transferprep

Preparing for your Academic Advisement Appointment

A Guide for New Transfer Students

Welcome to the University at Albany student body. We look forward to meeting you at the University at Albany’s Transfer Planning Conference.

One of the most important activities of the day will be your appointment with your academic advisor, when you will discuss your academic plan and register for your courses. In order for you to be prepared to take advantage of the time you have with your academic advisor, please complete the steps outlined below before you arrive.

Most of the necessary preparation can be completed using online resources. If you have limited access to online resources, please contact us and we will mail printed materials. (Copies of these printed materials will be provided to all students at the Planning Conference.).

This preparation is very important. You should plan to spend about one hour on this effort before the planning conference.

Please use the email address below if you have any questions or problems that arise before the planning conference.

See you on campus!

Advisement Services Center

University at Albany

Albany, NY 12222

518-442-3960

Instructions for New Transfer Students

Preparing for your Academic Advisement Appointment

In order to be well prepared to discuss your academic plans with your advisor during the planning conference, you must complete the following steps. If you have questions or problems as you prepare, you may contact the Advisement Services Center or bring your questions to the Planning Conference.

In addition to the web links provided below, you may find additional useful information at the Advisement Services Center website.

Step 1 Inform yourself about the academic requirements of your major (or intended major).

Go to the Undergraduate Bulletin

Locate information about your major: This information appears under the School or College that offers the major (e.g. College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, etc.) If you are unsure of the school or college for your major, consult the listing

Look specifically at course requirements, course descriptions and the appropriate sequence of courses (pay attention to pre-requisites) and number of credits required. Several majors have specific course requirements for admission to that major. Until you complete these required courses you are considered an "intended major."

We strongly recommend that students with 42 credits or more declare a major or identify an intended major. If you are not yet sure of your major, click here for advice on things to consider as you choose your major.

Step 2 Identify a possible minor

Most UAlbany students must complete a minor. In choosing a minor, consider fields that would complement your major, represent a second interest area, or fields in which you have earned some credit at your previous institution.

Review the list of approved minors, which appears in the Bulletin

Step 3 Understand how your previous coursework fits your new program requirements

First, review your Degree Audit: Your Degree Audit is mailed to you by the Admissions Office. Your degree audit is your ‘road map’ – telling you how your previous college coursework fits into UAlbany requirements for your major, minor and General Education..

The Degree Audit features a system of plus and minus signs that indicate whether a requirement is completed (+) or not (-). Look for the minus signs, particularly for the following:

GENERAL EDUCATION requirements.

MAJOR requirements to ensure that you understand what courses you still need to finish your program.

Each semester, you will be able to access an updated copy of your degree audit through MyUAlbany (more information below). You should consult your degree audit before you enroll each semester.

Also, be sure to review your transfer credit ‘evaluation’: You should also have received a Transfer Credit Evaluation with your degree audit. Please review it and be sure that ALL your previous college coursework is accounted for. If not, bring any additional information with you to your meeting with your advisor.

Step 4 Begin planning your preliminary schedule for Fall 2004

You should come to your advisement appointment with a preliminary plan for the classes (and sections) you would like to take. Most majors offer flexibility in the sequence of courses. Students majoring in Business and the natural sciences may wish to wait until their advisement appointment to choose courses in the major.

In order to plan this schedule:

Review the Schedule of Classes to look for courses that your degree audit tells you that you need.

Choose one or two courses in major or intended major.

Choose one or two courses in minor or intended minor.

Choose courses to complete any remaining General Education requirements.

Choose electives, if necessary to fill your schedule. Remember that you need at least 120 credits to graduate. Some courses will count as electives.

Choose several back-up courses in case some of your first choice courses fill up.

You will be able to register for courses only after you discuss your choices with your advisor and receive your Advisement Verification Number (AVN).

Two important notes on planning a schedule:

Some departments reserve seats in required classes for new transfer students. A limited number of seats are also reserved in general education and minor courses. The online schedule search may not show 'seats remaining' in these classes because they are not made available until you arrive on campus. Therefore, you should plan your schedule around courses that have 'seats remaining', but rest assured that seats in select courses may become available to you when you meet with your advisor.

A note on the upper-level writing requirement: Look for a 300-level course with a Z in the course number. Most students complete this requirement in their major or minor.

Step 5 Activate your MyUAlbany Account

UAlbany students enroll in classes online through a portal called MyUAlbany. In order to use MyUAlbany you must activate your account and obtain your NetID.

You should have received a Personal Identification Number or PIN in the mail. If you have not received your PIN you may obtain it by calling (518) 442-3700 (Option 1) during regular business hours and providing certain information that will allow the operator to verify your identity. Please note a PIN is generated for you after you have submitted your admission deposit or have signed up for Orientation

Once you have your PIN, initiate your account as outlined below.

STEP #1: INITIALIZING YOUR MYUALBANY ACCOUNT

Go to http://www.albany.edu/myualbany.

Click on PASSWORD SET/RESET.

Click on MYUALBANY.

Supply the required information (Albany ID or Social Security Number and your PIN). You will be asked to select a MyUAlbany password and to type it twice. Your Net ID will be displayed for you after you have successfully initialized your account.

STEP #2: LOGGING ON TO MyUAlbany

Using your Internet browser, go to http://www.albany.edu/myualbany.

Click LOG ON. Enter your Net ID and MyUAlbany password and click LOG ON.

Directions for using MyUAlbany are available at:

http://www.albany.edu/myualbany/howto_brochure.html

Some Important Reminders:

You can register for courses only after you discuss your choices with your advisor and receive your Advisement Verification Number (AVN).

Bring all of materials you have received, your proposed courses, and your questions to the Planning Conference.

If you have coursework in progress at your current college, you must request a FINAL TRANSCIPT be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions so your final grades can be recorded and your transfer credit evaluation can be completed. You will be unable to register for additional semesters at UAlbany unless we receive your final transcript.

Advisement Services Center

LI 36

University at Albany

Albany, NY 12222

Contact us at advisor@albany.edu

518-442-3960