Academic Timeline

All the steps you need to take for academic advising and planning can be found on Compass, the primary guide for incoming students throughout the summer.

Upcoming Dates

  • Early June: First email from the College (early June) to incoming students
  • Mid-June: Second email from the College (mid June) to incoming students with advisor information
  • Advance Registration: June 26-July 17

Students should:

  • Have a discussion with their pre-major advisor during the first few weeks of the semester and again during Advance Registration in October and November, to discuss course selection for the upcoming semester. Incoming first-year students will be on registration hold, which keeps them from being able to participate in Advance Registration, until they meet with their advisor.
  • Let their pre-major advisor know of any problems they are having that are affecting their academic work.
  • Investigate study abroadresearch and other academic options.
  • Apply to become a peer advisor and help a new student entering Penn.

Students should:

  • See their pre-major advisor before Advance Registration in March and April to discuss courses for the fall semester. Incoming students are on registration hold for their first semester until they have an advising discussion with their advisor.
  • Investigate majors of interest. Start talking to faculty and students in their prospective majors. Attend one or more of the College’s Majors and More Dinners to learn about programs of interest. Attend classes in the major and get the student’s perspective through the Major Advising Program (MAP).
  • Investigate study abroadresearch and other academic options.

Students should:

  • Meet with their pre-major advisor to discuss progress toward finding and declaring a major and meeting the degree requirements during Advance Registration in October and November. This meeting is also an opportunity to explore options such as minors, research and study abroad. Until meeting with their advisor, Sophomores will be on registration hold which keeps them from being able to participate in Advance Registration.
  • Become completely familiar with the rules and requirements for their potential major. These are available on the department websites.
  • Investigate study abroadresearch and other academic options.
  • Apply to become a peer advisor and help the next incoming class.

Students should:

Students should:

Students should:

Students should:

  • Meet with their major advisor to make sure all requirements for the major will be completed and to discuss future plans.
  • Review the degree audit in Path@Penn to check their progress toward fulfilling requirements before the end of the Course Selection period.
  • Confirm that their intended graduation date and local address are correct on Path@Penn.
  • Visit the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) if considering research or information on post-graduate fellowships and scholarships.
  • Consider applying for Senior Awards.
  • Check with Career Services for information about graduate study and applying for jobs.
  • Consider sharing their major with underclassmen by becoming Major Advising Program (MAP) advisors.

Students should: