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. Call Academic Projects at (562) 985-4546 for information regarding the Graduate Student Orientation Program.
You will first read about SOAR via the CSULB Welcome Kit. The next communication you will receive about this required workshop is the SOAR Information Mailer, which will be mailed to all newly-admitted, undergraduate students beginning March 2010.
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!
Sign up for SOAR by logging into MyCSULB and selecting on the SOAR Sign-Up link found under MyMenu. (Note: You must submit your Admitted Student Reply Form and CSULB Enrollment Deposit prior to signing up for and attending SOAR.)
You may sign up for SOAR beginning mid April. It will continue throughout the spring and summer until Monday, July 19, 2010.
There is a required workshop registration fee for the One-Day Freshman and Transfer workshops - fee is TBA. The Two-Day, Overnight Freshman Program fee is also TBA.
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 mailers 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 signed up for SOAR and do not receive these documents three business days prior to your workshop date, please contact us at (562) 985-5515.
No, final transcripts are not required to attend SOAR. Transfer students are instructed via their SOAR Confirmation Mailer 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 SignUp 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 May 2010 deadline. This allows ample time for the exams to be processed and results forwarded to CSULB. The CSULB Welcome Kit Letter 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 your CSULB Admission Letter, SOAR Confirmation Letter, 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 Mailer for a complete list of what to bring. We encourage you to wear comfortable shoes for the walking tour.
It 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). Please refer to your SOAR Confirmation Mailer for complete details.
You will need to park in the student lot designated for SOAR participants. Please refer to your SOAR Confirmation Mailer 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 as soon as possible but no later than 30 days after you register for your Fall 2010 classes or before Wednesday, August 25, 2010 – whichever date comes first. If you register on or after Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 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 MyCSULB, in person at the Cashier’s Office located in Brotman Hall 148, or at Parking and Transportation Services located on Merriam Way next to the parking structure.
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 (UOSR) provides opportunities to work on behalf of CSULB as a campus tour guide, outreach specialist, and publication editor.
First day of classes is Monday, August 30, 2010. Visit the Fall 2010 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!
