Yes. Attendance is expected from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. both days. Nontraditional students who call our office as directed will be assigned express schedules during one of the orientation sessions.

Incoming students who are not able to attend Orientation must register after Orientation ends, during the late registration period.

The new student fee of $75.00 is required and charged to ALL newly admitted degree-seeking and readmitted students. If this fee is not received with your reservation, you will be billed $75.00 during your first semester of enrollment.

The New Student Program fee is nonrefundable. This fee covers the costs associated with processing your orientation reservation, placement testing, course registration, and advising activities.

WHAT TO BRING TO ORIENTATION

• pen and paper
• valid driver’s license or some other form of government issued picture ID
• social security number
• spending money
• alarm clock and bedding (if staying in the residence hall)
• Cougar Trail sign in and password
• email sign in and password
• umbrella
• comfortable clothes/shoes
• sweater or sweatshirt (sometimes the classrooms can be chilly)
  
  

Please DO NOT send any health or immunization information to New Student Programs.

Visit the Center for Student Wellness web site or call 843-953-5520 for immunization requirements.

Freshmen do not take math placement tests. Your academic advisor will be able to determine your level of placement from the information you provided about your previous math courses, along with your SAT math score.

Transfer students must take the math placement test if they are not transferring six or more credit hours in math (excluding college algebra). Transfer students must complete the math placement test before they meet with an advisor.

How to Prepare
• Sample math test questions can be found at www.cofc.edu/~orientat.
• Know the basics of algebra.
• Review pre-calculus (more advanced algebra and trigonometry).
• Try to answer all the questions.
• Relax and take a deep breath before you begin the exam.

Taking the test
If you are expected to take the math placement test, you will receive an email to your College of Charleston email account (also known as your Edisto account).  This email will include all of the information needed to access the online test and complete it.  If you do not have access to a computer at your home, please note that the test can be taken at any public computer such as a public library or current college you are attending. 

Students with questions about the admissions process for transfers or transferable credit hours should contact the Office of Admissions at
transfer@cofc.edu.

Freshmen who have completed coursework in French, German, or Latin at the high school level will be tested in that language. Freshmen have the option to be tested in more than one language.

Foreign Language Placement Tests are offered online. Instructions can be viewed on the Placement Testing website.

Transfer students who are transferring in fewer than twelve credit hours in a single foreign language (the C of C foreign language minimum requirement) will continue taking that language at the next level. For example, a student transfers credit to C of C for German 101, so he registers for German 102. No foreign language placement test is necessary. Students with questions about the admissions process for transfers or transferable credit hours should contact the Office of Admissions at transfer@cofc.edu.

Transfer students who transfer foreign language credit hours to C of C from another institution, but wish to begin a different language at C of C that they did not take in high school or college, will not need to take a foreign language placement test. They will begin in the language of their choice at the 101 level. Students with questions about the admissions process for transfers or transferable credit hours should contact the Office of Admissions at transfer@cofc.edu.

Transfer students who do not transfer any foreign language credits to C of C but took French, German, or Latin in high school will be tested in that language. Foreign Language Placement Tests are offered online. Instructions can be viewed on the Placement Testing website.

Students with questions about the admissions process for transfers or transferable credit hours should contact the Office of Admissions at
transfer@cofc.edu.

Arrangements can also be made for individual assessment in Arabic, Chinese, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian. These arrangements often need to wait until students and faculty are back on campus during the school year. For a placement evaluation in one of these languages, please contact:

• Ancient Greek:  Dr. Jim Newhard (newhardj@cofc.edu) or Dr. Darryl Phillips (phillipsd@cofc.edu)
• Arabic: Professor George Fam (famg@cofc.edu)
• Chinese:  Professor Ellen Klempner (klempnere@cofc.edu)
• Hebrew: Enid Idelsohn
   (idelsohne@cofc.edu)
• Italian:  Dr. Massimo Maggiari (maggiarim@cofc.edu)
• Japanese:  Dr. Yoshiki Chikuma (chikumay@cofc.edu)
• Portuguese:  Dr. Luci Moreira
  (moreiral@cofc.edu)
• Russian:  Professor Raisa Gomer (gomerr@cofc.edu)

The list of AP tests accepted at CofC can be found on the Admissions Office web site.

Visit the Academic Advising website. Review the list of general education requirements, and also the major degree worksheets if you have already decided on a major. This will give you an idea of the type of coursework needed to meet graduation requirements and help you begin to develop an academic plan. The advising process is most effective when you have an academic plan before meeting with an advisor, and when you play an active role in making decisions about course selection.

To view a list of the current available courses, visit the Course Listing link provided by the Office of the Registrar. This link gives an accurate listing of courses and seats available, along with dates, times and locations of class meetings. You will not need to sign in with a password to view this listing, and you will not be able to register for classes before Orientation.

The Office of Admissions reviews all transfer students' transcripts to determine transfer
course eligibility.

If you have transfer credits that have not been finalized, you may visit the Office of Admissions in your free time during Orientation. You will need to bring a course catalog description or syllabus from those courses. For more information about transfer credits, visit the Admissions web site or call 843-953-5670.

There is a separate two-day program for adult family members that runs concurrently with the new student orientation sessions. Information will be sent to all new students admitted for the fall. See our Family Orientation page for additional details.

During the Family Orientation Program, there are information sessions designed especially for family members, as well as sessions that families may attend with their students. However, because of space limitations and other concerns, several of the student sessions such as academic advising and registration must be attended by students only.

The Office of New Student Programs provides tours for participants during Orientation only. Prospective students and others interested in campus tours should contact the Admissions office at 843-953-5670 to schedule an appointment for a tour.

To view the academic calendars, view the Registrar's Office Calendar and Schedules page.

Refer to your assigned date and time mailed to you by the Office of Residence Life & Housing. Contact 843-953-2015 if you have housing questions.

Paper bills are not mailed to students or parents. All billing will be done electronically. E-Bill notification will be sent to all student email accounts and any email accounts authorized by the student.

It is the student’s responsibility to set-up the authorized users for their account or to forward the billing statement to the responsible payer.

A payment plan may be arranged through the treasurer’s office. Bills will vary from student to student depending on individual course selection, housing arrangements, labs, participation in various activities and other factors.

For information regarding tuition and fees and payment plans, visit http://treasurer.cofc.edu or call the Treasurer’s office at 843-953-5572.

After you complete the enrollment confirmation process with the Office of Admissions information about on-campus housing will be mailed to you. Return any necessary forms and fees to the Office of Residence Life & Housing as soon as possible. Space is limited and a room assignment cannot be guaranteed. Visit the Residence Life & Housing web site or call 843-953-2015 for further details.

College of Charleston parking spaces are assigned and paid for one semester in advance. Student parking lot selection priority is based on the student's cumulative credit hours earned and on file in the Office of the Registrar.

*Due to the limited availability of parking spaces, students living in campus housing with less than thirty cumulative credit hours earned and on file in the Office of the Registrar are not eligible to apply for on-campus parking. Please contact Parking Services for a listing of alternative parking spaces leased to students of the College of Charleston.

Contact Parking Services at 843-953-7834 for additional details.

Contact Dining Services at 843-953-5539 for information on next semester's meal plan options.

Visit Cougar Card Services on Calhoun Street to have your picture taken and ID made. You may do this during your free time during Orientation. Contact Cougar Card Services at
843-953-1100 for additional questions.

PLEASE NOTE: During the summer orientation sessions, ID cards will be given out on Day 2 of orientation after the closing session in the campus bookstore.

Contact Mail Services at 843-953-5534, or stop by their office located on the first floor of the parking garage on St. Philip Street just across from Mcalister Hall.

Admitted students will find their Edisto e-mail account information, including password, at Cougar Trail on the Web.

You will be sent important information regarding the College through your College of Charleston e-mail account only. In addition, some professors e-mail course assignments and other information only to students' C of C accounts.

Visit the C of C Webmail page to learn how to forward your C of C account to an e-mail account you may be currently using, and for other Webmail information.

The College of Charleston does not require that each student own a personal computer. Although not necessary, you may find it more convenient to use your own computer.

Students living in a College residence hall have access to Campus ResNet, a highspeed Internet service, at no charge. All students, whether they live on or off campus, can use the large, general-purpose Student Computing Centers, departmental computing labs, and Residence Hall computing labs.

Visit the College's Technology web site for details on system requirements, computer lab hours, the student e-mail system, etc.

If you have a question about computer use at C of C or need a recommendation for a computer purchase, you may e-mail the Academic Computing department at computerinfo@cofc.edu.

The F. Mitchell Johnson Physical Education Center and the Willard Silcox Physical Education and Health Center (both located near the corner of George and Meeting streets) feature basketball, volleyball, badminton, and racquetball courts, dance and weight training rooms, an indoor running track, classrooms, performance laboratories, and department offices.

A 25 meter swimming pool located at the Stern Student Center is available for recreational and lap swimming during designated hours.

The John Kresse Arena in the Johnson Center offers seating for 3,052 spectators in intercollegiate contests and other College functions.

Soccer, softball, and baseball teams practice and compete at the Patriots Point Athletics Complex in Mount Pleasant.

The Campus Recreation Services program is designed to provide a variety of activities that contribute to the overall health and well-being of the College community. Intramural sports, sports clubs, open recreation, and fitness and instructional programs are offered.

There are over 100 special interest clubs and organizations on campus. Visit Student Life to view a complete listing. If you have an interest that is not represented by one of our organizations, you may request to start your own organization by contacting the Office of Student Life at 843-953-5726.