Everything You Wanted To Know After Submitting Your Admission Application But Were Afraid to Ask Part II

 

Let's jump right into part two and answer some more questions you may have. 

 

6.  I really want to go to Chico, but I don't think I can afford it.  What should I do?  Check for scholarships in your local community.  Many times scholarships go unclaimed for lack of applicants.  Be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid beginning January 1, 2013 by the March 2nd priority filing deadline.  With financial aid, the early bird sometimes gets the worm.  It its OK to estimate income amounts-don't wait!

 

6a.  I just realized I made a mistake on my application!  What should I do?  Send an email to info@csuchico.edu with your name, date of birth and if you have it, your Chico State ID number.  Just explain what the mistake was and we'll make the correction for you.   If it is sensitive information, like a social security number, call our office with the change. 

 

7.  I'm doing really badly in a class.  Can I drop it?  It depends.  If you're a high school student and you need the course to complete your A-G requirements or you're a community college student who needs the course as part of the "Golden Four" core classes or to meet the admission unit quota, then dropping the course could effect your application.  It's best to call our office to check. 

 

8.  I know I'm going to fail a course I need for admission.  What can I do?  Again, it's important to call our office to see what your options are.  Both high school and transfer students have until the end of the spring semester to make up any kind of deficiencies for admission.  Summer course work isn't allowed to meet admission requirements.

 

9.  What if my friend gets admitted before I do?  What should I do?  Don't panic.  Processing applications is a long and involved undertaking.  Our staff goes through your file with a  fine tooth comb and that process can't be rushed.  Make sure you're checking both your portal and your Wildcat email because it could be that we're missing information from you to make a final decision and you haven't responded to our request. 

 

10.  After I'm admitted to Chico State I don't have to worry about anything else right?  I'm all set?  Actually, all admission decisions are conditional, that means they aren't permanent and can still be taken back if students fail to meet admission requirements.  Your admission decision is permanent once we get your final transcript with your final grades on it.  If you're a high school student, your graduation date should on your official transcript as well.  Once you're admitted you'll receive a What's Next flyer with a month by month check list of everything you'll still need to do, like taking placement tests and applying for housing.

 

 That's all for now!  Perhaps you'll be walking our hallowed halls this time next year!  Good luck!



Everything You Wanted To Know After Submitting Your Admission Application But Were Afraid To Ask Part I

Congratulations! You've submitted your fall 2013 application for admission and you probably have a ton of questions about your next step, or maybe you don't exactly know what your next step is! I wanted to answer some questions that may be going through your head right now.

1. My friend/sister/neighbor missed the November 30th application deadline!  Is it too late to apply for fall?   Yes!   You can find a list of other CSU campuses still accepting applications here: http://www.csumentor.edu/.  Just click on "Is your campus still accepting applications?" in the lower right-hand corner.

2.  When is the next time they can apply?  The next potential application period will be for the spring 2014 semester.  We're not entirely sure at this point what the spring application status will be and we won't know until late summer.  Students should check back with us then to get a final status on spring.  If the application does open, it will be available beginning August 1, 2013 and will close on August 31, 2013.  The spring semester will begin in January 2014.

3.  When will I hear if I've been admitted? Admissions decisions go out on an on-going, rolling basis, so you could potentially learn if you've been admitted as early as January and or as late as April.  It's best to check your CSU Chico portal account and Wildcat email account regularly to get the most up to date information about your application status. Your portal account is the first place where you can find out if you've been admitted.

4.  You said check my portal account. What is that?  Your CSU Chico portal account gives you access to your Student Center.  The Student Center is where you can check your admission status, your hold and to-do list and everything you'll need as a student at Chico State.  The portal can be accessed via our main page, www.csuchico.edu.  Once you create your portal you also create your Chico State email account which you  also need to check regularly. 

5.  Should I send my transcripts now?  Unless the Admissions Office contacts you directly via your Chico State Wildcat email asking for a transcript, no.  Final transcripts will be due on July 15th. 

