r/SDSU Jul 14 '24

Incoming Student & Orientation Tips

31 Upvotes

Hey everyone, there are a ton of questions about Orientations, selecting classes, talking to your Academic Advisor, etc. As such, I'd like to share some tips I've learned helping other students during Orientation. To give you some background, I'm a Geography Major, I'll be graduating this Spring with a BS in Geographic Information Sciences & Technology. I have served as a Geography Undergraduate Representative assisting the Geography Academic Advisor with the new freshmen and transfers Orientations.

Here are my tips so you can go into Orientation fully prepared to register for classes:

  1. Use the Degree Evaluation in my.SDSU. The audit will show completed, in progress, and missing requirements for your declared Major. This is especially useful for Transfers as it will incorporate your completed courses into the degree requirements.
  2. Add classes to your shopping cart. Pick a primary schedule, with multiple backups. Classes are often first first served, so students who go to the earliest Orientations have first choice over those who go to the last ones. For Freshmen, everyone has to take the same general education requirements so you will be fighting pretty quickly with every other major over the most optimal time slots. For transfers, you get to register last so you will need to have multiple backups as you will really need to just grab what you can when you can.
  3. The wait! Orientation will not be particularly entertaining, there will be a TON of information thrown at you quickly from a number of different speakers. You are first split up by college, then later, by major to do advising. Keep in mind, that you won't see your advisor until like 3:00 pm when you can register for classes. Your advising appointment and class registration window are the same thing. All students in your major will be with you and your advisor register at the same time, so the better prepared you are, the sooner you can be done.
  4. Intro to the Major. Some majors have required introduction classes as part of the curriculum. Freshmen will not need to worry about these classes, you are considered "Pre-Major" so focus on your general education and any 100-level major-related courses you can get in. Transfers, as incoming Juniors you are lined up to enter directly as official Major candidates. Even if you need to take a couple of lower division classes to meet some pre-recs you will most likely be required to enroll in this intro class. Again this is on an individual department basis, not all majors have them, and some colleges have ones that cover all majors that don't have their own, so Definitely ask the advisor about this so you don't miss this requirement.
  5. Be Flexible. Your schedule for your first semester at SDSU is problebly going to be a nightmare with classes all over the place, and in wild time slots. It's okay, It happens to everyone, just know it gets better, and you will settle in.
  6. Explore, and Mix it up! Don't focus on taking all your general ed first, then all major courses after, spread out your requirements, and mix up your general ed and Major requirement classes. This will allow you to use different parts of your mind and let you not get overwhelmed. IE: If you're a Science or Tech major, sprinkle in History, Writing, or Rock Climbing. By taking a variety of courses each semester you let your brain relax on one front while you focus on another.
  7. Parking SUCKS. I know it, You know it, Everyone knows it. It gets even worse on days when there are events at CalCoast Amphitheater or at Viejas Arena. Especially at Viejas Arena because PS-12 and PS-7 close at noon on event days which always elicits complaints from staff and students alike. Plan for it, Arrive early and explore the campus to find quiet study spots you can take advantage of later in the semester when you need to cram for a Midterm or Final.
  8. Bring Water to Orientation! Bring a reusable Water Bottle, or buy one at the Bookstore. There are refilling stations all around campus, and you will want to have water with you to stay hydrated as you sit in a lecture hall for several hours.
  9. Start a LinkedIn now and add every other student you meet during Orientation. You never know where these connections will lead, and it will help you start building your professional network now as opposed to 4 years from now when you are getting ready to graduate and look for a job.
  10. GET INVOLVED! As your advisor if there are any academic-related clubs for your major. If there are then JOIN THEM! Clubs are an incredible resource for you to connect with other students, demonstrate leadership, and build a network. Later you can join clubs with students who share interests outside of your major, but on day 1 you should be joining any clubs related to your major that your Academic Advisor knows about.

If you have any other specific questions, I can try to answer them. Understand though, I am not an Academic Advisor, and I don't know the requirements for any other majors. These are just some tips I've picked up in helping other students register during their Orientations and answering their questions.


r/SDSU Jan 09 '25

PSA Financial Aid FAQ

31 Upvotes

Because we have been answering so many questions about it, many of them have been the same. Here are answers to common questions regarding Financial Aid (FA).

Will I get XXX grant or scholarship?

  • We don't know! If you have questions about whether you will receive any particular aid package from federal or state resources, you need to talk to the Financial Aid Office about your situation.

How much FA will I get?

  • Again, we don't know; we can't give you an answer. The FA you get offered depends entirely on your FA needs and the amount of money available from state and federal resources.

When does FA get disbursed?

  • FA is disbursed from the FA office to the Bursar's office approximately 10 days before the start of the semester.

How does FA get applied?

  • FA will be released from the FA Office about 10 days before the semester and sent to the Bursar's office. From there, it will be applied to all outstanding charges on your financial account. If your FA cannot cover the pending tuition and fees, you will be responsible for the remaining balance. If your FA is more than the pending tuition and fees, the excess will be disbursed to you via the method you choose: Direct Deposit or mail-in Check.

When will FA arrive in my account?

