Graduation 101: All that's left to do

As a senior looking to graduate this spring, I live in constant fear. I’m mostly afraid of what the heck I’m going to do with my life, but running close behind is the apprehension of making sure I’ve taken all the right classes and turned in the last-minute paperwork necessary for me to get my degree.

Until recently, I’ve taken the “ignorance is bliss” approach to my graduation; I was fearing that in my investigation to make sure I’ve tied up all loose ends, I’ll actually find that I have to be here another quarter. That would definitely ruin my senior year. But after realizing the utter stupidity of this approach, I decided to talk to some knowledgeable people around campus to find out for certain if I actually will get to walk in June.

Here’s a general checklist of what I found all seniors must complete before graduating, starting with the easy stuff and moving toward the obscure:

Get your units

All students must take at least 60 units of upper division coursework before they can graduate. Transfer students must take a minimum of three general education courses at Cal Poly.

Fulfill your General Writing Requirement

After students complete 90 units, they can fulfill this requirement in two ways. The easiest is probably to take a GWR-certified English or literature course, which are listed in the “Cal Poly Almost Alumni Handbook” at www.almostalumni.calpoly.edu. Students need to pass this course with a C or better and also pass a 500-word, in-class essay.

Another option is to wake up early on a Saturday and take the Writing Proficiency Exam, a 500-word essay that must be completed in two hours. Dates of the test, which costs $25, are listed online on the Cal Poly Web site on the Student Planning Calendar under the “Class Schedule” heading.

Schedule a Student Loan Exit Interview

This mandatory meeting informs students who have taken out student loans of how to pay back their lenders and of their rights as a borrower. The interview helps students lay out their options, such as possibly consolidating their loans or deferring them if they are going to graduate school.

Financial Aid director Lois Kelly said the more responsibility students show in paying back their loans, the better credit they will establish.

“Loans will follow students long after graduation,” she said, “whether they’re in the financial marketplace or looking to buy a home or secure other types of credit.”

Students can schedule Exit Interviews at the Financial Aid Office.

Fill out a Request for Graduation Evaluation

Here’s where it gets a little tricky. This form, which informs students whether they’re on track to graduate on time, needs to be turned in one year prior to graduation. Due to understaffing in the Evaluations Department, Request for Graduation Evaluations actually take several quarters to be returned to students. Getting them back before graduation allows students to make last minute adjustments to their schedule if needed.

But if you’re like me and waited until this winter to turn in the form, don’t sweat; it will still be accepted. You most likely won’t be able to see it before you walk, which heightens the risk of you forgetting to take a required class, but it still serves its purpose in notifying the university that you intend to graduate.

Request for Graduation Evaluations can be picked up at Academic Records, located in the Administration building in room 222, or in the Almost Alumni Handbook online.

Complete a United States Cultural course
This is a requirement I hadn’t even heard of until the end of last quarter. And to my horror, it was also one I found I hadn’t fulfilled when I called the Evaluations office. I was luckily able to sneak into a USCP-certified class, although it threw a huge wrench into my epic schedule.

Some majors are better than others in incorporating these classes into their coursework. Students can check online for classes that fulfill this requirement by typing “USCP” in the general search at the Cal Poly Web site or by logging onto PASS.

Take a deep breath
Even if you aren’t able to graduate on time, you probably still have options. Most likely, you’ll be able to walk with your class, although you won’t be able to receive a degree until you turn in the right paperwork and/or make up missing classes.

Talking with some advisers at Cal Poly definitely helped put my mind at ease. It looks like I’m on track to graduate on time, but even if I’m not, it’s nice to know there are experienced people looking out for me.

“I’m always concerned when there’s a student who hasn’t completed necessary paperwork,” said Dawn Sirois, who has been an academic adviser for the College of Engineering for 11 years. “We always do everything we can to make sure students get teh correct information. We’ll walk things to certain offices if we need to facilitate something quickly.”