Preparing for your Academic Planning & Advising (APA) Day

Welcome to the School of Arts and Sciences!

We are very excited that you are joining the School of Arts and Sciences family, and want you to know that the First-Year Advising team is committed to your success. We know that you are the expert on yourself, and we are the experts on Rutgers. The two together can be a powerful combination as you shape your unique educational experience.

Our goal is to provide information to answer both the questions you have and those that you have not yet thought to ask.

Each year, we help approximately 4,000 new SAS first-year students start writing their Rutgers story. We understand that the transition to college is an exciting, frustrating, thrilling time in your life. We know you'll have questions. Even if we've answered that question hundreds of times, we promise to listen carefully and take your concerns and questions seriously, understanding the fact that this is the first time YOU'RE asking that question.

This page will have important information about starting your academic journey in the School of Arts and Sciences and at Rutgers University. Please review the information below.

STEPS 2 SAS

As a new School of Arts and Sciences student, there will be some important tasks for you to get ready for your first semester! The Admissions Office has created an admitted student timeline, and you can view the full list of required and recommended enrollment tasks on your myRutgers dashboard. We'll highlight the items relevant to your academic advising and course registration here: 

S = Start: activate your netID and your Rutgers email

See also My Enrollment: Required task Check your Rutgers Email Account (and Junk Mail) Regularly

All students are assigned a Rutgers unique identifier known as a NetID, comprised of alphanumeric characters (e.g. jqs23). In order to access many of the electronic services available to you at Rutgers, you need to activate your Rutgers NetID. Your assigned NetID will appear on the activation screen.

Rutgers email is the official means of communication at the University, so begin checking it often (at least twice a week once you accept your offer of enrollment). Be sure to check the junk folder as well, just in case! Emails from our office will be sent from firstyears [at] sas.rutgers.edu.

Do now:

• Visit netid.rutgers.edu to activate your netID.
• Once you've activated your netID, activate your ScarletApps, which is your Google workspace: your official Rutgers email, Google calendar, Google docs and more. Once you've activated ScarletApps, begin to check your Rutgers email regularly at http://mail.scarletmail.rutgers.edu/.

Activate your NetID     ScarletApps     Check your Rutgers Email

T = Take your placement tests

See also My Enrollment: Required tasks Complete Math and English Placement Tests and Complete World Language Placement Tests

Placement testing is required to move forward once it is time to begin the course registration process. These assessments determine the appropriate level at which you should begin your studies at Rutgers University in the subject areas of English, Math*, and the World Language you studied in high school. It is very important you begin at the appropriate level of a course. You want to be challenged so you can learn, but not overwhelmed. Your placement tests will help make that happen.

Students cannot fail a placement test and the results have no impact on your admission to Rutgers, BUT you cannot move forward with the registration process until your placement tests are complete. You must complete all three placement tests, even if you do not intend to take any Math or World Language courses.

* The Math placement test consists of:

1. An initial assessment,
2. Completion of customized learning modules based on the initial assessment's results, and
3. Completion of a second assessment to obtain a final result. (More details below in the "2" slider.)

For students starting in the Fall semester: Placement tests open approximately March 1. The placement tests must be completed within 30 days of enrollment (or by March 30 for students who enrolled before March 1).

For students starting in the Spring semester: Placement tests must be completed within two weeks of enrollment.  

Do now:

• Prepare to take your placement tests by reviewing the placement testing information site where you can access the tests and review testing exceptions.
• If applicable: If you are exempt from the English and/or Math placement test (see the link above), then be sure to send the appropriate scores to Rutgers immediately and proceed with the World Language placement test.
• If applicable: If you require accommodations for placement testing, please contact the Office of Disability Services and email the First-Year Advising Office at  firstyears [at] sas.rutgers.edu to notify us that you have done so. Begin this process early; it can take several weeks for your request for accommodations to be fully processed.
• We cannot emphasize this enough: Complete all three placement tests (English, Math, World Language) as soon as possible once you are able to access them or else you will impede your ability to proceed with the registration process. There are many courses that cannot be registered for without placement results, including courses that you may need to take to begin exploring your major(s) of interest.

Placement Testing Information     Office of Disability Services

E = Explore the myRutgers dashboard

See My Enrollment: Required and My Enrollment: Recommend at my.rutgers.edu

Do now:

• View your dashboard at my.rutgers.edu to access the enrollment tasks.

View your Dashboard

P = Provide your vaccination Information

See also My Enrollment: Required task Submit Immunization Records

Do now:

• Upload the required documentation well before the deadline to allow ample time for review and for your record to be updated.

S = Sign up for New Student Orientation (NSO)

See also My Enrollment: Required task Complete New Student Orientation

Academic Planning and Advising (APA) is your introduction to academics at the School of Arts and Sciences, and New Student Orientation (NSO) is your introduction to the larger Rutgers community! During NSO, you will make connections with fellow members of the incoming class, current Rutgers students, faculty, and staff and learn more about the campus resources available to you as a Rutgers student.

For students starting in the Fall semester: NSO is also where SAS students will meet with academic advisors to register for their first semester courses. Students can begin to sign up for NSO in mid-April. Sign up is through your myRutgers dashboard. While there, review the additional tasks you must complete prior to the start of your first semester. These tasks may include applying for housing (including our vibrant Living-Learning Communities), applying for financial aid, submitting final high school transcripts, and more.

For students starting in the Spring semester: There is typically a one-day NSO opportunity in early January; there is no academic advising session at NSO.