  • FA can take 2-3 business days to process when it arrives at the University Bursar's office. If you have set up direct deposit, it may take 1-3 business days to arrive in your account, depending on your bank. If you have not set up direct deposit, the excess will be sent via check. It will be mailed out 5-7 business days after being applied to your account and may take 1-2 weeks to arrive via USPS.

Why is my FA not showing? / Why is XXX grant or scholarship not showing in FA?

  • We don't know! If you have questions about your FA account and why one or more aid packages you expected are not showing, please contact the FA office and schedule an appointment to review your account.

Middle Class Scholarship:

  • It is awarded in the Fall semester after the census. It will be disbursed mid to late fall semester, but the spring portion will be disbursed along with all of your other FA before the start of the semester.

Links for more official information:


r/SDSU 9m ago

Question not pre-registered for classes. what to expect for orientation??

Upvotes

incoming first year btw! so im not pre registered for any classes besides my honors seminar and i have an honors class in my cart. i have literally no other classes on my schedule and i have no idea what to do. my orientation is tomorrow and im kind of freaking out so can someone whos been to orientation give me some insight on how it goes for students who dont have pre registered classes?


r/SDSU 14h ago

Question Changing Unit Requirements

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1 Upvotes

How come none of these classes fulfill the elective requirement? When I last checked my required elective units were at 8 and already earned, but once i checked again it says 13. I had only kept psy 296 because it showed it would fulfill the elective credit


r/SDSU 14h ago

Question SDSU first year parking

1 Upvotes

Hi I was wondering if there was anyway to bring my car first year like apps to rent parking sports or any upperclassman that don't have cars that are willing to add my car to their parking pass thank you.


r/SDSU 15h ago

Housing Lofting Bed

1 Upvotes

This will be my first time dorming and I luckily scored a double! We wanted to see what we could do to make the most of the space and my roommate saw that if you have a double you can still loft your beds for a fee. I've looked everywhere on where exactly to request it but everything just says itll be on the housing portal but there isnt anything besides the housing agreement. Idk if we need to wait to do it later or if its something only for specific people idk but just wanted to see if anyone knew abt this.


r/SDSU 15h ago

Question hard water

1 Upvotes

I’m from WA and recently visited SDSU for my orientation and noticed that San Diego water was much harder and my hair immediately felt different. Truly a sensory nightmare lol. Does anyone have experience with getting a shower filter for the dorms, or is the school filtration good enough to where this won’t be an issue? If so, which would you recommend?

Would really appreciate any advice.


r/SDSU 20h ago

Question study abroad

1 Upvotes

So I'm an incoming freshman at sdsu and my current major is business with an emphasis in management and I really want to study abroad as much as possible. One of the reasons I ended up choosing sdsu is because of how much they hyped up their global programs during admitted day but now I'm a bit confused because I'm hearing different things.

To graduate on time, they reccomend taking 16 credits per semester so I asked the lady at the global education booth and she said yeah that's possible and what people do but then another advisor told me that most people only take around 2 classes while abroad, not a full schedule. So which one is it and if its the second, the. how do people study abroad during the school year and get all their credits done to graduate?

I also want to figure out if it's possible to go my sophmore year and junior year for a term each, but should I be taking gen ed classes abroad or specialized?

Should I just meet with an advisor when school starts? Because the advisor i saw at nso basically told me to slow down but I don't want to miss the opportunity since I want to go asap

Also if anyone has any experience with studying abroad as a business major that would tell about their experience that would be great


r/SDSU 21h ago

Question Is it too late to add guests for orientation

0 Upvotes

Orientation is Thursday for me and i cant add any guests, is it too late, is there someone to contact for this situation?


r/SDSU 1d ago

Question sdsu gap year is it possible to take one and apply as a incoming freshman again after rejected from waitlist?

3 Upvotes

Is this possible? Please share!!


r/SDSU 1d ago

Question gap year then sdsu

3 Upvotes

hi! i was waitlisted than denied from sdsu i applied for an impacted major of general business i maintained a 4.07 gpa in high school with constant As in my classes. Business is not the major I want to pursue i just picked because i was unsure. i want to major in hospitality and tourism management. I want to take a gap year and work to afford sdsu. is there a chance or anyone with experiences with re applying as a freshman. i’m not very sure on the process.


r/SDSU 1d ago

Question Transfer student job advice

4 Upvotes

Hey all, I recently applied for a few on campus jobs, I heard they’re pretty hard to get but wanted to try my luck for the convenience of it. I realized that the applications all wanted me to put my availability in, however since I’m a transfer, I won’t be sure of my class schedule until the end of this month. I just put my current schedule in, even though it’s very likely that won’t be my actual availability. I have an interview with an on campus job tomorrow, however I’m not sure what to say if they ask about my availability. I won’t even be able to work until I move down to San Diego in August. I don’t want this opportunity to slip away, is this something other transfers have had to deal with/have experience with?


r/SDSU 2d ago

Question SolidWorks license expired and don’t know how to get a new one

3 Upvotes

The SolidWorks license i received in ME 190 two years ago has already expired. Im currently taking me 314 over the summer and i need it to for my final project. I thought the professor was supposed to give us another license in this class but i asked him and he just told me to reach out to IT. I sent the IT deparment an email and they never responded. Anyone know what i could do?

