Ryan ChartrandYour days may be swamped with homework and other activities, but don’t lose sight of the ultimate goal: graduation. If you don’t keep track of your coursework and other requirements, you may end up with a rejected graduation evaluation and angry parents with useless hotel reservations.
According to Wendy Spradlin, College of Liberal Arts academic adviser, one (often overlooked) detail is requesting a graduation evaluation four quarters prior to one’s planned graduation.
“If (students) do submit a request four quarters in advance, the university tries to get that evaluation back to them in two quarters so that they will still have two registration cycles to complete any overlooked requirements,” she said.
She also said many students do not pay close enough attention to their exact degree requirements.
“Moreover, students should really understand every aspect of the curriculum sheet and know for themselves how they have met/are meeting the requirements,” she said. “It’s just one sheet of paper!”
Read through this checklist to make sure you are on the right track to graduation. It might be a little late for students graduating this year, but pay attention if you plan to graduate in the future, especially spring 2009.
To complete anytime during your college career:
Visit a counselor! It can be hard to do this sometimes, and maybe your college doesn’t have the best or most diligent counselors, but try to meet with the most informed person you can. Ensure that you are on the right track and that you are taking courses in the right order. Maybe create a graduation plan with a counselor. Try to visit counselors before registration periods, and consider making long-term plans to work with them. Counselors can teach you tricks that can save you lots of extra time, money and pain.
Don’t forget to complete all aspects of your flowchart: general education (GE) courses, free electives (if any), major/core courses and anything else.
Take a United States Cultural Pluralism (USCP) course. This is intended to increase one’s knowledge of cultural, racial and gender issues in U.S. society.
Remember your catalog; this can determine how many units you need to graduate, what courses you need to take to graduate, how courses may be substituted, etc.
Update your address on MyCalPoly so materials regarding graduation and other information can reach you.
Declare a minor or concentration if you plan on having one and finish the required coursework.
Make sure you have a minimum GPA of 2.0 (for your major and higher-education GPA).
Talk to people in your major who are nearing graduation; they probably know the program better!
Third year
Six quarters prior to graduation:
Meet with an academic adviser to plan the rest of your college career.
Pass the GWR anytime after completing 90 units and GE Areas A and C1.
Apply for internships, co-ops, fellowships and other programs. Visit the Career Services Center for more information.
If you are considering a health or veterinary career: Make an appointment with a health professions adviser; begin asking for letters of recommendation; start studying for entrance exams.
Five quarters prior to graduation:
If you are considering a health or veterinary career: Schedule an interview with the campus Health Professions Committee; complete your personal statement; schedule entrance exams.
If you plan to attend graduate or professional school: Meet with an adviser or Career Services; start working on your personal statement; schedule entrance exams.
Research the requirements for senior projects and begin thinking about possible topics or issues for a project.
Four quarters prior to graduation:
Complete a Graduation Evaluation Request Form and submit it to the Academic Records Office (Administration Building room 222) or in the Records dropbox. You will need to attach certain forms and documents, including adviser-approved electives, emphasis/minor statement, and any other applicable papers indicated on the graduation evaluation form. It must be returned to you approved before you can graduate. Expect to get it back two quarters before your planned graduation if you completed it on time. Also, remember that you can’t take any courses after the date you specify for planned graduation, so take everything you want and need to beforehand!
If you are considering a health or veterinary career, finish your professional or graduate school application.
If you plan to attend professional or graduate school, begin researching potential schools.
Fourth/Final year
Three quarters prior to graduation:
Review your graduation plan and ensure with an adviser that you are still on the right track.
Begin your senior project. The required number of units to take before you can work on your senior project varies by major. Try to finish it at least a quarter before you plan to graduate. That way, if you encounter problems, you don’t have to fix them during an additional quarter.
If you want to attend graduate or professional school: Begin asking for letters of recommendation; apply to schools; take the Graduate Records Exam (GRE).
If you want to begin a career right after graduation: Visit Career Services; complete and submit a résumé; research potential employers, desired salaries, and industry trends; and begin interviews.
Make sure your family has hotel reservations and other accommodations for the weekend of your planned graduation.
Two quarters prior to graduation:
Make sure Evaluations has returned your graduation evaluation.
Visit an academic counselor to ensure you are still on track.
If you want to begin a career right after graduation, update your résumé and cover letter, and continue attending interviews, job fairs, etc.
If you are considering a health or veterinary career, continue attending interviews and repeating the application process.
If you want to attend graduate or professional school, schedule a mock interview with a career counselor, and continue the application process.
Final quarter before graduation:
Make sure your senior project is complete.
Ensure all necessary paperwork is approved and submitted to Evaluations.
If applicable, begin the student loan exit interview process through Student Accounts.
Visit the bookstore to purchase a Grad Pack, diploma frames, class rings and announcements first (October for fall graduation, April for spring graduation) and your cap, gown and tassel later (November for fall graduation, May for spring graduation).
Ensure that you don’t have any holds, and that you’ve paid any required or designated fees.
Order an official transcript from the Academic Records Office in the administration building to be sent after your planned date of graduation. This will ensure that your degree has actually been awarded.
If you want to receive school updates after graduation, and you have a privacy flag (FERPA) on your record, update your record.
Sign up for any alumni memberships and e-mail forwarding through the Alumni Association.