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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(or
those that SHOULD be asked)
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Q1: How do I confirm that I'm registrered?
Ans: You will
be notified by phone or e-mail as part of the registration process. It's best to assume that you have not been registered
unless you have received notification. You can contact the institute director by phone or e-mail: apseminars@comcast.net).
Related to this issue, be sure to read the FAQ to the right (Q2).
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Q2: Can I depend on my district to promptly process my papers?
Ans: NO!!!!! Every year several teachers find out that they are not going to be attending
the workshop becasue their districts failed to process their papers in a timely fashion. They'll call a week before the workshop
starts asking why they haven't heard anything yet, just to find out they have not been registered because the district never
sent in their papers. Worse, some of these teachers turn in their paper work in January or February.
Please not
that registration deadlines refer to when the registrations are RECEIVED by APSEMSU, not when they are submitted to the district.
If you haven't received confirmation that you've been registered, contact your district business office or APSEMSU to find
out what your status is.
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Q3: Can I register after the registration
deadline?
Ans: No guarantees. Deadlines are there for a reason (gurantees to Stanford,
copying, ordering College Board materials, etc.). We typically accept registration for a few days after our stated deadline
but the ABSOLUTE deadline is usually about two weeks before the start.
Note that registration deadline is the date
we must RECEIVE the registration by, not the date you submit a request to your district. See the two FAQs to the left about
checking to see whether you are registered or not.
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Q4: What's the weather like
at Stanford in July? ANS: Usually
comfortable but can get warm if there's a heat wave. Many classrooms on campus have no air conditioning so you should
dress comfortably. Typically, mornings are cool and afternoons are warm (80º-85º).
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Q5: Once I get to Stanford,
where do I report?
Ans: You will receive a mailing (well, an e-mailing) 2-3 weeks before the
workshop begins with all the information you need, including a map.
If you have not received the mailing 10 days
before the start of the workshop, you should contact the institute director (apseminars@comcast.net).
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Q6:
Suppose I lose the mailing discussed in Q5. Can I just show up at Stanford and find the workshop easily.
Ans: NO!! Stanford is a big, confusing campus with very poor signage. Worse, you can't
drive on most of the campus -- just on the beltway (Campus Drive) that circles the campus. You will need to read the directions
in the mailing carefully and consult the map. If you lose the mailing, go to Stanford.edu, move your cursor down to Visitors
& Neighbors and surf Maps and Directions to get the information you need.
You
can, of course, contact AP* Seminars (apseminars@comcast.net) to get new copies of what you lost.
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Q7: Which are nicer, the dorm rooms at Stanford or the rooms at
the Ritz Carlton?
Ans.: Face it, the dorm rooms at Stanford are exactly
that: dorm rooms (and shared bathrooms). They are relatively nice as dorm rooms go but if you are looking for turn-down
service and chocolates on your pillow, you aren't going to find them here. Linens, soap, and a fan are provided but that's
about it. Serviceable but not fancy.
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Q8: Are the classrooms close to the dorms and parking? Ans: Some are, some aren't. Some years we do run some classes in the common
rooms of the dorms themselves. That's close! However, some classrooms can be as much as a 15 minute walk from the dorms and
the dining hall. We have no control over which classrooms we are assigned and sometimes they are a fair hike from the dorms
or the nearest conference parking area. The best suggestion is to (a) bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes and count the time getting to class as your
exercise for the day or (b) bring, or rent, a bicycle for the week. Bicycle is really the only way to get around campus on
wheels (unless you are into roller blading or skakeboarding).
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Q9: Are there any fees beyond those listed on the registration
form? Ans:
Well, there are no additional required fees, but there are some other fees you may encounter:
- If you are staying on campus, you
will receive a card when you check in identifying you as a summer conference participant. This provides you access to various
campus facilities such as gyms and pools. However, there is an additional fee to use the facilities.
- If you desire college credit, you
have the option of purchasing two semester graduate units (issued by San Diego State University). The cost varies from year
to year but was $144 in 2009.
- Dinner is included in the dorm package only for the BBQ on Wednesday night (and, if you want, the Sunday
reception). We often have a "burritos and sangria" night on Tuesday and that should also suffice for dinner. You
are definitely on your own Monday and Thursday evenings.
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Q10: How are the fees for the workshop arrived at?
Ans: There are several pariticipant choices
that go into determining the final fees: commuter vs. on-campus; if a commuter, lunch plan or no; early or late registration;
two-week stat discount. The directors of APSEMSU have a (magical) spreadsheet with the cost of each option detailed and a
sum for each combination of options. If you really (really!) care about more detail than this, please contact the workshop
directors.
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Q11: Is there another website I can go to to find out more information about Stanford University (like, where the
heck is it?)?
Ans: Yes. Stanford
has it's own website (who doesn't?): Stanford.edu
You can find plenty of information about Stanford there. If you go to the Visitors and Neighbors section, you'll find
all kinds of helpful information, including directions to Stanford and searchable maps. You might also
be interested in an iPhone, iPad app called iStanford. It's free at the Apple App Store.
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Q12: What's with the cancellation fees?
Ans: Any paid registration
is subject to an administrative cancelation fee of $50. NO refunds are guaranteed within 30 days of the start of the workshop
since this is the date by which we must make our final guarantees to Stanford. Once guarantees are made, APSEMSU becomes liable
whether you attend or not. If we do get additional enrollments after your request, so that we still make our guarantee without
your canceled registration, then we will refund your registration fee subject to the $50 cancellation fee.
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