Stay tuned for part two of this series where I'll tackle some more questions applicants may have!

Ready, Set, Fall 2013!

While it may still feel like summer outside, the fact is that fall is just around the corner and that means the fall 2013 application period is about to begin.  The CSU Mentor application will open on October 1, 2012 and will close on November 30, 2012 for both first-time freshman and transfer applicants.

So what can freshmen do to prepare?

• Sign up now to take an SAT or ACT test by December.  December is the last test date our office will accept.  Students should try to test more than once if they can.   Studies show that students generally do better on tests the second time around.   I recommend taking both the SAT and the ACT.  It's always wise to maximize your chances of doing well.

• Make sure your A-G requirements  will be complete by the end of the senior year.  If you need to make up courses make sure you talk to your high school counselor as soon as possible to discuss what your options are.  Students aren't allowed to make up courses the summer after high school graduation for admission purposes.

• Visit Chico State on October 20th for Chico Preview Day.  Campus is open to the public and it's a great time to check out our beautiful location, explore our housing facilities and talk to faculty about majors.  We have tours available every day, but Preview Day is pretty amazing.  Register here.

• After the regular admission application has been submitted, you can fill out the Educational Opportunity Program application by November 30th. Our scholarship application will also open in October and will close on December 15th. 

What can transfer students do to prepare?

• Talk to your transfer counselor to make sure you will have 60 transferable units or 90 quarter units completed by the end of the spring semester.  No summer course work is allowed to meet your unit quota.

• Have you completed the "Golden Four" admission requirement?  College level Math, English, Critical Thinking and Speech courses must be done by the end of the spring semester.  Unless you're an engineering major, there are no exceptions to this requirement.

• Transfer students should also visit campus on October 2oth for Chico Preview day.  We have transfer student focused panels and our financial aid and housing offices will be on hand to answer all your questions.  Register here.

• After the regular admission appliction has been submitted, you can fill out  Educational Opportunity Program application by November 30th.  Our scholarship application will also open in October and will close on December 15th. 

 Remember that waiting till the last minute to do anything is a bad idea.  Be smart about preparing and your fall application period will go so much more smoothly!    I hope to see you at Chico Preview Day!

What Should You Be Doing Now?

It's summer!  You've been admitted to Chico State!  You can relax now, right?  Don't pick up that bottle of sun screen quite yet.  There are some very, very important tasks that admitted students need to complete before classes begin on August 27th.  Let's make sure you can check them off your list.
 

Transfer students, have you . . .

Requested final transcripts from all previously attended institutions to be sent to the Chico State Admissions Office?  Our address is 400 West First Street, Chico, CA 95929-0722.  All outstanding documents must be in our office by July 14th.   

Signed up for an orientation?  Orientation is a new student's first chance to register for classes.  Orientation isn't mandatory, but if students don't attend they'll have to wait till July 23rd to register. 

Made housing plans?  The Chico housing application is still open, but at this point students should check out alternative housing options here and here since on-campus housing is looking less likely this late in the year.

First Time Freshmen, have you. . .

Requested final transcripts from your high school to be sent to the Chico State Admissions Office?  Our address is 400 West First Street, Chico, CA 95929-0722.  All outstanding documents, including test scores must be in our office by July 14th. 

Taken an English Placement Test (EPT) and/or Entry Level Math (ELM) test if you were not otherwise exempted through EAP, SAT, ACT or AP test scores?  You should take placement tests ASAP if you are required to.  If students show up to orientation without test scores on file they won't be able to register for classes!  Danger, danger future Wildcat!

Completed your Early Start registration? If you scored less than 50 on the Entry Level Math test and/or less than 138 on the English Placement Test it's absolutely essential that you register for an Early Start experience.  The website csusuccess.org can give you an idea of what classes are available.  You'll be contacted by the campus where you've elected to take your Early Start classes with further registration information. 

