Student Guide

These pages contains tips and guidance for prospective, newly admitted, and current undergraduate students by year: new incoming first-year and transfer students and current first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year students. We strongly recommend that all students stay on top of deadlines and communicate effectively with professors and deans. 

NEWLY ADMITTED First-Year Students: Summer Advising & Enrollment (for Fall 2023)

Welcome! We are delighted you are joining our academic communities in The College of Arts and Sciences. We look forward to partnering with you as you explore the College's opportunities and further the development of your academic identities.

Summer Orientation New Student Portal
Visit the Summer Orientation New Student Portal frequently throughout the summer to complete important tasks to prepare for academic advising and enrollment in the College. The New Student Portal has important steps to help you plan throughout the summer as you prepare to join us on Grounds this fall!

Activate and begin checking your UVA email! That is where we will be sending key information.

Complete your Student Information Form by the June 8 deadline.

Learn About the College
Complete the First-Year Summer Advising & Enrollment Module and visit the College of Arts & Sciences web page which has important academic dates and policy information.

College Enrollment Information Webinar
A College enrollment information webinar for new first-year students will be offered via Zoom on June 26th from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm. Students must pre-register for the Webinar using their UVA email address. You will receive information about registering through the above-mentioned Summer Orientation New Student Portal. A link to view the recorded webinar will be added here following the live webinar.

Sign up for a Summer Program so you are ready for Fall!

Key Links

Information on AP/IB/Dual Enrollment Credit

World Language Requirement
Are you planning to continue with a World Language you studied in high school or at another college during your time at UVA? If so, click on these links below to learn about language placement and take the appropriate placement module to determine in what course you should enroll in a fall or spring semester.

Find more information about other languages and placement at these links:

Math Placement
Click here for information on math placement.

Learn To Use SIS and Plan Your Schedule
Take some time to log into your Student Center in SIS and learn the Student Information System.

  • Plan your schedule using "Class Search" in SIS, add 15-20 College Classes to your shopping cart before you attend Summer Orientation.
  • Choose only 1000- or 2000-level courses.
  • You may add closed or wait listed classes to your shoppping cart - there may be seats available during your course enrollment sessions.
  • Consider Adding a COLA 1500 to Your Fall Schedule
    • One-credit graded seminars open to all first-year students in the College—the instructor will be your academic advisor.
  • Consider a USEM Course
    • University Seminars are two-credit courses that are offered during both the fall and spring semesters. Student participation in a USEM should foster a love of learning with the goal of igniting a spark of enthusiasm for a particular subject.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Students in the College of A&S are limited to 12 credits from the other undergraduate schools. We recommend that you take all of your classes in A&S for the first few years unless you are planning to apply to transfer to another undergraduate school at UVA or are planning to apply for the BA in computer science major. Even then, we recommend only one per term so you do not exceed this limit.

Be Prepared for Course Advising and Enrollment During Day 2 of Summer Orientation
You must bring a laptop, tablet, or Smart Phone to use on day two of Summer Orientation which is when you will enroll in your fall classes.

You will be assigned an enrollment appointment which will give you access to enroll in classes using SIS (the Student Information System). There will be faculty advisors and student Orientation Leaders who will assist with academic information and advice about fall course enrollment. You will be able to add courses, as well as swap any pre-enrolled courses. All enrollment appointments on day two of Summer Orientation are randomly assigned and cannot be changed for any reason.

Watch this video to learn more about UVA Course Codes that will help you choose the most appropriate classes for your first semester.

Watch this video to learn how you'll Browse For and Enroll In Classes in SIS.

Read about on College and Careers: Connecting College, Advising, and Career (Hint: Your major will most likely not be your career - study what you love!)

Like the College on Facebook

NEWLY ADMITTED Transfer Students: Summer Advising & Enrollment (for Fall 2023)

Welcome! We are delighted you are joining our academic communities in The College of Arts and Sciences. We look forward to partnering with you as you explore the College's opportunities and further the development of your academic identities.

Summer Orientation New Student Portal
Visit the Summer Orientation New Student Portal frequently throughout the summer to complete important tasks to prepare for academic advising and enrollment in the College. The New Student Portal has important steps to help you plan throughout the summer as you prepare to join us on Grounds this fall!

Learn About the College
The College of Arts & Sciences web page has important academic dates and policy information

Getting Started

Information on AP/IB/Dual Enrollment Credit

World Language Requirement
Are you planning to continue with a World Language you studied in high school or at another college during your time at UVA? If so, click on these links below to learn about language placement and take the appropriate placement module to determine in what course you should enroll in a fall or spring semester.

Find more information about other languages and placement at these links:

Math Placement
Click here for information on math placement.

