Meet with their pre-major advisor during New Student Orientation and again during Advance Registration for the spring, to discuss course selections for the upcoming semester. Freshmen will be on registration hold, which keeps them from being able to advance register, until they meet with their advisor.

Let their pre-major advisor know of any problems they are having that are affecting their academic work.

If interested, begin to investigate academic research. See the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships and the Provost's Undergraduate Research Mentoring program specifically designed for first-year students interested in a substantial research experience.

See their pre-major advisor before Advance Registration in March to discuss courses for the fall semester. Freshmen are on registration hold until they meet with their advisor.

Start talking to faculty and students in their prospective majors. Attend classes in the major and get the student’s perspective through the Major Advising Program.

Watch for Career Services’ Internship Week if they are interested in a summer internship. On-campus recruiting for internships begins early in the semester.

If interested, begin to investigate the dual degree program with Engineering, Nursing or Wharton. Students are eligible to apply at the end of the freshman year or in the middle or end of the sophomore year.

If interested, begin to investigate study abroad programs by looking over the literature available on the programs that Penn sponsors.

If interested in taking courses at another university during the summer, begin the process of getting the credits pre-approved (see Credit Away).

Meet with their pre-major advisor to discuss progress toward selecting a major and meeting the degree requirements. This meeting is also an opportunity to explore options such as minors, research and study abroad. Sophomores will be on registration hold, which keeps them from being able to advance register, until they meet with their advisor.

Become completely familiar with the rules and requirements for their major. These are available on the department websites and in the Undergraduate Academic Bulletin.

Look into summer study abroad programs available through the College of Liberal and Professional Studies.

Seek information about study abroad for a semester or a year.

If interested, apply for the dual degree program with Nursing, Engineering or Wharton. This may be done in the fall or at the end of the sophomore year.

If interested in research, review the listings in the CURF research directory and make an appointment to speak with a CURF advisor at 215.746.6488.

Visit the CURF website for guidance about available scholarships, fellowships and grants, and the application process.

Meet with their pre-major advisor before declaring a major to discuss their plans. The pre-major advisor will update the student’s Penn InTouch worksheet and make it official. This must be done before the student goes to the major department.

Visit the department to declare the major officially. A registration hold will keep students from being able to advance register for the following fall until the declaration is completed. Once the major is declared, the department will remove the hold.
Note: Students may add a second major or a minor at a later date. They may also change their major. Students who have questions about their options should make an appointment with an assistant dean for advising in the College Office.

If interested in taking courses at another university during the summer, begin the process of getting the credits pre-approved (see Credit Away).

Start planning for an internship. Watch for Career Services’ Internship Week. On-campus recruiting starts at the beginning of the semester.

Open a file at Career Services. This will be an invaluable resource when applying for jobs or graduate schools. Before applying for any position, students should have Career Services review their cover letter and resume. Students unsure about what they might do after graduation should make an appointment with one of the Career Services advisors.

If interested, attend Career Services pre-law or pre-med workshops no later than their junior year. Students should also be familiar with all requirements and deadlines. Check the Career Services website.

Become a peer advisor and help a freshman entering Penn.

Meet with their major advisor to discuss their major program and how it integrates with their education as a whole. Discuss opportunities for research, internships or other avenues of intellectual growth.

Use Penn InTouch to check that all requirements are fulfilled and appropriate progress is being made toward graduation, including the necessary number of elective credits. Check with an assistant dean for advising in the College Office for answers to any questions.

Investigate submatriculation options.

Check with Career Services for information about internships, since many competitive internships have fall deadlines. These internships usually target juniors.

Visit the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships website if considering research, graduate study or independent study in the major.

Consider sharing their major with underclassmen by becoming Major Advising Program (MAP) advisors.

Meet with their major advisor to discuss progress and future plans.

Plan for an internship early in the spring. Watch for Career Services’ Internship Week. On-campus recruiting for internships begins second semester.

Sign up to become a peer advisor for the following year.

If interested in taking courses at another university during the summer, begin the process of getting the credits pre-approved (see Credit Away).

Meet with their major advisor to make sure all requirements for the major will be completed and to discuss future plans.

Use Penn InTouch to check their progress toward fulfilling requirements before the end of the Course Selection Period.

Consult with Career Services. The job search can span the entire school year, depending on a student’s interests. On-campus recruiting starts in the beginning of the semester.

Confirm that their intended graduation date and local address are correct on Penn InTouch.

Make sure to submit their application for graduation by the appointed deadline.

Consider sharing their major with underclassmen by becoming Major Advising Program (MAP) advisors.

Meet with their major advisor to make sure that they will complete the major and to discuss their plans for the future.

Before the end of the Course Selection Period, confirm that they have the courses they need to graduate.

Participate in the College Graduation Ceremony.