Signed up for an orientation? Orientation is a new student's first chance to register for classes.  Orientation isn't mandatory, but if students don't attend they'll have to wait till July 23rd to register.  If you still have to take an EPT or ELM test, sign up for an orientation after your test scores are scheduled to arrive. 

Made housing plans?  The Chico housing application is still open, but at this point students should check out alternative housing options here and here since on-campus housing is looking less likely this late in the year. 

The Secrets of Successful Transfer Students

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Transfer students make up a good portion of our student population each year.   Last year Chico State admitted 3,306 transfer students alone.   As an insider to the admission process, I wanted to share some strategies I wish more students would employ to avoid disappointments and delays when trying to transfer.  

1.    Successful transfer students understand what classes they need to take.   Not all community college courses are transferable.  I’ve seen students fail to grasp this essential fact over and over again.  Working with your community college transfer center, a community college counselor and assist.org will help clarify the difference between transferable and non-transferable courses. 

2.    Successful transfer students leverage all their resources.  I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get help when you need it.  Community colleges are busy and very crowded places.  Students need to learn to self-advocate, to ask questions and be persistent.  Does your campus have cross enrollment programs?  Can you join EOPS?  What programs are available to help students be successful?  Find out and join up, you won’t regret it. 

3.    Successful transfer students understand the application process clearly.  It’s important to connect early on with the university you want to transfer to.  I’ve witnessed a lot of confusion about admission requirements.   How many units do you need to complete?   Does having an AA or an AS guarantee admission?  Does your transfer campus require you to complete lower division major requirements as part of admission?  Students need to find out directly from the source.   If you want the bottom line, ask admission representatives what will keep you out of their university. 

4.    Successful transfer students know grades matter. Transfer admission in an era of budget cuts is becoming an increasingly competitive.   Students with lower GPA’s are finding it more difficult to transfer.  If a campus requires a 2.0 GPA to be eligible to transfer, a 1.98 GPA will not cut it.   Often campuses look at cumulative GPAs; a bad semester will follow you wherever you go.   Start strong, and finish strong academically.  
  

5.    Successful transfer students read university e-mails frequently and take deadlines seriously.  It’s common for Chico State to get over 22,000 applications in a year.   If a student does not respond to a request, pay a fee, or submit a transcript, chances are they won’t be an applicant for long.   The reality is that students who don’t follow through with deadlines make it easier for others to get admitted in their place.

Take it from me; successful transfer students are not passive.  They've learned their stuff and not only in an academic sense.  Do you have specific questions or topics you'd like to learn more about.  Feel free to ask in the comment or shoot me an email at chicoadmissioncounselor@gmail.com. 

Advice for Senior Applicants Part 2

Let's pick up right where we left off in the last post.

4.  Don’t be afraid to call for help, but realize that you’re not the only one who is calling.  
It’s important to realize that high traffic times like submission deadlines can cause a glut of phone calls.   University staff is only human.  Getting a patient, helpful answer is almost guaranteed when you’re not calling at the same time as a hundred other students.   At Chico State, we pride ourselves on answering the phone and being as helpful as possible, but sometimes we need a little extra time. 

5.  Make friends among staff and faculty.  It’s always a good idea to have a connection that is in the know.  The people who work at Chico State care about students and want them to be successful.  It’s very smart to find someone who might go out of his or her way to help you.  An introduction, a good attitude and a word of thanks go a long way towards this.

6.  Reduce your stress and plan ahead.    We live in age of high speed Internet and on-demand everything.  However, the University doesn’t always function that way.  If students submit test scores or transcripts, especially during a high traffic time, it doesn’t mean offices will get that information five minutes later nor have it posted to your file.  The best thing students can do is send test scores, transcripts, or any other information in a timely manner allowing for travel and processing time.

I could go on with this list, but I just wanted to share a few ideas to give you the inside track on the admission process.  Good luck to those of you who have applied.  I hope I see you on campus next fall!