Admissions

Step 6—Attend New Student Orientation

All New Students Are Expected to Attend Orientation

SDSU is committed to your academic success. You are expected to attend New Student Orientation to help you learn the essentials for being a successful student.

Transfer students who attend New Student Orientation will:

  • Register for classes at Orientation
  • Receive a preliminary degree evaluation showing how your classes will transfer to SDSU

Why You Must Attend!

  • Receive essential academic planning and course registration assistance
  • Meet with assistant deans, faculty and trained student Ambassadors
  • Learn how to use SDSU's Web registration system and other WebPortal services
  • Explore job and financial assistance opportunities
  • Find the answers you need to make your transition to SDSU successful
  • Learn what it means to be a member of the SDSU community

New Student Orientation for transfer students is held in August. It is important you choose to attend orientation on a date when your specific major will be represented, so review the website carefully. Programs fill up quickly, so be prepared to make your reservation early. You can make your reservation online beginning in May 16, 2013. Space is limited for all programs, so you may not get your first choice.

Specific details about New Student Orientation will be available on the Office of New Student and Parent Programs website beginning in March. For more information, call the Office of New Student and Parent Programs at (619) 594-1509.

What Last Year's Students Said About Orientation

More than 93 percent of the students surveyed had an understanding of the requirements of their academic program.

After attending orientation, 94 percent of the students surveyed know what it takes to graduate in two years.

More than 97 percent of students in attendance at orientation felt welcomed to the San Diego State University community.

Parent Orientation

Parent involvement plays a key role in the academic success of students during their college years. For this reason, SDSU sponsors a Parent Orientation program that runs concurrently with the student program. After the welcome, students and parents will be separated into different sessions. Research shows that students who bring parents to orientation are more likely to earn a higher grade point average and persist in their academic pursuits.

By attending orientation, parents will:

  • Learn how to contribute to the personal development and academic success of their student
  • Learn what it means to be a member of the SDSU community
  • Learn about academic programs and student support services
  • Meet faculty, staff and current students
  • Become members of the Aztec Parents Association

Ninety-eight percent of parents who completed a program evaluation recommended attending parent orientation to future Aztec parents. In addition, parents attending orientation automatically become members of the Aztec Parents Association for as long as their student is enrolled at SDSU.