I've Been Admitted...Now What?
Congratulations on your admission! Someone please cue the confetti! 🎉
Being admitted to a university is a major milestone on your academic journey and a reflection of the hard work you’ve put into your education.
Each university will provide instructions about your next steps following admission. This information can usually be found inside of your university portal. Carefully review the information provided by the admissions office and meet all deadlines if you plan to secure your place at the university.
Some students are offered admission into an alternate major they listed on the application. This may be because their first choice of major had a large number of qualified applicants. Consider how the alternate major may or may not support you in reaching your career goals.
What Happens Next?
Accepting Your Offer of Admission
Be sure to review all of your admission decisions before deciding whether to accept an offer of admission. Enrollment fees are typically non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another university.
If you plan to attend a university, you will need to formally accept your offer of admission. For University of California campuses, this is called the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) form. CSU and other universities sometimes call it a statement of intent to enroll. Campuses will require that you accept your offer of admission by a specific deadline.
Enrollment Deposits
When accepting your offer of admission, campuses typically require an enrollment deposit. Enrollment deposits usually apply toward your fall tuition and fees and are typically waived for students who qualified for a fee-waiver at the time of application.
If you are experiencing a financial hardship, please inquire directly with the university admissions office to see if a deferral of your enrollment deposit is available before the deadline.
Complete Required Forms and Documents
After accepting your offer of admission, universities typically require additional steps such as:
- Submitting transcripts (some schools require multiple transcripts)
- Test scores such as AP or IB, if applicable
- Signing up for orientation
- Completing housing forms if you plan to live on campus
- General Education Certification, if applicable
- Proof of immunizations, if applicable
Missing deadlines can affect your enrollment; please review all instructions and deadlines carefully.
Attend Admitted Student Events
Many universities host special programs for admitted transfer students. These events give you a chance to explore the campus, learn how to become involved on campus, meet future classmates, and get important information such as the class registration process.
Look for events such as:
- CSU Admitted Student Day
- Preview Day
- Transfer Welcome Events
- Transfer Open House
- Major or department orientations
Many UC campuses provide registration links for transfer events within the admitted student portals.
Local universities such as San Diego State University and University of California San Diego typically host in-person and/or virtual events and workshops for admitted transfer students at our San Diego City College Transfer Center. These can be particularly helpful if you have questions before you submit your intent to enroll.
Note: Admission offers are contingent upon verification of the information provided in your application, completion of required coursework, maintaining your GPA, submission of all documents by the established deadlines for your college, etc.
Deciding Between Multiple Universities
Some students apply to and receive multiple offers of admission. Choosing where to attend can feel overwhelming. As you make your decision, you may want to consider:
- Academic programs and opportunities available in your major
- Financial aid and cost of attendance
- Location and housing options
- Campus environment and support programs
- Internship, research, and career opportunities
When making your admission decision, try to visit the campus if possible (including viewing campus tours on YouTube, or on the respective university page), attend admitted student events, and speak with current students to help you with your decision.
You may also wish to attend a Navigating Your Admission Decision workshop hosted by the San Diego City College Transfer Center to support you as you work through this very important decision.
If You Decide Not to Attend
If you decide not to attend a university that admitted you, you may indicate this inside of the university's portal as a courtesy, however; you are not required to do so. Please refer to the respective university portal for more information.
What Happens if You Don't Pass a Class?
If you do not pass a class or do not complete the coursework you listed on your application, you should contact the admissions office at the university where you were admitted as soon as possible.
Admission offers from UC and CSU campuses are conditional and based on the academic information reported on the application. When requested, universities will review transcripts to confirm that required courses were completed and that students remain eligible for admission.