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Accepted First-Year Student Checklist

You've been accepted! Now you will have to take some steps to complete your enrollment.


Accept Your Offer of Admission

Accept or decline Cal Poly’s offer of admission no later than 11:59 p.m. PT May 1 through your . Remember, you have been offered admission to the major stated in your Portal. It is not possible to change your major prior to enrollment at Cal Poly.

Read the Terms and Conditions of Admission

Once you accept our offer of admission, you should read through the Terms and Conditions of Admission and make sure you stay in compliance. If you have questions about these conditions, contact our Admissions office

Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships

If you haven’t already, submit the or as soon as possible and have it sent to Cal Poly. Our Federal School Code is 001143. For 2025, make sure you file by April 2 for priority consideration. You can also learn more about financial aid

Review Costs of Attendance

Review Costs of Attendance for a breakdown of what you can expect to pay as a first-year student at Cal Poly.

Apply for Housing

First-year students and some second-year students are . When it opens, the housing application will be accessible through the Housing tab on the . Only students who accept their offer of admission will be able to apply for campus housing, and the deadline to apply is June 1.

Choose a Dining Plan

All first-year students living on campus are required to choose a for the academic year.

Learn About Making Payments

You will be able to view your student account information on the Money Matters tab or the Student Center on the . Cal Poly does not invoice or send paper statements, so you will need to monitor your account on a routine basis. The has more information on your student account and making payments.

Submit Transcripts and Other Documents

Submit your official, final, high school transcript with confirmation of your graduation by July 15. Some students may need to submit other documents such as test scores and will be notified accordingly.

Register for Orientation Programs

First-year students are required to participate in new student orientation programs, and the .

  • is a two-day program that introduces new students and their families to life as a college student and at Cal Poly. You will be able to choose from a variety of sessions ranging from mid-July through mid-August. More information will be emailed to you prior to the event.
  • is a ten-day program that allows you to connect with other students and your academic college. The program begins on move-in day and extends through your first week of classes.

Register for Classes

In order to help your transition into Cal Poly, we will enroll you into a full schedule of classes for your first fall quarter and a partial schedule for the following winter and spring quarters. We call this effort . You will receive more information about the process over the summer.

Immunization Requirements

All incoming students must satisfy the .

51ÊÓÆµ Residency

51ÊÓÆµ law requires every student attending Cal Poly to be classified as either a 51ÊÓÆµ resident or nonresident for tuition purposes. This residency classification is important because nonresident students pay additional fees each quarter. If you qualify for residency through AB540, you should complete this form

International Students will also need to:

  • Become Familiar with the International Center
    The helps with visa advising, employment authorization, health insurance, orientation, and social activities.
  • Learn More About Health Insurance and International Fees
    You should understand the mandatory , and the .
  • Learn About Possible Visa Requirements
    The International Center will email you with instructions on how to request a Form I-20. You should also review information about applying for . 

Questions?

We understand that the enrollment process may be daunting, and you may have some additional questions. Give the Admissions Office a call at (805) 756-2311 and we can help.