SOAR stands for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration. It is the University’s comprehensive orientation program intended to ensure the smooth transition of first-time freshmen and transfer students to California State University, Long Beach.
All newly admitted freshmen and transfer students are required to attend a SOAR workshop for orientation, advising & registration before their first semester with CSULB. Some majors or programs may also sponsor a mandatory orientation for new students. Read all CSULB mailers carefully and adhere to department/major regulations as your attendance at SOAR is a separate university requirement.
Newly admitted undergraduate freshmen and transfer students are eligible to attend SOAR. Graduate and post-baccalaureate students are neither required nor eligible to attend SOAR.
You will first read about SOAR via your CSULB Admission email. The next communication you will receive about this required workshop is the SOAR Information email, which will be sent to all newly-admitted, undergraduate students beginning in February.
MyCSULB is a self-service, on-line account that all CSULB students can access. You can view your personal information (e.g.: e-mail address, phone number, address), academic record (e.g.: test scores & grades), finances (e.g.: outstanding balances) and much, much more! You also use your MyCSULB to register for your courses!
Reserve your space at SOAR by logging into your MyCSULB account and clicking on the Student Center link located in the upper left-hand corner. At the bottom of the new page you'll find the SOAR link. (Note: You must submit your Admitted Student Reply Form and CSULB Enrollment Deposit prior to making a SOAR reservation and attending your required workshop.)
You can make your SOAR workshop reservation beginning Monday, April 8. The deadline to make your reservation is Wednesday, July 17.
There is a required workshop registration fee for the One-Day Freshman and Transfer workshops - the fee is $62 for each workshop. There is a $130 fee for the Two-Day, Overnight Freshman Program.
The fee covers all services and materials provided during the workshop. Items provided include SOAR Student Handbook, SOAR & CSULB publications, CSULB E-mail Account, a SOAR lunch, and a parking permit.
Unfortunately, no.
Unfortunately, no.
Confirmation emails are generated by Enrollment Services on a regular basis. You should receive it approximately one week prior to your reserved SOAR workshop. If you have reserved your workshop space and do not receive this email three (3) business days prior to your workshop date, please contact SOAR at (562) 985-5515.
No, final transcripts are not required to attend SOAR. Transfer students are instructed via their SOAR Confirmation email to bring an unofficial copy of their transcripts (and grade cards, if any) to their workshop to assist with course placement. All students (freshmen and transfers) are notified of the final transcript deadline by the University.
The SOAR fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
SOAR workshops are for registered student participants only - SOAR cannot accommodate guests in workshop classrooms. The University Center for Undergraduate Advising (UCUA) sponsors the Parent Orientation Program (POP) that is designed for parents, guardian, and/or other family members and is only offered during summer. For further information and summer dates, please visit the Parent Orientation Program web site.
SOAR students will receive an orientation to campus through an interactive campus tour, academic advising, as well as information regarding University requirements and policies. They will also register for classes and receive a print-out of their class schedule. We also hope that throughout the day they will connect with other new students and make new friends.
Visit Colleges & Majors to view a listing of all undergraduate majors.
You will need to be certain of the SOAR workshop you pick during the online SOAR workshop reservation process. The system will not allow you to change dates once you select the Confirm SignUp button. If you are unable to attend your reserved SOAR workshop due to extenuating circumstances, please contact the STARS/SOAR office at (562) 985-5515 for assistance.
Yes, CSULB policy and requirements change from year to year. You will need to sign-up and attend again to fulfill the University's requirement of orientation and academic advising like any new CSULB admit.
Students should complete any required placement exams by the Spring 2013 deadline. This allows ample time for the exams to be processed and results forwarded to CSULB. Your CSULB Admission Email explains if you are required to complete the English Placement Test (EPT) and/or Entry Level Math (ELM) and their respective deadlines. These exams are used to help advisors place you into appropriate academic courses. Your admission to CSULB will be rescinded if you do not complete these exams by the deadline.
You should bring a copy of your CSULB Admission Letter, SOAR Confirmation Email, photo ID card, documents verifying college credit (unofficial transcripts and AP/IB exam results) and placement results (EPT, ELM, EAP scores). Refer to the back of your SOAR Confirmation Email for a complete list of what to bring. We encourage you to wear comfortable shoes for the walking tour. You may also visit the SOAR web page Preparing for SOAR that includes additional helpful information as you prepare to attend your orientation workshop.
The One-Day Workshop is a day-long program that begins at 8:00 a.m. (check-in outside Brotman Hall) and concludes at approximately 5:00 p.m. (various locations throughout campus). The Two-Day, Overnight Program follows a different time line. Please refer to your SOAR Confirmation email for complete details.
You will need to park in the student lot designated for SOAR participants. Please refer to your SOAR Confirmation email for the appropriate parking lot during your workshop.
Students in need of special accommodations due to a disability should contact Disabled Student Services (DSS) at (562) 985-5401 at least two weeks prior to your scheduled workshop.
No. We can only accommodate and assist those who we are expecting for the day. Space is limited. If you need to reschedule your workshop date, please contact us at (562) 985-5515.
Course fees should be paid within 30 days of registering for your Fall 2013 classes or by Wednesday, August 14 – whichever date comes first. If you register on or after Wednesday, August 14, 2013, payment is due the same day of registration or a hold will be placed on your account the following day. Failure to pay your fees, by the payment due date, will result in cancellation of your class schedule unless you have a fee deferment in anticipation of a financial aid award.
After registering for your classes at SOAR, you will have the opportunity to visit the ID Card Services Office to have your photo taken and receive your CSULB ID Card. Be sure to bring your driver’s license or other photo ID to obtain your CSULB ID.
Non-transferable student permits can be purchased on-line via CSULB Online Parking Services.
The City of Long Beach offers a variety of housing options from apartments, condos, room, and houses. CSULB’s Housing and Residential Life maintains a computerized database that allows students to search for housing vacancies based on the type of housing (apartment, condo, single room, etc.) and location.
There are many on-campus and off-campus job opportunities for CSULB students. BeachLINK provides students with the ability to search and apply for full-time and part-time jobs, internships and on-campus interview opportunities. The University Student Union (USU) offers on-campus paid, work study, and volunteer employment opportunities. University Outreach and School Relations provides opportunities to work on behalf of CSULB as a campus tour guide, outreach specialist, and publication editor - call (562) 985-5358 to inquire.
First day of classes is Monday, August 26, 2013. Visit the Academic Calendar for more details.
You may contact SOAR at (562) 985-5515. Please have your CSULB campus ID number ready when you call – we look forward to working with you!