P.S Im not in any clubs so getting one through that is not an option


r/SDSU 1d ago

Question Can you leave a ISA position after getting hired?

1 Upvotes

I got an ISA position for fall and I am done with the HR process but now I received a better TA position and I want to do that. Can we leave the ISA position after signing the contract it I mail the recruiter?


r/SDSU 3d ago

Housing Off campus housing options SDSU/UCSD

3 Upvotes

Anyone know of any decent off campus housing between UCSD and SDSU for two people ? Looking for no more than 1.5K each and a pretty even commute both ways for UCSD and SDSU. Anything helps thanks !


r/SDSU 3d ago

Question Removal of Financial Aid Tuition Fee Deferment (help)

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1 Upvotes

After I registered for classes I received this email. Im kind of worried because FAFSA was supposed to cover tuition and even more, so I don’t understand why I’d have to pay out of pocket. I don’t even really know what to ask but I’m just worried and confused on what entirely this means and what I should do. Pls help. ~.~


r/SDSU 4d ago

Question How is accounting 202?

5 Upvotes

Hi, I am going to take acctg 202 in the fall from 4-6:40pm but the course section i chose has no prof for now. I was wondering out of hansen & lehman/chan (both teaching one course) which would u guys choose. What do you guys think of those teachers and of the class in general...is it harder than 201? Should I switch the section I am currently in for Hansen since her classes are way earlier in the day?


r/SDSU 5d ago

School SDSU waitlist decisions

20 Upvotes

So applied from San Diego local high school. Good grades and got on waitlist for engineering. Got told school is full and sorry this week. Wondering why Cal state takes in kids with slightly higher GPA from Idaho or Michigan and doesn’t support Cal students. Isn’t it cal state’s mission to support cal students? Isn’t that what Californians pay taxes for? Same with UCSD.


r/SDSU 5d ago

Housing Thoughts on Hardy Avenue Apartment?

3 Upvotes

It’s right in front of the recreation center and it is super convenient for sdsu students, but for those who lived there or know anyone who lived there, what’s your thought on the apartment? I noticed that the bad reviews on yelp were from 8-12 years ago so I’m trying to figure out how it is in the recent years.


r/SDSU 6d ago

Question Anyone else get a random check for "lost/damaged books"?

6 Upvotes

I graduated a few years ago and just received a check from the school for "Library Lost/Damaged Books."

Why would they be sending me money? I don't recall ever losing a book or paying any library fines during my years there, so just confused!!


r/SDSU 5d ago

Housing looking for a roommate!

2 Upvotes

hii my name is taby and im a transfer looking for a roommate!

i’ve already found a place, i just need someone who’s interested in sharing a room/bath with me <3

my ig is solx.r! (lgbtq friendly!)


r/SDSU 5d ago

General Mabye its different now but don't major in business unless there's a skill involved...

0 Upvotes

I graduated in 1998 with a degree in marketing (BS) and minor in psychology. All I really learned was how to be a better consumer. I didn't learn shit about selling or using data to inform marketing decisions...maybe they teach that stuff now idk. I taught a basic html one day to our class. lol


r/SDSU 6d ago

Housing Room for rent with year long lease

3 Upvotes

Hi, I have a listing for a room in Chula Vista. It’s a three-bedroom house and you’d have your own room with two roommates. I’m providing the link to the listing that goes more in depth with pictures included as well. Feel free to message me via roomies or Reddit for any questions or tours.

https://www.roomies.com/rooms/1007184


r/SDSU 6d ago

Question Handshake vs LinkedIn

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone. As an incoming fall 2026 finance transfer student, I’ve just established my Handshake profile, prepared my resume, shared it on LinkedIn, and taken additional steps. Out of seven Handshake applications, I’ve obtained four interviews, though none originated from LinkedIn. Does this trend appear usual?


r/SDSU 6d ago

Question Parking on SDSU Campus/Taking the Bus?

7 Upvotes

TLDR: 1st time SDSU Grad Student living in North Park area: Do I take the MTS bus or Park on Campus?

Hey there, I'm headed into my first year as a grad student at SDSU and am trying to weigh the costs of transit to SDSU Main Campus. Hoping the reddit-web will have some advice...

Taking my car: I have a car that takes Premium gas and it's about a 15 min drive to/from campus, and it looks like Monthly day-permits are $48/31 days; I believe Fall Semester day-permits will be available at a later date for about $200.

Taking the MTS Bus: Looks like SDSU allows me to get a discounted Monthly Pass for the Bus/Trolley for $39, but transport would take about 35-52 minutes each way...

Questions for you!:

  • Experience parking on campus? Where do these monthly passes allow you to park? Is it easy to find parking? Do you feel like your car/belongings are safe? ie: IS IT WORTH?
  • Experience taking the Bus/Trolley to Campus? -safety (am woman ╭( ๐_๐)╮) -efficiency -are stops on campus safe to wait at for pickup, after late grad classes? ie: IS IT WORTH?

Would love your advice :) Thank you