Welcome First-Year Students! We understand that this can be an exciting time as you experience new course work, meet new people, and live in a new environment. At the same time, we realize that this can be a frustrating and confusing time, especially when you cannot find answers to your questions. We hope this site will help you become better acquainted with our services and help you become a pro at enrolling in courses and meeting your graduation requirements!
Here are some common questions that our first-year students ask when they arrive to campus:
- What is the difference between the CALS Registrar's Office and the University Registrar's Office?
- I took AP and/or IB exams in high school, but I have not yet received credit. What should I do?
- I completed college course work while I was still in high school. How do I transfer those credits to Cornell?
- I need to enroll in classes. What do I do?
- What are the college graduation requirements?
- How do I change my schedule?
- Are there guidelines to follow when making a schedule (Ex: only allowed to take 18 credits)?
- A course that I need is full or requires permission from the professor. What should I do?
- OOPS! It's after the add/drop deadline and I forgot to add/drop a class. What should I do?
What is the difference between the CALS Registrar's Office and the University Registrar's Office?
The CALS Registrar's Office serves as the main record keeper for all CALS undergraduate students, and ensures that course scheduling, student registration, and completion of degree requirements occur in a timely, accurate, and efficient manner.
You would come to the CALS Registrar's Office for the following:
- Add/drop forms
- Application to Graduate
- Applications to graduate early or late or take remaining credits elsewhere
- Dean's Certifications
- Graduation Summary
- Letters of Good Academic Standing
- Pre-Enrollment Questions
- Registration Questions
- Requests for GPA and/or Class Rank
- Transfer pre-approval forms
You would go to the Office of the University Registrar for the following:
- Enrollment verification (full-time student for insurance purposes)
- Degree Verification
- Late Registration
- Official transcripts
- Student ID information
- VA Benefits certification
I took AP and/or IB exams in high school, but I have not yet received credit. What should I do?
If you have taken an AP and/or IB exam and have earned an accepted score, the official score report must be sent to the CALS Registrar's office in order for credit to be awarded. You can have the official report sent to:
CALS Registrar's Office
140 Roberts Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
I completed college course work while I was still in high school. How do I transfer those credits to Cornell?
The college course work that you completed while you were still in high school must meet both college and university acceptance criteria for credits earned while in high school. In addition, the CALS Registrar's Office must receive an official sealed transcript and written verification from both the college and your high school outlining that all criteria have been met. You can find this criteria on our forms and policy page. Once such documentation has been received, the CALS Registrar's Office will review this coursework and award the appropriate credit. You will be notified by e-mail when the credit has been applied.
I need to enroll in classes. What do I do?
Most first-year students will already have a schedule before they arrive on campus. Advisors try to pre-enroll first-year students in a core set of courses for the first semester. These are generally introductory courses that are required for the major or college distribution areas or that serve as pre-requisites for other courses. If your advisor pre-enrolls you in a course that you are not interested in or that you have placed out of due to advanced placement credit, do not worry. You will have an opportunity to meet with your advisor and discuss your schedule before the add/drop period. Once you and your advisor agree on a schedule, you will be able to change your course enrollment during the add/drop period.
What are the college graduation requirements?
Each CALS student is required to complete 39 credits across the distribution areas of introductory biology, chemistry/physics, other physical and life sciences, humanities and social sciences, and written/oral expression. For a detailed list of CALS current graduation requirements and the courses that will fulfill them; and the Criteria (Credit Hours, Residence, GPA, Distribution) that need to be met to complete the graduation requirements please click here.
Each semester a student is able to get their graduation progress towards completing their distribution requirements on an unofficial web site called DUST. The DUST web site allows students to get an idea for what courses they need to complete the remaining degree requirements. For the most accurate and up to date information regarding completion of CALS distribution requirements make an appointment to meet with a staff member of the CALS Registrar's office today.
During the add/drop period access Just the Facts. On the left hand toolbar you will see an add/drop option, follow this link and using the toolbar at the top of the page you can modify your schedule. If a course is unable to be added, it might be due to course capacity or professor permission. You will need to pick up an add/drop slip in the Registrar's Office in order to get permission from the departments to add the course.
Are there guidelines to follow when making a schedule (EX: only allowed to take 18 credits)?
- All students must enroll in at least 12 credits, not including physical education.
- All students must enroll in at least one CALS course each semester until the 55 CALS credits have been completed.
- First-Year students may not enroll for more than 18 credits.
- First-Year Students are limited to one S/U option per semester.
- Students must be making progress toward College distribution requirements.
- Students must be making progress toward major requirements.
- Enrollment in a CALS independent study, research, teaching, or internship courses requires a completed independent study enrollment form. Forms are available and must be submitted to the CALS Registrar’s Office.
A course that I need is full or requires permission from the professor. What should I do?
If a course is full, and you cannot add it on Just the Facts, do not panic! Chances are you'll need an add/drop form from the CALS Registrar's Office (140 Roberts Hall). You should take the add/drop form to the professor or department and get their permission to enter the course. Have them sign or stamp the add/drop form and then bring the form back to the CALS Registrar's Office. We will process the add/drop for you. Please note that if you are required to have advisor permission for adding and dropping courses, your advisor's signature is also required on the add/drop form.
OOPS! It's after the add/drop deadline and I forgot to add/drop a class. What should I do?
After the add/drop deadline, the CALS Registrar's Office is unable to process any add/drop forms. You will need to petition to make course enrollment changes. Please contact the Counseling and Advising Office in 140 Roberts Hall for information about petitioning.
Contact Information
| Office Address | Hours Of Operation: |
| Phone: (607) 255-2017 | Walk-In Hours: Wednesday 2:00 - 4:00PM |
Important Links:
University Registrar This link will take you directly to the University Registrar's course enrollment information web page.
Courses of Study This holds all the courses that the University has to offer, as well as explains each colleges policies and procedures for their students.
Academic Calendar The academic calendar will let you know important dates and deadlines regarding each semester calendar (add/drop deadlines, pre-enrollment, graduation, etc...).
Course, Time and Room Roster The course, time and Room Roster contains the most up to date information on when and where courses are being offered for the semester.
DUST DUST allows students to view their academic information, as well as advisor's to view their advisees academic information (degree progress, unofficial transcripts).For the most up to date information on your CALS distribution requirements please schedule an appointment with Registrar Staff, or come to walk-in hours.
Transcripts Use your net ID and password to order a transcript online from the University Registrar.
Distribution Requirements This document will provide you with CALS college distribution requirements as well as the courses that are currently offered and approved to fulfill CALS college distribution requirements.If you are interested in taking a course that you fill would complete a college distribution requirements, contact the CALS Registrar's Office and ask before taking the course.