Accepted First-Year Student Checklist

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

This list is meant to be an overview to help guide you in the process. You will need to manage most of these items through your My Cal Poly Portal.

Accept Your Offer of Admission

Accept or decline Cal Poly’s offer of admission no later than 11:59 p.m. PT May 1. This will be done on the Student Center tab on your My Cal Poly Portal. Remember, you have been offered admission to the major stated on 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. 

Stay in Touch

Make sure you keep your personal info updated on your MyCalPoly Portal. Be sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list to ensure that you are getting all of our emails.

Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships

If you haven’t already, submit the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application as soon as possible and have it sent to Cal Poly. Our Federal School Code is 001143. Make sure you file by March 2 to maximize your potential aid and scholarship opportunities. 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 required to live on campus. The housing application will open in early to mid-March and is accessible through the Housing tab on the MyCalPoly Portal. Only students who accept their offer of admission will be able to apply for campus housing, and the deadline to apply is May 22.

Choose a Dining Plan

All first-year students living on campus are required to choose a dining plan 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 My Cal Poly Portal. Cal Poly does not invoice or send paper statements, so you will need to monitor your account on a routine basis. The New Student Guide 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, Student Life Orientation Days (SLO Days) and the Week of Welcome (WOW).

• SLO Days 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.
• WOW 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 block scheduling. You will receive more information about the process over the summer.

Immunization Requirements

All incoming students must satisfy the immunization requirements and complete the Tuberculosis Screening/Risk Assessment per Executive Order 803. 

California Residency

California law requires every student attending Cal Poly to be classified as either a California 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.