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SPRING 2010 TRANSFER STUDENT CHECKLIST

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 differ from those of your previous institution. Following this step-by-step advice should smooth your transition and help you avoid common pitfalls.

  1. Remember important dates

    Beginning October 28, 2009, watch your mailbox for the Spring 2010 Registration Access Mailer.  It contains your enrollment appointment time, the earliest date and time you can go online to register in classes.

    From your registration appointment through December 9, 2010: Registration-by-Appointment.

    Enroll in classes online through the SOLAR Student Center at or after the appointment time you will receive in your Registration Access Mailer.

    December 10, 2009 – January 18, 2010: Nonrestrictive Registration.

    All eligible students may register for classes. No appointment is required.

    To view your registration date and time online, log into myNorthridge at www.csun.edu with your CSUN User ID and Password. In the box My Path to Graduation, select Student Center (SOLAR) and click Enrollment Appointments.

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

    For additional dates, visit the Schedule of Classes Enrollment Guide Semester Calendars.  

  2. 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, contact the department for your major at Academic Programs.

    Steps 3 – 10 should be completed before meeting with your advisor.
  3. Activate your CSUN User ID and Initial Password before your advising appointment. For instructions, go to the Information Technology Help Desk. Bring your CSUN user ID and password to your advising appointment so that you can log into myNorthridge and the Student Center (SOLAR).
  4. Clear all your holds.  Academic advisement is strongly encouraged for transfer students in all majors; some majors require it. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Take the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE) when you complete 60 units. If you’ve already completed 60 units, take the test as soon as possible. The WPE is a prerequisite for many upper division courses.
  7. 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 before your appointment.
  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 Schedule of Classes Enrollment Guide for Class Search options, semester calendars, final exam schedules, registration policies (e.g., repeating courses) and features (e.g., permission numbers), SOLAR How To Guides and more. 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. Your advisor will assist you in learning how to use your DPR and MAP. For a preview, see the How To Guides Interpreting DPR and MAP and Using MAP to Plan Courses.
  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.
  10. 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.
  11. Allow about one hour for your appointment. 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.
  12. 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. E-mail is one of the University’s official means of communication.
  13. 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.