Advising Resources

First-Year | Transfer | General Resources

Advising Resources for Incoming First-Year Students

Incoming First-Years – Action Checklist

Sign up for New Student Orientation

Log onto the Hofstra Portal. On the homepage, click the “Register for New Student Orientation” button, then view your “Things to do before Orientation” checklist.

Take your placement assessments before attending New Student Orientation

After you sign up for a New Student Orientation date, you will be emailed instructions for any placement assessments you may need to take. Keep a lookout in your Hofstra email and be sure to complete any assigned assessments before your Orientation session!

Complete Pathway to Pride before attending your New Student Orientation

Pathway to Pride is an online tool that will help you to learn about academic resources and registration at Hofstra, prior to your Orientation date. Log onto the Hofstra Portal, and visit the Canvas app. Pathway to Pride will appear under "My Courses."

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First-year Connections

Advising Resources for Incoming Transfer Students

Welcome to the Pride! We are so happy you’ve chosen to join us here at Hofstra University. The Center for University Advising is here to guide you with academic planning and provide information regarding Hofstra’s numerous campus resources!

Make sure you have submitted all credits to Hofstra!  The credit evaluation discussed at your transfer advising session is an evaluation based upon all the information Hofstra has received about you so far. If you haven’t submitted all your transcripts from previous schools, your completed credits may change. At the beginning of your first semester, check the Hofstra Portal (my.hofstra.edu -> Student Services -> View My Transcript) to see that your transfer credits have become official. You will see "TR" (transferred) instead of "TU" (transfer unofficial) and credit hours will be applied once your official transcript is received. Check with University Admissions at admissions@hofstra.edu if the credits are not posted, and if necessary, contact your old school(s) to arrange for the transcripts to be sent.

Other important things to keep in mind!

1. Review your Degree Audit regularly. Your Degree Audit is a listing of all of the requirements for your major and tells you how your previous and current courses are meeting those requirements. Make sure your intended major is reflected on your degree audit (if not, you may run a "what-if" degree audit until you can file a change of major form) and check that your credits are appropriately applied. You should check your degree audit before and after registering for classes, throughout the semester and any time you make a change to your course schedule.To learn more about your degree audit watch this quick tutorial!
2. Meet your advising dean before registration season ramps up! Registration begins in March for fall semester and in October for spring semester. Check your portal under "Registration" for your assigned registration time. If you have a major, and have not been assigned a faculty advisor, contact your major department to be assigned a faculty advisor and make an appointment with them. You should always meet with your faculty advisor and advising dean before registering for classes.
3. Familiarize yourself with the Hofstra University Undergraduate Bulletin online for your catalog year (the year you entered Hofstra). You will find all of Hofstra's policies, degree requirements, and course descriptions in the Bulletin.
4. Review the Hofstra Academic Calendar which lists important academic deadlines like the add/drop period, days off from class and more.
5. Take the Writing Proficiency Exam! All transfer students regardless of whether you transferred in credit to satisfy WSC 001 and WSC 002 must make arrangements to take the Writing Proficiency Exam as soon as possible. Passage of this essay exam is a graduation requirement for all undergraduates, and if you delay taking the test, it can hold up completion of your degree. Find out more information about the Writing Proficiency Exam here!
6. Make a plan to complete your foreign language requirement. If your degree has a foreign language requirement and you intend to study a language taken in high school or previously spoken, you should take the language proficiency test to determine what level to register for. Credit will not be awarded for courses below the level of your placement. If you have credit from a previous college (not taken in a high school) for an equivalent language at Hofstra, you may register for the next level of that language. You may also choose to fulfill the requirement by electing the Special Language Option. Please contact your advising dean if you have questions.