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Transfer Orientation
2023 Garnet and Gold Essentials for Transfer Students
You will receive information on transfer orientation after you have been formally accepted into the university. Please review your program requirements prior to orientation and take notes during orientation so that you can discuss questions with your advisor.
Financial Aid
In order for your financial aid to be disbursed to you in a timely manner, please ensure that you have completed all of the items on the Financial Aid Checklists.
Housing
Insurance and Immunization
Please visit here to prepare for your immunization requirements prior to attending transfer orientation. An immunization hold will prevent you from registering until this requirement is satisfied.
All students are required to provide proof of medical insurance prior to registering for classes. Go here to provide proof or purchase insurance.
Connect with a Peer!
The transfer experience at any institution can be a shocking and overwhelming experience. Transfer Community Mentors are dedicated students who understand the transfer experience at FSU from a personal perspective. Sign-up to have a Transfer Community Mentor work with you in your first semester to help guide you through on-campus and virtual life at FSU. Transfer Community Mentors host one-on-one and small group events where transfer students will network with other students and key faculty staff while learning about the various campus resources FSU has to contribute to their success. Peers learn from each others and build leadership skills to serve the next group of incoming transfers.
Interested? Sign-up here!!
Find Part-Time Employment
Part-time jobs provide an opportunity to develop new skills and competencies that complement classroom learning and can be highlighted in future job searches or the graduate school application process. They also can supplement any help you to pay for your out-of-pocket expenses while you are at FSU. Click here to get more information on landing a part-time job in Tallahassee.
Learning at a Distance
Learning at a distance is a difference experience than traditional classroom learning. Some courses at FSU are exclusively online, meaning that you work at your own pace according to established deadlines. This asynchronous type of learning usually includes discussion boards and video tutorials/lectures. Other classes are remote or synchronous, meaning that they still meet using Zoom at specific class days and times.
FSU uses Canvas as its online classroom and Zoom as its official meeting software. Utilize the resources at Distance@FSU (https://distance.fsu.edu/support) and Virtual FSU(https://studentaffairs.fsu.edu/virtualfsu/) to get help with accessing your Canvas classrooms, downloading and using Zoom, and connecting with virtual campus resources.
SLS 3140: Academic Success Strategies for Transfer Students
This 1-credit course is especially designed for first-semester transfer students who want to understand how to maximize resources on campus, as well as continuing transfer students who seek to improve their academic outcomes. It focuses on the development and application of classroom, life, and engagement practices necessary for successfully navigating the increased scholastic expectations of a research university. Students work closely with the course instructor to reflect on past assumptions and design a plan for semester success. They will learn how to connect with faculty, choose relevant student organizations, and prepare for post-graduation experiences.
Great Start Checklist
- Transfer Experience Workshops (open to incoming and current transfer students)
- Student Life Resources
- Find Your Advisor
- Understanding myFSU Student Central
- Getting Started with Canvas
- Help and Technology
- Useful Apps and Websites for College Success
First Semester Timeline
- Make sure you have a full schedule. Fifteen (15) hours ensures that you graduate on time, but you may be able to use the summer semester to your advantage. Having trouble finding classes? Talk to your advisor about any graduation requirements or minor classes that fill in any gaps.
- Using the campus map, take a walking tour of the campus based on your fall schedule. Learn where your classes are going to be and the parking facilities and/or transportation options that will work best for you.
- Request your final transcript from your previous institution be sent to FSU.
- Submit any missing immunization records to Student Health.
- Enroll for the FSU Guardian program to provide rapid information to FSUPD in the case of an emergency.
- Give yourself plenty of travel time prior to your first classes. Parking is notoriously difficult the first week of classes. It is not uncommon for students to need 1-2 hours of lead time, particularly when the first class is anywhere between 9am and 12 pm.
- Learn the bus schedule. Renegade is the only route that circles the entire campus. It is the best route to take until you have familiarized yourself with the other on-campus routes.
- Make any final schedule adjustments prior to 11:59 pm on the 4th day of classes.
- Attend a Transfer Student Essentials workshop (see schedule for details) to get those emerging questions answered.
- Friday is the deadline to pay tuition and fees or to make arrangements to pay.
- Begin any academic support programs that you may need, including extra study sessions or peer tutoring. Review the Transfer Experience schedule for any additional classroom success skills you may need.
- Attend Transfer Roundtable to meet new transfer students.
- Introduce yourself to all of your instructors.
- Make your first advising appointment.
- Check your transcript to verify that all transfer credit has been applied. Contact your academic advisor in your department with any discrepancies.
- Visit your instructors during office hours to make sure you are clear on remaining expectations.
- Schedule a registration appointment with your academic advisor.
- Attend Study Sundays for Transfer Students to make sure you have a good study plan for your mid-term exams.
- Verify your registration window
- Check holds and to-do’s and remove prior to registration.
- Use Schedule Planner and your academic program map to review degree requirements and plan courses for next semester.
- Meet with your academic advisor to discuss degree requirements and finalize the class schedule for next term. Always have at least two options for each course in case it is full. Also discuss any courses you may need to drop. Drop deadline is Friday of Week 7.
- (Fall Only) File your financial aid for next academic year.
- Enroll in classes as soon as your registration window opens. Review options and email your advisor with questions. Do not wait to register.
- Schedule faculty office hours to review your mid-term progress and remaining expectations for the semester.
- Email your schedule to your advisor to make sure you have covered your bases. Final drop deadline is Friday of Week 12.
- Attend Study Sundays for Transfer Students to make sure you have a good study plan for final exams.
- Utilize any academic support programs that you may need, including extra study sessions or peer tutoring. Review the Transfer Experience schedule for any additional classroom success skills you may need.
- Contact faculty from your next semester schedule to arrange a meeting to introduce yourself, discuss class expectations, and get advice.