First-Year Guide

How to prepare for your academic life at Calvin

If you’re a checklist sort of person, follow these steps to prepare for your academic life at Calvin.

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  MAY 1 (JUNE 1 for international students)

  1. Complete the required checklist items on your Applicant Status page to ensure that Calvin has all the information needed for proper course selection during orientation.
  2. Register for new student orientation.
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  BEFORE ORIENTATION

  1. Review Calvin’s catalog to check out core requirements and look for interesting classes to take.
  2. Know your major? Use your program’s website to explore course requirements and other important information.
  3. Check your Calvin Applicant Status page for links to online placement tests for Spanish, French and German.
  4. Ensure that your AP test scores and any transfer credits are sent to Calvin.
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  IN YOUR ADVISING APPOINTMENT

  1. Let your advisor know if you’re interested in a program such as teacher education, engineering or pre-med so you can get into the right courses.
  2. Planning on being involved in music or athletics? Make sure your advisor knows this so your classes don’t get scheduled during practice times.
  3. Want to study abroad? Let your advisor know—some core requirements are met by off-campus programs.
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  IN YOUR FIRST SEMESTER

  1. Learn where resources like academic support (tutoring/coaching, course schedule changes), The Rhetoric Center (paper-writing help), Career Center and the Center for Counseling and Wellness are located.
  2. Make an appointment at the Career Center.

Frequently asked questions

Find answers about planning your academic life at Calvin. If you don’t see an answer to your question here, email advise@calvin.edu or call (616) 526-6155.

What is Academic Advising?

Academic Advising is an important process during which a faculty member guides you through course selection. You will meet with your advisor to discuss requirements for core, your major, balancing your schedule and anything else pertinent to your academic life.

When do I register for classes as an incoming student?

You will be registered for classes by Center for Student Success following your appointment with an academic advisor at PASSPORT orientation. Use your Applicant Status page to register for PASSPORT.

How should I decide which courses to take?

Your PASSPORT advisor is your key resource for your first semester registration. He or she will provide course information and recommendations for your major/program of interest and for Calvin’s core curriculum.

Use Calvin’s course catalog to review core and major requirements. If you don’t yet have a major, consider taking a class in an area that interests you—many students find a major by taking an initial course in that program.

What is an “advisor” and how do I get one?

An advisor is a professor in your academic program who is responsible for assisting you to choose the right classes and stay on track to graduate. You will meet with this person each semester before you are able to register for courses; your advisor will sign off on your registration account once you’ve met to ensure that you can register at the correct time.

Your advisor for PASSPORT orientation is assigned based on your majors/programs of interest as indicated in your enrollment forms. You will be assigned a more permanent advisor before you register for interim and spring classes in the fall semester. Please contact us right away if you change your major so that we can assign you a new advisor.

How do I get into the classes I want?

Make sure to let your advisor know about your majors/programs of interest and planned extracurricular activities. With this information, your advisor will work with the Center For Student Success to create a schedule that meets your needs. Keep in mind that course availability is limited, so you may not be registered for all of the specific courses or course times that you want.

Does attending an earlier orientation session increase my chances of getting into the courses I want?

Attending an earlier PASSPORT session will not increase your chances of being registered for a desired course. Spots are held for those students who attend later sessions so that all students are able to get the classes they need.

What if I don’t like the courses that I am registered for after my orientation session?

If you are concerned that you are accidently repeating a transfer or AP course, that your courses don’t fit your major/program, or if you change your major, contact us right away. Other preferential schedule changes are subject to course availability. Visit the Center for Student Success to talk about making these kinds of changes to your schedule.

Why do I have to take core curriculum classes?

As a student, you will not only receive exceptional training for your specific field, but you will also gain a greater understanding and appreciation for other facets of God’s world. This ties into Calvin’s mission to "equip students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world." When you graduate, you will be truly ready to pursue your career and calling with a combination of broad knowledge and real skills that employers love in new hires. Learn more about the core curriculum.

