Freshmen>>Timeline

Freshman Timeline

Welcome to the College of Arts and Sciences. The timeline below will help you prepare for your first semester at Penn.

Early June

• • Set up your PennKey Account and create an email account.

Mid June
(These steps should be completed before your discussion with your pre-major advisor.)

• • You will receive a packet from the College Office which includes your Class Handbook, contact information for your pre-major and peer advisors, and a listing of courses recommended for freshmen. Read this material carefully and familiarize yourself with the College website. Contact the College Office if you do not receive the packet by June 20th.
• • Participate in the Freshman Webcast with the Dean of the College, Dean of Freshmen, College faculty and academic advisors.
• • Consult the information on advanced placement to determine what type of credit (if any) you are likely to receive.
• • Log onto the academic blog and complete the advising questionnaire. This is the first of two steps you must take to be removed from registration hold.
• • Review the print and online resources for choosing courses including courses recommended for freshmen.
• • When you have completed the steps above, contact your pre-major advisor to set up an advising appointment via phone or in person.

Advance Registration

• • Advance Registration for incoming freshmen is June 29 to July 24, 2009.
• • Speak with your pre-major advisor about your academic and intellectual goals. (A few minutes reviewing the Suggestions for Incoming Freshmen will help you prepare for this conversation.)
• • With the advisor's guidance, choose the courses you wish to request for your first semester. Though your final course load will be between 4 and 4.5 credit units, you may enter requests for more than four courses. When your advisor feels that you are ready to register, he or she will lift the second registration hold.
• • Enter your course requests in Penn InTouch.

August

• • Check your schedule in Penn InTouch in early August.
• • You may need to add to or adjust your initial schedule so that you are enrolled with 4-4.5 credit units. Contact your pre-major advisor if you have questions.
• • With the help of your peer advisor, create an Academic Planning Worksheet in Penn InTouch.
• • Check the New Student Orientation schedule for College activities and events, including the Penn Reading Project.

September

• • Sept. 3: Move-in day.
• • Sept. 3-8: Placement Exam Schedule
• • Sept. 4: Welcome to the College for incoming freshmen and the Penn Reading Project
• • Sept. 8: Advising, Opening Exercises, Freshman Convocation.
• • Sept. 9: First day of class.