the Bay Area. We will be discussing some public service and social justice theory, but no knowledge is required beforehand.

What happens if I can’t pay by July 10?
You risk losing your spot and we may offer your spot to someone on the waitlist. If you are experiencing issues paying, let us know. We can explore options that might help.

What if I’m concerned my financial aid package may not cover what I need?
We cannot guarantee further assistance other than the initial package, but we encourage you to reach out to Ignite administrator Pete Cerneka to discuss it further.

Is there a way to pay other than credit card online?
The primary way to pay the program fee is online (a link will be provided to the lottery winners and those coming off the waitlist), but you can discuss other options with the program administrators.

I’m an international student and want to participate in Ignite. How can I do both International Student Orientation (ISO) and Ignite?
Unfortunately, you cannot participate in both ISO and Ignite, as all pre-orientation programs take place at the same time. Participation in ISO is mandatory for international students unless otherwise told by the Approaching Stanford Office. If you have any questions about this, reach out to Approaching Stanford.

I’m interested in doing multiple pre-orientation programs. How can I do that?
All pre-orientation programs take place during the same time period and conflict with one another. If you’re interested in multiple programs, you may only choose one to take part in.

My parents will be in town during Ignite. Will there be opportunities for me to spend time with them?
No, there are no periods during Ignite to spend time with family. The program may end at around 9:00 pm some days, but that time is not guaranteed and depends on how the events of the day play out.

What is move-in going to be like?
When you arrive on September 15, you will have until 4:30pm to get your room key from your housing front desk and move into your dorm. You will also have more time during NSO to move in and set up your room. Since you are here early for a pre-orientation program, the dorm will not be at full capacity and there will be a few other students in the residence at most. There will be RAs in your dorm by the time you move in. It is likely your roommate will not have moved in.

After registering for the program, I have not heard back. How can I tell if I have a spot in Ignite?
Ignite will contact you if you have a spot by Friday, June 23. Those not selected will be put on a waitlist. We’ll add frosh from the waitlist after Monday, July 10.

After registering, you should have received an automated confirmation email. If you did not, it means your registration did not go through for some reason. If you did get a confirmation email but did not hear back, please let us know. That indicates an issue with our registration system and something we need to look into. Regardless, we can offer anyone who reaches out to us a spot on the waitlist.

Please reach out to Ignite administrator Pete Cerneka with any further questions.