Which placement tests do I need to take?

The checklist on your Applicant Status page will show which placement tests you need to take before you can be registered for classes. Most of these assessments can be taken online, and should be completed at least 10 days prior to your PASSPORT orientation.

You may need to take placements tests for:

• Foreign language placement: An online test is available for students who plan to take French, German or Spanish so that your advisor can place you in the correct course level at Calvin. If you plan to take a different language, no placement test is needed.
• Music theory: Required for music majors and minors.
• Calculus: Required only for certain majors such as engineering or science.
• Math and English: If you were granted conditional admission to Calvin, you may need to take one of these placement tests.

Learn more about placement tests.

What if I’m undecided about my major and/or career?

Don’t be discouraged—many first- and second-year students haven’t decided on a major. At Calvin, we see learning as a journey and process. You’ll have plenty of opportunities through core curriculum courses, academic clubs and activities and internships to explore different fields.

In your first semester, try to take core courses in a few areas that interest you. These courses will help you decide if a specific field is for you. Talk with your professors about potential career options related to their fields. Calvin’s Career Center is another excellent resource that is open to all students. Career counselors there can help you talk through options, connect you to internships and administer strengths tests.

How can I fit all my course requirements and still graduate within four years?

Before PASSPORT orientation, read about core requirements and your major/program requirements in the Calvin Course Catalog. Once you come to PASSPORT, you can access your Academic Evaluation Report (AER) through your Calvin Portal account. This document will serve as your guide when mapping out your core requirements and major/program requirements. With the help of your advisor, you can map out an effective course plan that will guide you through graduation.

It is imperative that you meet with your advisor, keep track of your program requirements and check your AER frequently to graduate in four years.

I have AP or transfer credits. How do I make sure I don’t get registered for courses I’ve already taken?

Please review Calvin’s Advanced Placement policy and familiarize yourself with what course credits may be granted for the AP test that you took. If, when you took your AP test, you requested Calvin as a receiving institution, we will automatically receive your scores. If you did not list Calvin, order your results from College Board at 1-888-CALL-4-AP, Calvin: 1095.

If you took dual-enrollment courses at a college other than Calvin, you will need to request an official transcript from the college of record. Calvin will not grant college course credit based on your high school transcript report. Learn more about transferring credits to Calvin.

What is Academic Advising?

Academic Advising occurs for two days each semester; once in November during the fall semester and once in April during the spring semester. During this time, it is your responsibility to make an appointment to meet with your advisor to discuss your academic plans for the following semester and for the future. After this advisor meeting, you can sign up for classes during your designated registration time.

What are my responsibilities during Academic Advising?

After your academic advising appointment, you will have the following responsibilities during each semester:

• Make an appointment to meet with your advisor at least once each semester.
• Be familiar with the core requirements and the current catalog.
• Bring a proposed schedule to your advising appointment with courses needed and desired.
• Bring a list of questions with you to each of your appointments.
• Ask about resources available on and off campus related to your career goals.
• Register for classes once you have met with your advisor and your advisor has cleared you for registering.

Sample schedules for first-year students

The following schedules are intended to give you an idea of the kinds of courses you might be registered for in your fall semester. Your actual schedule may look quite different, depending on your major or program of interest, involvement in things like music or athletic practices, and/or exemptions from certain courses.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE #1 - UNDECIDED STUDENT

SAMPLE SCHEDULE #2 - PRE-MEDICINE

SAMPLE SCHEDULE #3 - ENGINEERING

SAMPLE SCHEDULE #4 - SPEECH PATHOLOGY

SAMPLE SCHEDULE #5 - PRE-NURSING

SAMPLE SCHEDULE #6 - ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

SAMPLE SCHEDULE #7 - OTHER SCIENCE MAJOR: BIOLOGY (B.S.)

SAMPLE SCHEDULE #8 - OTHER MAJOR: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION