Congratulations and Welcome to CALS!

We are pleased you have chosen the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University. The student services offices and your academic department are available to assist you in your transition to Cornell. This website, along with your department's website, (see below) have been developed to answer most of your questions. Please take the time to look though the information provided here, and if you still have questions, our contact information is below. We look forward to meeting you!

CALS Fall TO DO List:

Before you arrive in August:

ALL Incoming Students (first year and transfer students):

• Activate your Cornell NetID.
• Starting June 5th, log into our online college degree audit system, DUST and become familiar with each link. Complete your online student biography. To assist your advisor in knowing more about your interests and advising expectations complete your Student Biography through DUST (go to https://dust.cals.cornell.edu; under Academic Advising click “Student Biography”).
• Log into Student Center and become familiar with the different features available.
• Interested in beginning your summer job search or participating in on-campus recruiting? Complete your CCNET student profile at http://www.career.cornell.edu/.

Transfer students only:

• Review your preliminary transfer credit evaluation (you received this with your admissions acceptance letter).
• Submit your final transcript to CALS Student Services. Cornell University, 140 Roberts Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853.

When you arrive in August:

• Attend the scheduled orientation sessions (University, College and Department).
• Meet and talk with your advisor.
• Stop into CALS Student Services (140 Roberts Hall) to visit the Career Resource Library and learn about many of the resources available to you to help you succeed in your undergraduate career and beyond.
• Visit the career team during drop in hours to talk about resumes, cover letters, graduate school options or your summer job search.
• Get involved!

Courses and Course Enrollment

How do I pre-enroll in classes? What does add/drop mean?
You will begin pre-enrolling in courses July 11th through the 20th. Using the online Courses of Study, you can begin to piece together courses of interest, courses for your major and courses to complete the CALS Distribution requirements in preparation of the add/drop period. Pre-enrollment is a wish-list of courses. It is recommended that you enroll in 12-15 academic credits your first semester.

If you are unsure of your course list during pre-enrollment there is plenty of time to make adjustments during add/drop beginning August 8th. The add/drop period allows you to try out different courses and see what fits best on an individual level. Courses that require premission or may have been closed during pre-enrollment may open up as other students change their schedule. There is a lot of flux during this time, meet with professors, check-in with your advisor, and stay tuned to Student Center for changing course enrollment. 

If you have questions regarding the CALS Distribution requirements feel free to look at our website, or give CALS Student Services a call -- 607-255-CALS.

Transfer Students only:

With your acceptance, the Admissions Office sent you a preliminary credit evaluation that informed you of remaining coursework for the CALS distribution requirements. You should take this time to review your remaining college distribution requirements and the curriculum of your major. During Orientation there will be time for you to meet with a representative from CALS Student Services to individually review your college distribution requirements.


I'm looking for all things course related.
Courses, Classes and Exams
This link will direct you to:

• the Course Catalog (course descriptions for all courses offered at Cornell, plus policies and procedures for the College and the University);
• Physical Education roster (Physical Education and the swim test are not required for transfer students who have attended another institution for at least 2 semesters);
• summer and winter courses;
• the course and room roster - (meeting times and locations);
• the prelim and final exam schedule;
• textbook information;
• a link to the University Registrar's web page
  

Advising

Who is my faculty advisor?
Many departments notify students when their advisor is assigned, but some do not.  Our departments do their best to make sure you are with an advisor who fits with your academic interests (as transcribed by your application and the self reported biography in DUST). If you have questions related to your major or coursework, you can speak with either your faculty advisor or your department's administrative advisor.  Not sure who your faculty advisor is? The department administrative advisor can also tell you if your faculty advisor has been assigned.  When communicating with your faculty advisor by e-mail, you should also cc your administrative advisor.

As an advisee, what are my rights and responsibilities, and what are my advisor's rights and responsibilities?
Advising Rights and Responsibilities

What do I need to know to make it at Cornell?

Orientation

What does the college Orientation schedule look like?
Orientation Schedule

What was that cool New Students website I heard about?
There are two of them:
NewStudents.cornell.edu
newstudentprograms.cornell.edu

Graduation Requirements and College Policies

What is FERPA, and how does it affect me?
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Help! I still have lots of questions!!

I need academic help!  I need personal help!  Where do I go?
Academic Support

I want to explore the possibility of studying abroad.  Who do I talk to about that?
International Study

I want to do research.  Where can I find out what my options are?
Research Opportunities

I'm not sure where to go...
Who do I ask about....