Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) is a comprehensive orientation workshop to help newly admitted students transition – both academically and socially – to California State University, Long Beach. All new undergraduate students are required to attend SOAR before registering for classes. You must be formally admitted to CSULB and have satisfied the CSULB Enrollment Deposit in order to sign up and attend SOAR.
Note: Newly admitted 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.
SOAR offers new students an opportunity to register for their courses and to be introduced to the many resources and services available at CSULB. Students participate in an interactive tour that helps them become more familiar with the campus, learn about opportunities to enhance their college experience and successfully navigate through their first semester at The Beach. SOAR advisors, who are current CSULB students, lead academic advising workshops that introduce University policies, procedures and requirements. They also present information on general education and major requirements, and assist students with the selection of classes and registration process. During SOAR students receive a SOAR Student Handbook and CSULB e-mail account, in addition to CSULB publications, announcements and vouchers.
Most transfer students will participate in a college-specific workshop where they will meet with faculty advisors from their declared major department. They also receive information on the topics of department-sponsored support resources, scholarships, internships/field work, and out-of-classroom requirements. View SOAR Information for Transfers.
Freshmen must participate in one type of SOAR workshop: Either a One-Day Workshop or a Two-Day, Overnight Program. One-Day Freshman Workshops (offered to Fall and Spring Admits) jump right into the essential components of SOAR – campus tour, academic advising, and assistance with class selection and registration. Offered in the summer for Fall Admits only, The Two-Day, Overnight Program enables students to experience the residence halls and establish new friendships with other incoming freshmen. During the first day of this program, educational and social activities introduce freshmen to college life/issues and the CSULB campus. The second day is dedicated to academic advising, class selection and assistance with the registration process. View SOAR Information for Freshman.
As our Guest Attendance Policy states, SOAR workshops are for registered student participants only. We cannot accommodate guests in workshops.
Visit CSULB’s Getting Here & Getting Home for directions and links to airports, trains and buses.
