VCU Orientation

Help your advisor get to know more about you, your educational goals and your academic background by completing this survey.

• The survey will confirm your major, allow you to request a change of major (if desired), ask questions about your incoming transfer credits, and learn more about your course preferences.

Click to Access Survey

To prepare for your advising appointment:

• Review your transfer credits on DegreeWorks
• Take a look at your Major Map, which has links to a suggested plan of study
• Make a list of what classes you think you want to take
• See what courses are available on the Schedule of Classes
• Watch this video to learn how to register for classes at VCU
• Register for some or all of your classes
• Bring your proposed schedule and any questions to your advising appointment

Note: When you log into DegreeWorks, you’ll see a listing of the transferable courses with final grades on the official transcripts that VCU has received. Make sure to send your final official transcripts to VCU Office of Admissions so classes you’ve recently completed can be transferred to VCU. Missing prerequisites may impact registration.

As a transfer student, you are required to take the math placement test only if you have not completed a math course within three years or if your math transfer credit is not at least equivalent to MATH-141 Algebra with Applications (college algebra) at VCU.

In addition, students whose majors only require MATH 131 Introduction to Contemporary Math, do not need to take the math placement test. 

Students with majors that require higher level mathematics courses (MATH 141 or higher) will need to take the math placement test if:

• they did not submit SAT or ACT scores to VCU as part of their application (which are translated into a VCU math placement score), or
• they will not be transferring math credits to VCU via to AP, IB, dual-enrollment or other college level credits, or 
• their translated SAT or ACT test scores or transfer credits do not satisfy the prerequisite for enrollment in their desired math class.

Please visit the VCU Math Placement website for more information and to access the math placement test.

SAT / ACT Math Scores and VCU Math Placement equivalents

The chemistry placement test is an online test used to place students into an appropriate general chemistry course based on their background knowledge. All students planning on registering for CHEM 101 General Chemistry I are required to take the test. 

Majors that commonly require CHEM 101 include: engineering, biology, chemistry, forensic science, bioinformatics, environmental studies, interdisciplinary science, and many of the pre-professional health programs (pre-med, pre-pharmacy, etc.) This includes first-year students who have taken AP Chemistry. The Chemistry Placement Test is a prerequisite for CHEM 101.

Those earning a passing score on the test will be eligible to register for CHEM 101. Those not earning a passing score have two options:

1. Complete the ALEKS online unit. After successfully completing one of these options students are eligible to register for CHEM 101. ALEKS must be completed by no later than July 31 (for fall semester) or Jan. 10 (for spring semester).
2. Enroll in CHEM 100 – Introductory Chemistry and earn a B or better.

Please visit the VCU Chemistry Placement website for more information and to access the chemistry placement test.

Students who plan to study a language at VCU must take the language placement test to determine the appropriate beginning language class (unless they want to begin in the entry level course).  Only students with transfer credit from other educational institutions are eligible to enroll in the next course within their language sequence without completing the foreign language placement test. The foreign language placement test must be taken online before the first week of classes

Students who have completed level three of a foreign language at an accredited U.S. public or private high school have fulfilled the Humanities and Sciences foreign language requirement through the 102 level. Learn more on the College of Humanities and Sciences high school foreign language waiver webpage.

Learn more about and sign up for foreign language placement testing.

You can register yourself for classes as early as May 1 for students accepted for the fall semester. We encourage you to register for classes as early as possible for the best course days and times. 

Make sure to write down any questions that you have after registering so that you can bring them to your academic advising appointment.  

Note: Your class schedule is not confirmed until you attend orientation, so make sure to register for and attend orientation.

Use these guides to learn how to register for classes in eServices. 

• If a class that you chose is closed, please: 
• select an alternate section of the same class, or
• select a different course of the same type, or
• join the waitlist for the course (if available).
• You can also monitor eServices throughout the summer to see if any seats in your preferred sections of classes become available.
  
  
• If a class that you chose will not allow you to register for it due to a prerequisite error please: 
• make a note of this and bring it with you to your advising appointment,
• and, select a different course to register for.

Transfer students can schedule their advising appointment using Navigate.

Note: You can download Navigate usually 2-3 business days after VCU processes your tuition deposit. 

Below are the dates that you can begin scheduling your appointment:

Students accepted for Fall:
Schedule your advising appointment beginning:  May 15, 2024

Students accepted for Spring:
Schedule your advising appointment beginning: Nov. 15, 2024*
*Note: Dates are subject to change.

Make sure to complete your Advising Registration Survey and start to register for classes before you schedule a "New Transfer Advising" appointment with your new academic advisor. This advising meeting can be held virtually or in-person. 

During this appointment, you will confirm your transferred credits, review your class schedule and make adjustments, be introduced to your Major Map and even set up your first follow-up appointment where you will make your full graduation plan.

Note: You can typically download and access Navigate within two business days VCU processes your tuition deposit. It can take longer during peak times.