After SIR: Next Steps for Freshmen and Transfer Students

Between the time they submit their Statement of Intent to Register to their chosen UC campus (May 1 for freshmen and June 1 for transfer students) and the beginning of the fall term, students must tie up loose ends at their high schools and community colleges and begin to make connections at UC by meeting with advisers, choosing classes and finding housing. Additionally, once at the University, both freshmen and transfer students must make the real transition—to a bigger setting, a faster pace and greater academic challenges. To help them start off right, the University offers these tips:

Attend orientation. "Orientation is designed to be a wonderful learning experience, as well as an enjoyable time," said James W. Sandoval, vice chancellor of student affairs at UC Riverside. "[UCR's] program has proven to be extremely beneficial to new students, and research has shown that after attending orientation, students tend to achieve a higher grade point average during their first year."

Orientation is especially important for transfer students, says Claudia Parrish, coordinator of services for transfer and re-entry students at the University of California's Santa Cruz campus. "Transfer students sometimes skip orientation because they're already successful students. They don't think they need it," she says. But at summer orientation, students will receive academic advising, take placement exams, learn about major requirements and get information on navigating the libraries.

Advise the admissions office if anything in the academic record has changed. Incomplete high school or community college work or a significant drop in grades can jeopardize an offer of admission to the University. In most cases, the campus will try to work with the student to enable him or her to enroll.

Submit official final transcripts by July 15. In cases where this is impossible — if a community college does not post spring grades in time, for instance — the student should contact the admissions office at the UC campus he or she will be attending. In most cases, extensions can be granted. In addition, students with Advanced Placement credit should have official score reports sent, even if the scores appear on the transcript.

Even if students have submitted transcripts by the deadline, they are often not forwarded to the appropriate office in time for advising sessions. To get the most out of their advising sessions, students should bring unofficial copies of their transcripts.

Request IGETC certification. Once a transfer student has committed to one UC campus, he or she should request certification of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) from the last California community college at which he or she completed a full term. Both completed and partial IGETC certifications must be sent to the UC campus admissions office. To learn more about the newly approved IGETC standards, visit www.cacctcw.com.

Request a review of financial aid awards. Students can appeal an award by contacting the campus financial aid office and requesting an appointment with a counselor. Contact information is available at the Univeristy of California's admissions website.

Find housing. Each UC campus guarantees housing for freshmen, ranging from one to three years. While not all campuses guarantee housing for transfer students, they should submit their housing requests by the stated deadline to ensure a spot at those that do. For a comprehensive list of which campuses offer guaranteed housing, visit the Housing section of the UC Admissions website. For students who plan to live off campus, housing offices maintain current rental listings.

Plan for a faster pace. Most University of California campuses are on the quarter system, with 10 weeks in each quarter. For students coming from high schools or community colleges on the semester system, the pace can be daunting. Students should plan to take only three courses their first quarter. Buying books before classes begin gives students time to familiarize themselves with the material and get a jump on the reading. In addition, students can read course syllabi, if they are available online, to learn what's expected in their classes.

Seek help early. Students at the University of California are expected to be critical thinkers, analyzing and interpreting material rather than just memorizing. For some, this is an obstacle in their first quarter and they need assistance to clear it. Teaching assistants have regular office hours when students can visit and ask questions, and tutoring is available on all the University's campuses.

Visit professors during office hours. For students who want to do research or attend graduate school, this is imperative. Professors are more likely to use student researchers and write letters of recommendation for students they know. "Professors hate it when nobody comes to office hours. One told me it's like reliving prom night," says Jo Ann Baca, an academic counselor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean's Office at UC Davis. "If students are intimidated, they should ask a professor about his research. They love to talk about their research." If regular office hours are out of the question because of another class or work, students can e-mail a professor. Most will try to accommodate students with conflicting schedules.

Keep thinking about the major. Declaring a major will likely result from a combination of personal interests, career goals, and/or post-graduation plans for graduate or professional study. For freshmen at the University, the decision need not be made during the first term, but students should think about which major they would like to pursue so that they can take the lower-division and prerequisite courses necessary for completion of a given major. For transfer students, much of this preparatory work should be done at the community college.

Both freshmen and transfer students thrive at the University of California, even those who experience a rocky beginning. The key to success is to keep up with coursework and be proactive in seeking out the professors, programs and services that can enrich students' academic experience.

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