The FLI Student Success Center proudly supports FLI Graduates, FLI Guardians, FLI Transfers, and FLI USS. These students bring resilience, innovation, and powerful voices to our campus. Your lived experiences enhance your research, fostering bold questions and impactful scholarship that help shape the future.
Connect
- FLI Student Success Center Student Success Coordinator - Rachelle Deguzman
- FLI Student Success Center Assistant Dean & Associate Director - Jennifer Rolen
- Stanford Graduate Life Office (GLO)
How Do We Define First-Gen Graduate Students?
- An individual who is in the first generation of their family to earn a Bachelor's degree.
- An individual who is in the first generation of their family to enter graduate school.
- An individual who is in the first generation of their family to enter graduate school in the United States.
- An individual who never received access to the knowledge of navigating graduate school, even if they have a family member who earned a graduate degree.
Stanford University defines "low-income" graduate students primarily through financial need assessments conducted via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
This process evaluates a student's financial situation to determine eligibility for various forms of financial aid, including federal grants, work-study programs, and institutional scholarships.
Key Definitions and Eligibility Criteria
Stanford uses the FAFSA to assess a student's financial need, which is calculated by subtracting the expected family contribution from the total cost of attendance. This assessment helps determine eligibility for need-based financial aid.
Graduate students may be eligible for FWS assistantships, which are partially funded by the federal government. Eligibility for FWS is determined through the FAFSA process. Departments in certain schools, such as Humanities & Sciences and Engineering, may recommend students for FWS consideration.
Stanford offers Emergency Grant-in-Aid Funds to graduate students facing unexpected financial hardships that could impede academic progress. These grants are not loans and do not require repayment. Eligibility is determined based on the nature of the financial emergency and the student's current enrollment status.
Academic Resources for FLI Graduate Students
As a first-generation and/or low-income graduate student, you may continue to grapple with similar academic challenges as you did in undergraduate, or you may face new challenges in your graduate school journey such as writing your thesis, acquiring grants to fund your research or graduate degree, etc.
The Graduate Life Office (GLO) is a division of the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs. We serve the entire graduate student population at Stanford and their families.
- GLO deans are a source of comprehensive, impartial guidance and information related to all aspects of your life as a graduate student. Call the Operator at 650.723.7288 and share GLO pager ID#25085 for immediate assistance.
The mission of the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) is to promote an accessible and inclusive environment for all students with disabilities. Through both academic and housing accommodations, they work to mitigate physical and attitudinal barriers that students might face. They are dedicated to supporting students with disabilities to give them the opportunity to perform at their highest academic potential.
- Carta - Carta collects Stanford-provided data such as enrollment statistics, time commitment estimates, reviews, and more to provide you with information about courses offered at Stanford.
- Hume Center - Hume tutors help students get started on assignments; address and overcome writer's block or performance anxiety; learn strategies for revising, editing, and proofreading; and understand academic conventions in their fields.
- Stanford Libraries - For study spaces and hours of operation.
- Tech Desk - For access to a wide variety of multimedia equipment and accessories available for checkout, including video cameras, laptops, tablets etc.
Financial Resources
Though there are many financial resources at Stanford designed for both graduate and FLI students, some expenses will inevitably arise throughout your time on campus. In order to support you through these challenges, we have compiled a few resources on this page to address common challenges around FLI financial wellness.
Graduate Basics - There are a variety of funding options for Stanford graduate students based on academic merit, financial need, course of study, or type of degree program. Most fellowships and grants are secured through academic departments, outside agencies or governments.
- Financial Literacy Workshop - Offered by Financial Aid at the FLI Student Success Center.
- Guardian Scholars - Guardian Scholars aims to create a community of support for students who have faced experiences in the foster care system, as well as other non-traditional family backgrounds.
- Financial Wellness - Promoting financial wellness for lifelong success. Mind Over Money empowers you to flourish by providing accessible, research-informed financial education that promotes a culture of healthy financial behaviors and conversations..
- Bechtel Taxes - Free tax clinic sessions for international students.
- FLI Drives - The first generation and low-income partnership hosts a zero-waste drive every year with different items including household and clothing items: Join the mailing list!
By now you might have heard that the financial aid program at Stanford University is need-based. But what exactly does “need-based” mean? “Need-based” means that the financial aid office uses your family’s financial circumstances to determine aid eligibility. Financial aid attempts to bridge the gap between the total cost of attending Stanford and what you and your family can contribute.
Before you take out a student loan, you need to think about how much money you need to borrow. You will often be able to take out a larger loan than you actually need. Some loans accrue interest while you are a student, so even if you don’t end up using all of the money, it will still cost you in the future.
Your credit score is a three-digit number that is computed and tracked by the three major credit bureaus. The number is based on your credit history. It is important because lenders, employers, and prospective landlords typically access your credit score before approving you for loans, credit cards, jobs, and apartments.