Learn To Use SIS and Plan Your Schedule
Take some time to log into your Student Center in SIS and learn the Student Information System.

  • Plan your schedule using "Class Search" in SIS, add 15-20 College Classes to your shopping cart before you attend Summer Orientation.
  • You may add closed or wait listed classes to your shopping cart - there may be seats available during your course enrollment sessions.

Be Prepared for Course Advising and Enrollment During Summer Orientation

You must bring a laptop, tablet, or Smart Phone to use at Summer Orientation which is when you will enroll in your fall classes.

You will be assigned an enrollment appointment which will give you access to enroll in classes using SIS (the Student Information System). There will be academic deans, faculty advisors, and student orientation leaders who will assist with academic information and advice about fall course enrollment.

Watch this video to learn more about UVA Course Codes that will help you choose the most appropriate classes for your first semester.

Watch this video to learn how you will Browse For and Enroll In Classes in SIS

Consider Applying to the Summer Advancement Program

Once admitted, you may also explore the College's Summer Advancement Program for transfer students, a four-week summer program allowing students to get a head start on major prerequisites and/or general education requirements at no cost to students. More information can be found here

First Year Students

Current First Year Students

If you are a new first-year student, we urge you not to take on too much your first semester. Most students find that college work requires more time and effort than high school courses; you may need a semester or two to acclimate to this new, demanding academic environment. Do, however, be sure to enroll in at least 15 credits.

As you begin to consider the subjects you would like to study during the next two years, do not be overly concerned about declaring a major immediately or transferring to a pre-professional school elsewhere in the University. You are encouraged to select courses that intrigue you, and to investigate areas of study you have not encountered before.

Questions? See your Association Dean in Monroe Hall.

Tips for First-Years

There can be demands inside and out of classes. Keep these things in mind while making choices for the semester:

  • Follow the steps on on course selection and building a schedule
  • Start with 15 credit hours your first semester; you can drop or withdraw from a course to a minimum 12 hours. (If you enroll in a 4-credit course, sign up for 16 credit hours; this will leave you with 12 credits should you need to drop or withdraw from the 4-credit course.)
  • Balance your overall schedule (e.g., leave time to get around between classes)
  • Try to avoid more than three consecutive classes
  • Allow time to eat lunch
  • Keep in mind the location of your classes and consider the amount of time it takes to travel from one class to another
  • Factor in the time for extra-curricular activities, social life or a part-time job.

Key Links for First-Year Students:

Focus on your classes and the adjustment to College!

Second Year Students

Are you a new transfer student preparing for your first semester at UVA? Please visit the “New Transfer Students” tab below.

Every second year student should have a faculty advisor. Check your Student Center in SIS (the Student Information System) to verify the name of your advisor.

Declaring a Major

At the end of the second year/fourth semester, all College students must declare a major. At that time you will be assigned to an advisor in the major department you choose. Note that almost all College majors now have prerequisite courses that you must take before you can declare a major. Plan ahead!

You are facing some important decisions: Major? Minor? Transfer to another U.Va. undergraduate school? Study abroad? Internships, Externships? Successful students formulate and keep an academic plan by being well informed about opportunities and policies in the College, and by being in frequent contact with their advisors and their Association Dean.

Key Links for Second-Years Students:

Advising Resources & Questions

Click here for a useful guide for the second year.

Third Year Students

Are you a new transfer student preparing for your first semester at UVA? Please visit the “New Transfer Students” tab below.

By now you are in a major and may have questions about graduate or professional programs. Contact the University Career Center for pre-professional information. Gather the information necessary for taking the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and/or NTE. If you are considering graduate school, be in regular contact with your major advisor. Be sure you know several faculty members well and, if you have a 3.400 GPA, consider participating in the Distinguished Majors Program.

Key Links for Third-Year Students:

Fourth Year Students

As a fourth-year student you are no doubt thinking about graduationWatch for an email in November with information on how to apply for graduation. Be sure to verify your diploma address in SIS when you apply. Consult the graduation web page which should have answers to many of your questions.

If you plan to attend a professional school or graduate school, contact Arts & Sciences Career Services. Gather the information necessary for taking the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and/or NTE. If you are considering graduate school, be in regular contact with your major advisor. Be sure you know several faculty members well and, if you have a 3.4 GPA, consider participating in the Distinguished Majors Program.

Key Links for Fourth-Year Students:

Prospective Students - Thinking About UVA?

Welcome to the homepages of the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia. Here you will find a wealth of information to help learn more about us. The College is the largest of the University's six undergraduate schools and we offer a diverse assortment of major programs and thousands of courses taught by some of the top Faculty in the world. Some key links for you to inspect, along with the rest of the site include: