Incoming Students
Arrival and Orientation
Classes typically start the last week of August; plan to arrive about two weeks earlier for a full week of orientation, run jointly by the Department and the Graduate School. See the Graduate School’s New Student Roadmap for what to do before and during your first days.
As an admitted student with a Stony Brook ID number, you’re automatically given a
NetID and an email address (firstname.lastname@stonybrook.edu), but it isn’t usable until you set up your login credentials – see the Graduate School Orientation pages for the setup links. We communicate through this address, so set it up early and
check it regularly.
Orientation is mandatory for all TAs and is run by both the Graduate School and the Department, including TA training. U.S. citizens and permanent residents can skip the international-student sessions; there’s a separate, later orientation about health insurance.
Housing
Most first-year students live on campus in Chapin, Schomburg, or the West Apartments (current rates on the graduate housing page). Returning students sign year-long contracts (June 1 - May 31); new students start paying on arrival. Apply by paying your advance deposit through SOLAR once you have your ID number – for Fall admission, housing is guaranteed if your deposit and request are in by May 15th (Spring has no fixed deadline but isn’t guaranteed, so apply early).
Off-campus housing is possible but harder to arrange alone – most students join or form a shared group, ideally after visiting in person (no later than early August). A car is almost always necessary, since public transit is limited. Good areas are generally east of campus, within about 30 minutes: Stony Brook, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, East Setauket, Setauket, Mount Sinai, Sound Beach, Miller Place, Rocky Point, and Shoreham, plus Centereach and Selden (a bit south) and St. James (a bit west). Prices vary a great deal, so see a place in person before renting. The Graduate Orientation Page and the Stony Brook Graduate Housing Facebook Group are good starting points.
Most students don’t need a car in their first year on campus; a car helps more once you move off campus. A reasonably reliable used car runs around $3,500, plus inspection, repairs, and insurance (costly for new drivers) – you’ll also need a NY State driver’s license to register one.
Computing and IT
Three systems to set up before you arrive: your NetID and Stony Brook email, your Solar login, and Brightspace (the University’s learning management system). The Graduate Web Page has the setup links for each.
Preparing for Classes and Registration
Our advice is don’t register for classes before orientation. During orientation week, the Department discusses course selection with faculty so each student ends up with a good first-semester schedule. You only need to be registered for one credit by the first day of classes – add the rest during orientation and the first week.
If you completed a serious lab course elsewhere, bring the lab reports and related materials in case you want to request a waiver – see Core Course and Lab Waivers. Equivalent graduate coursework for our breadth courses may also be accepted if you bring the material.