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Admitted Student Checklist

The best place to follow the Admitted Student Checklist is on your New Student Portal. It'll keep track of where you are and what you still have to complete. 

To give you an idea of what to expect, we've provided a general checklist below:

  1. Find your Calvin username in your “congratulations” email or on the bookmark in your admitted student packet. Need help? Contact admissions@calvin.edu and we can help you learn your username.
  2. Login to the Calvin system (calvin.edu/go/new-student-portal) and choose “Activate my account” from the options below the username.
  3. Follow the directions on the next screen to create a passphrase and claim your account.
  4. Use your Calvin username and new passphrase to login to systems as you prepare for enrollment at Calvin University.

  1. Login with your Calvin username and passphrase.
  2. Click the link that says “view your next steps” to let us know how you’re feeling about attending Calvin (answering this question will open next step items for you to complete).

  1. Complete the community contract form, found on your New Student Portal
  2. This must be completed (along with your enrollment deposit) before you can proceed to orientation and housing registration.

New Student Portal

To confirm your place in the incoming class, please pay your enrollment deposit by or before the due date:

  • May 1 and ongoing: U.S. citizens ($300)
  • June 1: International students ($2,500) and Canadians ($300)     

    NOTE: If you are an international student you must verify your finances with your admissions counselor before placing the deposit. Check your emails for their instructions for you.

Your enrollment deposit must be paid before you can access orientation and housing applications along with other important requirements.

Go to your New Student Portal to view current financial aid awards and to upload any requested financial aid documents.

Official financial aid award letters are posted in mid- to late-February. 

Look for an email in your inbox, and a letter in the mail!

International students will need to work with their admissions counselor to clear the financial verification process, receive their form I-20, and then schedule their visa appointment.

After verification is confirmed, international students must confirm their enrollment by paying their enrollment deposit before receiving their I-20 and beginning the student visa application process. Students will receive full instructions on applying for a visa after depositing.

International students are required to attend International Welcome program, followed by Welcome Week. 

Information for everything will be sent to you, or contact your admissions counselor.

Living on campus helps you build new friendships and find opportunities to lead. We encourage all new students to live on campus; please review Calvin's residency requirement.

To Do

  • All incoming students must declare their housing intentions (on-campus or commuter).
  • A link to the housing application is found on your New Student Portal checklist.
    Going "potluck"? The residence life team has an amazing record for producing successful roommate pairs based off the information you provide. 
    If you’ve already chosen a roommate—maybe you found one at Admitted Student Day, at Summer Orientation, or even connected on the admitted student Instagram group—you'll be able to create a "roommate group" with that person once your application is complete. But don't stress about this. You don't need to find a roommate—many students don't. 

Residence Halls

  • Summer Orientation is required for all incoming students. Register through your New Student Portal. You must attend either on-campus or online orientation.

On-campus orientation

Online Orientation: Students (who live beyond 250 miles from campus) have many options to complete online orientation in two-hour sessions starting in June. These are exclusively for students. We encourage parents/guardians to attend family programming during Fall Welcome and watch for emails sent from various offices with helpful information.

  • Check your New Student Portal to see if you are also scheduled for additional programming (IMPACT, International, Transfer, Fall Athlete).
  • More options! Wilderness Trips (think outdoor adventure) help you build community right away. All skill levels are invited!

  • Health forms:
    All new students must complete certain forms and health requirements to ensure that you—and our campus—stay healthy!

    NOTE: Health forms may take several days to be processed by our health services team, so the incomplete “X” might remain even after a student has filled them out. This requirement will also remain incomplete if health services is waiting on items to be sent from a student’s primary care physician (such as immunization records).

    How do I do this? The link to complete this process is found on the New Student Portal checklist.

  • Other documents:
    • Photography release waiver
    • Service-learning waiver
    • Accommodation request form

You will need to complete your Course Registration Form by the end of June so our summer navigator team can build your schedule. 

Watch for messages from your summer navigator who will be your expert guide throughout summer!

Transfer students: 

The registrar’s office will set up your major and post your transfer credit

  1. The registrar’s office will pre-register a preliminary course schedule for you based on
    • Your indicated major
    • Your remaining course requirements
    • If you change your major, you should contact the registrar’s office as soon as possible
  2. The registrar’s office will confirm your registration
  3. At orientation, you will meet with a faculty advisor and confirm your schedule. You may request preferential schedule changes at this time.

See Move-In instructions for new students.

This is the final event for your start at Calvin! 

All students (both on-campus and commuters) kick off the new academic year with Welcome Week activities that lead into the first day of classes.