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Fall 2010 TRANSFER STUDENT CHECKLIST

Welcome to California State University, Northridge

This First-Time Transfer student checklist will help guide you through the steps you’ll need to enroll successfully at California State University, Northridge. It’s an exciting time, but one that can be confusing. As a university, CSUN has policies and requirements that might differ from those of your previous institution. Following this step-by-step advice should smooth your transition and help you avoid common pitfalls.

  1. Prepare to register and remember important dates. Beginning April 28, 2010 watch your mailbox for the Fall 2010 Registration Access Mailer. It contains your enrollment appointment time, the earliest date and time you can go online to register in classes.

    Beginning with your enrollment time, which will be between June 22 and July 18, you may enroll in classes online through the SOLAR Student Center.
    After July 18, no appointment is required. Fall 2010 classes begin Monday, August 23, 2010. Saturday classes begin August 21. For additional dates, visit the Semester Bulletin and Registration Guide Semester Calendars.
  2. 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 log into myNorthridge Portal at www.csun.edu. 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 delivery preferences. Learn more about Gmail at New Student Email FAQs.
  3. Check the status of your application for missing documents or test scores. Log into myNorthridge at www.csun.edu. In the My Next Step checklist (lower half of page), review the Incomplete Tasks section and complete the items as soon as possible.
  4. Purchase a 2010-2012 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.
  5. Make an appointment with your advisor. CSUN students must declare a major by the time they have earned 60 units. If you have not chosen a major and you have less than 60 units, you may see an advisor in the Advising Resource Center/EOP. To find your major department and make an advisement appointment, go to Academic Programs. Academic advisement is strongly encouraged for transfer students in all majors; some majors require it. CSUN has many policies and deadlines that will differ from those of your previous institution. The best way to avoid confusion and take all the necessary steps that will lead to timely graduation is to see an academic advisor. If your major department requires advisement before registration, an advisement hold will display in your account in the SOLAR Student Center. The hold will be cleared only when you meet with your advisor. To view holds, log into myNorthridge with your CSUN User ID and Password and select Student Center (SOLAR) > Holds (box) > Details
  6. Check out special GE classes just for new transfers.  CSUN offers special sections of some upper division General Education classes just for new transfer students.  These classes will not only teach you the subject matter of the course; they will also help you learn about CSUN resources, policies and requirements.  Classes reserved just for you are also great places to make friends and get oriented to your new University.  Check out the offerings here.
  7. Find out if you need a department exam. The Math Placement Test (MPT) and/or Chemistry Placement Test (CPT) may be required for students planning to major in Engineering, Computer Sciences, Science or Math. For more MPT and CPT information, including which courses require the tests as prerequisites, see Department Exams.
  8. Prepare a tentative class schedule to review with your advisor. Download a Schedule Planning Worksheet.   Make a list of questions about your major and General Education courses to ask your advisor during your appointment. While on campus, you may also want to visit Financial Aid and Scholarships, Housing, or other campus resources that you can locate from the CSUN home page.

    Use the online Semester Bulletin and Registration Guide for Class Search options, calendars, registration policies, FAQs, SOLAR How To Guides and more.
  9. Bring your unofficial transcripts for all courses taken at a community college or at another four-year university to your advisement meeting. REMINDER: Official transcripts should be sent as soon as possible to the CSUN Office of Admissions and Records.  Use My Academic Planner (MAP), your interactive Degree Progress Report (DPR), to check the placement of your transfer courses into CSUN major and degree requirement sections.  Your advisor will assist you in learning to use these tools.  For a preview, see the How To Guides Interpreting DPR and MAP and Using MAP to Plan Courses.

    If your transcripts have not been evaluated and your transfer courses not yet placed into your MAP and DPR, you may visit www.assist.org to find California community college and CSUN course equivalents.  Bring a list of these courses with you to your advising appointment.
  10. Allow about one hour to meet with your advisor. Purchase a one-day campus parking permit for $6.00. Arrive on campus early to locate your major department. Download freeway directions and a campus map.
  11. For updates and important University notices, log into myNorthridge regularly with your CSUN User ID and Password. Also check your CSUN Gmail regularly by logging into www.csun.edu/webmail. Your CSUN Gmail is one of the University’s official means of communication.
  12. Sign up for New Transfer Student Orientation to learn about the University, receive useful information, and meet other transfer students. Call 818-677-2393 or go to www.csun.edu/nso.
  13. Make sure you have met the CSU immunization requirement for measles, rubella and hepatitis B. If you attended a California public middle or high school, you have probably met the requirement. If not, complete the measles and rubella immunization requirement before enrolling in the second semester of classes and the hepatitis B requirement before enrolling in the third semester. For more information, see the Klotz Student Health Center website Immunization Requirements