Preparing for Your Orientation Advising Session

The advising process works best when you are prepared ahead of time. Before you attend your orientation advising session and register for classes, please consult the steps below.

• Be sure to submit final transcripts from all other institutions to Admissions at the College of Charleston.
• Familiarize yourself with the general education requirements by participating in the informational online course General Education Requirements-GENEDREQ located in OAKS.  Login to MyCharleston.  OAKS can be found in the upper right hand block of icons.  Look for the acorn icon.
• Take Math Placement Test in OAKS.  All incoming students must take the Math Placement Test regardless of previous coursework at another institution.  Please be aware that failure to take the test before orientation will delay your enrollment in a math course.  Find more information about the math placement test and directions on taking the test on the Mathematics department website.
• If planning on taking French, German or Latin languages, take appropriate placement test.  Find out more information about the language placement tests from the Orientation website.
• First-Year Students:  Complete the First Semester General Education Course Selection Tool (PDF) and bring it with you to your advising session.
• Transfer Students: View how your credits transferred in DegreeWorks (found on the Academic Services Tab in MyCharleston) and review what General Education Requirements (PDF) that you still have to fulfill.
• Review the course requirements for different majors in which you might be interested by creating What-If degree audits in DegreeWorks.  You can also visit Program of Study Worksheets or search the undergraduate course catalog.
• Learn how to view the course offerings for the upcoming semester and register for your courses by reviewing the MyCharleston Course Registration Tutorial (PDF).  Note:  You will not be able to register for courses yet.  All students have an orientation hold on their account until they attend orientation.
• Explore our Student Resources page.
• Make sure you arrive for your advising session on time.
• Turn off your cell phone or place it on silent during your advising session.

Beyond Orientation

After orientation, you will be assigned an academic advisor in the AAPC who will help you develop an academic plan that is based on your personal and major goals.