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Spring 2010 Freshman Checklist

Welcome to California State University, Northridge


This checklist will help guide you through the first stage of your academic career at California State University, Northridge. It’s an exciting time, the next phase in your professional growth and development. Advisement and registration activities for Spring 2010 freshmen begin November 2, 2009.
In order to be eligible to register, you must:

  1. Satisfy the English Placement Test (EPT) and Entry Level Math (ELM) placement test requirements as early as possible, or be exempt. You may take the tests at CSUN or a CSU campus near you. For dates, online registration and locations, see the CSUN Testing Center website.

    To learn about exemptions from the placement tests, visit the CSUN Testing Center website. 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.
  2. Find out if you need an additional department exam. The Math Placement Test (MPT) and/or the Chemistry Placement Test (CPT) may be required for students planning to major in Engineering, Computer Sciences, Science or Math. However, students cannot take MPT or CPT until they pass the ELM or are exempt. For more information, see Department Exams.
  3. Activate your CSUN User ID and Initial Password. Locate the “Activate CSUN User ID and Password” letter you received from the CSUN Office of Admissions and Records, then go to www.csun.edu and log into myNorthridge Portal.  If you need help, go to the Information Technology Help Desk.  Read and accept the campus Instructional Technology policy. Follow the prompts to reset your password and set up your CSUN Gmail account. For e-mail help, see New Student Email FAQs.
  4. Send your official high school transcript showing completion of your senior year final semester and verifying graduation date to the Office of Admissions and Records at CSUN.  If you have taken any college courses, please bring unofficial transcripts to your first advisement meeting and send your official transcripts to the Office of Admissions and Records as soon as possible.
  5. After completing Steps 1 through 3 above, schedule your advising appointment.To make an advising appointment, contact the Student Services Centers/EOP Satellite in the College of your major. If undecided, schedule an appointment with the Advising Resource Center/EOP. 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. But remember, the schedule you create is just for practice. Download a Schedule Planning Worksheet.You should also make a list of questions about your major, General Education, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Housing, etc., to ask your advisor during your appointment.

  6. Bring your CSUN User ID and Password to your advising appointment so that you can log into myNorthridge and the Student Center (SOLAR).
  7. Allow 2 to 3 hours for your appointment. Purchase a one-day campus parking permit for $6.00. Arrive on campus early to locate your Student Services Center. Download freeway directions and a campus map.
  8. Watch your mailbox for the Spring 2010 Registration Access Mailer, which contains important enrollment and fee payment information. Bring it with you to your advising appointment.
  9. Check the status of your application for missing documents or test scores. Log into myNorthridge at www.csun.edu. In the My Next Steps student checklist (center column), review your Incomplete Tasks list and complete those items as soon as possible.
  10. Purchase a 2008-2010 University Catalog 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 beforehand.
  11. Browse the Schedule of Classes using SOLAR Class Search. From www.csun.edu from the “QuickLinks” pull-down menu (under the weather report), select Class Search.  Learn more about enrollment in classes with the online Semester Bulletin and Registration Guide, including calendars, registration policies, FAQs, SOLAR How To Guides and more.
  12. Pay your fees.  Fees are due when you register in classes, but no later than the deadlines published in the Fee Payment Schedule.  Due dates vary by registration date.  If you do not pay your fees on time, you will be dropped from your classes. For fees, deadlines and other money matters, go to the University Cash Services website.
  13. For updates and important University notices, log into myNorthridge regularly with your CSUN User ID and Password. Also check your CSUN Gmail account at www.csun.edu/webmail. E-mail is one of the University’s official means of communication.
  14. If you’d like a campus tour before classes begin, contact Student Outreach and Recruitment Services at (818) 677-2879, or go to www.csun.edu/outreach and click Campus Tours.

Spring 2010 classes begin Tuesday, January 19, 2010. Saturday classes begin January 23.