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Students

Freshman Checklist

Welcome to California State University, Northridge

The checklist will help guide you through the first stage of your academic career at California State University, Northridge. It’s an exciting time, the beginning of your next journey in life.

Following these steps will make your first semester university experience a rewarding one:

  1. Take the ELM/EPT placement tests. As a first-time freshman admitted to California State University, Northridge, you must see an advisor to register in classes. Before making an advising appointment, you must have already taken the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) test and the English Placement Test (EPT) required by the California State University system, and the CSUN Office of Admissions and Records must have received your ELM/EPT test scores.
  2. If your SAT/ACT/APT or EAP scores exempt you from the ELM/EPT tests, make sure copies of your test scores are sent to Admissions and Records at CSUN so that they can be entered into the campus database. Bring a copy of any Advanced Placement exam scores to your advising appointment. Your advisor will need access to all your test scores to place you in appropriate classes.
    3. If you have not taken the ELM/EPT tests, please visit the Testing Center website to schedule the tests: www.csun.edu/testing
  3. Find out if you need an additional test. The Math Placement Test (MPT) Chemistry Placement Test (CPT) may be required for students who plan on majoring in Engineering, Computer Sciences, Science or Math. However, the students cannot take these additional tests until they pass the ELM or are exempt. For more information on the MPT and CPT contact: http://www.csun.edu/testing/placement/mpt.htm http://www.csun.edu/testing/placement/cpt.htm
  4. Watch your mailbox for registration information. After you have received your Early Registration Letter (for those who have ELM/EPT or other qualifying test scores on file at the University) or your all 2008 Registration Access Mailer, you may make your mandatory advising appointment.
  5. Make your advising appointment. Go to http://www.csun.edu/ugs/advisement.html to find the Student Service Center/EOP satellite office in the College of your major, and click on or visit its advising website to review instructions. If you have not yet chosen a major, you are “Undecided.” Call the office to schedule your appointment. Register for classes with your advisor at your appointment.
  6. Plan ahead for your advising and registration appointment. Plan to stay 2 to 3 hours for your appointment. Purchase campus parking for $5.00 a day without a parking permit. Arrive on campus early to locate your Student Service Center. Download freeway directions and a campus map. http://www.csun.edu/maps
  7. Activate your CSUN User ID and Password before your advising appointment. For help, see setup instructions http://www.csun.edu/anr/soc/registration.html#activate or http://www.csun.edu/it/helpdesk.
    8. Your CSUN User ID is not the same as your nine-digit Student ID number. Use your CSUN User ID and Password each time you log into secure CSUN Web sites.
  8. Bring your CSUN User ID and Password to your advising appointment so that you can log into myNorthridge and the Student Center (SOLAR).
  9. Confirm your Intent to Register. Log into myNorthridge from the CSUN homepage www.csun.edu (top right), locate the box “My Path to Graduation,” and click “View Application Status.” When the Summary page displays, click the “Intent to Register” button.
  10. Check the status of your application for missing documents or test scores. Log into myNorthridge and click “View Application Status.” If “Yes” displays on the Summary page under “Missing Docs/Tests,” click the “Detail” link to learn more.
  11. Purchase a 2008-2010 University Catalog (available June 2008) from the Matador Bookstore. The Catalog describes every major and course CSUN offers and provides vital information about academic policies and university regulations. The catalog is also online at www.csun.edu/catalog. Bring the catalog to your advising appointment if you have purchased it before your appointment.
  12. Become familiar with the Schedule of Classes Enrollment Guide at www.csun.edu/anr/soc . It provides calendars, instructions and policies for enrolling in classes for each academic term or semester. It also includes two ways to search the Schedule of Classes. For easy printing, view static course listings in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). These schedules are updated monthly. For up-to-the-minute, dynamic course listings, use SOLAR through myNorthridge > Class Search

    13. Before your appointment, you may want to prepare a tentative class schedule to review with your advisor. Math, Freshman Reading and Writing and several other classes require certain test scores or prerequisites. So remember, the schedule you create is just for practice. Download a Schedule Planning Worksheet. http://www.csun.edu/ugs/documents/ftfplanner.pdf

  13. If you have taken any courses at a community college, please bring unofficial transcripts with you.

    14. REMINDER: Official transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions and Records, Cal State Northridge, Bayramian Hall, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8207

  14. Make a list of questions about your major, General Education, Financial Aid, Housing etc., so you can ask your advisor for answers during your appointment.
  15. For updates and important University notices, log into myNorthridge regularly with your CSUN User ID and Password. Also check your CSUN e-mail regularly. E-mail is the University’s official means of communication. http://www.csun.edu/webmail
  16. Sign up for mandatory New Student Orientation, held right before classes start. This all-day program will introduce you to the University, provide useful information, and enable you to meet other members of the Freshman Class of 2008. To sign up, call 818-677-2393 or www.csun.edu/nso.
  17. Fall 2008 classes begin Monday, August 25, 2008. Saturday classes begin August 23.