Do now:

• Familiarize yourself with your myRutgers Dashboard, where you will be able to select an NSO date to attend once sign-up has begun if it has not already started.
• You must have your placement tests completed prior to NSO or else you will be ineligible to register for any courses that have placement results as a prerequisite, including courses that you may need to take to begin exploring your major(s) of interest.

New Student Orientation (NSO)     myRutgers Dashboard     Living-Learning Communities    

2 = take your Math placement test a second time¹

See also My Enrollment: Recommended task Retake Math Placement Test

Retaking the Math placement test is especially important if your academic interests are in the life sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, or business or if you have any academic plans that may involve taking calculus-based math at Rutgers.

The ALEKS placement process is designed to provide an accurate math placement after you complete the 8 hours of individually customized learning modules available to you on your ALEKS page and take the test a second time. The vast majority of students improve their placement when they take the test a second time.

For students starting in the Fall semester: It is important to retake the Math placement test prior to attending NSO so that it is finalized before you begin the course registration process.

For students starting in the Spring semester: It is important to retake the Math placement test prior to submitting your Course Request Form so that your Math placement is finalized before we begin registering you for courses.  

Do now:

• Return to the Math placement test details where you can access the modules that must be completed before you will gain access to retake the Math placement test.
• We cannot emphasize this enough: Retake the Math placement test as soon as possible or else you will impede your ability to proceed with the registration process. There are many courses that depend on your Math placement before you can register for them, including courses that you may need to take to begin exploring your major(s) of interest.

ALEKS Page     Math Placement Test Details

S = Set aside time to complete the SAS APA Canvas course

See also My Enrollment: Required task Complete Academic Planning and Advising

The Academic Planning and Advising (APA) program at the School of Arts and Sciences will begin to provide you with the tools you'll use to design your degree and get the most from your college experience. You will learn about your degree requirements, be introduced to the myriad opportunities available at Rutgers, and plan your first semester course registration.

APA starts with an online Canvas course. Canvas is the primary learning management system used for academic courses at Rutgers, and we'll be introducing you to it by using it for your APA. For the APA course on Canvas, advisors and faculty have compiled content about academic opportunities and requirements in the School of Arts and Sciences to help you begin your Rutgers journey—whether you're exploring multiple areas of study or entering SAS with an intended major.

For students starting in the Fall semester:

The SAS APA Fall 2024 Canvas course will open around June 10, 2024. Information is sent to the email address with which you applied to the University, and to your Rutgers email when the course is available to you.

For students starting in the Spring semester:

We aim to begin enrolling students in the APA course in mid-December. Students are added on a rolling basis. Information is sent to the email address with which you applied to the University, and to your Rutgers email. More info about APA sessions will be updated on here and/or on Canvas.

Do now:

• Be sure that your netID is activated so that you can be added to the APA course on Canvas when it becomes available.
• Set up your Rutgers email address when you activate your netID and follow the steps to learn how access it. Check it often (including the junk folder!) Your Rutgers email will be the primary way we contact you with important information about your enrollment.

Activate your NetID

A = Academic Planning & Advising (APA): Canvas­ and NSO

See also My Enrollment: Required task Complete Academic Planning and Advising and Complete New Student Orientation

For students starting in the Fall semester:

In addition to the Canvas course, there will be APA sessions at New Student Orientation (NSO). Professional advisors from the Office of Advising and Academic Services will facilitate the APA sessions at NSO to help you identify courses appropriate for your academic path, including any required or recommended courses for you to take in your first semester. And then we will assist you in registering for your first semester courses during the APA sessions at NSO.

For students starting in the Spring semester:

If any APA sessions are offered, they will take place separate from NSO.

Do now:

• Be sure that your netID is activated so that you can be added to the APA course on Canvas when it becomes available. Canvas for students entering in Fall 2024 will be available around June 10.
• Set up your Rutgers email address when you activate your netID and follow the steps to learn how access it. Check it often (including the junk folder!) Your Rutgers email will be the primary way we contact you with important information about your enrollment.

Activate your NetID

S = Send all transcripts and score reports for pre-college credits¹

See also My Enrollment: Recommended task Check your Rutgers transcript

SAS accepts pre-college credits including Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), A-Levels, and high school dual enrollment and other transfer credits from accredited colleges. Please visit our Pre-College Credits page to learn more about what is accepted and how credits will transfer to SAS.

Do now:

• If you earned pre-college credits prior to your enrollment, you must have your official transcripts and/or score reports sent right away via one of two ways (NOTE: Transcripts and score reports sent directly from students cannot be used to award credit. They must be sent directly from the college or testing service.):
  • Electronically (preferred)
    If needed, our CEEB code is 002765. If an email address is needed as the recipient, then have it sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (This email address should be used for transcripts only.)
  • Postal mail
    Offical paper transcripts or score reports can be sent to:
    • University Enrollment Services Admissions Processing
      Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
      65 Davidson Road, Room 308
      Piscataway, NJ 08854
• Certain AP credit may meet exemptions for placement testing. IB, A-Level, and dual enrollment credits DO NOT meet exemptions for placement testing. If you meet the following criteria, you are exempt from the English and/or Math placement tests, but we require your score reports to confirm exemption, so please send those now.
  • Math placement exemption with AP Exam in Calculus AB or BC with a score of 4 or 5 (completed before 2024)
  • English placement exemption with AP Exam in English Lang/Comp OR English Lit/Comp with a score of 4 or 5 (completed before 2024)

Pre-College Credits Page

¹ May not apply to all students