Academic Advising Resource Center
Incoming Students
This page outlines the registration process for first-year Arts and Sciences and Double-Degree students and provides links to resources where you can learn more about courses and requirements. Students will get updates to their Oberlin College email account and through the Engage Student Dashboard.
Advising and Registration Timeline
May 9–June 18: Complete Arts and Sciences placement tests and surveys
(Note: The deadlines vary depending on the subject area.)
May–July: Participate in webinars and departmental information sessions
May 19–June 4: Submit first-year seminar preferences
May 19–June 25: Complete first-year advising portfolio prompts
July 1–July 30: Meet with your summer advisor
August 6–August 15: New student registration period
August 25: Meet with your academic advisor and make schedule adjustments
May 9–June 18: Complete Arts and Sciences placement tests and surveys
Some subject areas require students to take a placement test or complete a survey. Pay close attention to the deadlines, which vary depending on the subject area.
Interested in a language? The process for taking a language course will vary depending on whether you are new to learning the language or if you have prior experience with the language. Prior experience might include taking classes in high school, speaking the language at home, or living abroad.
If you have prior experience with a language you wish to take, you may need to take a placement test by May 31.
Interested in a studio art course? Entry to Studio Art courses is admitted through consent (permission) only. Most 100-level studio art courses have 25% of seats set aside for first-year students. Students who are interested in taking a Studio Art course in fall 2025 must fill out the Studio Course Consent Request form by May 29.
May 30: On May 30, all students who have been offered a seat will receive an email offering them a seat in the class.
June 2: Students must confirm their seat via email no later than June 2 in order to secure their place in a course.
Students who are not been placed in a studio art course over the summer will receive a separate email and should feel free to follow up with professors directly during add drop in the fall.
THEA 100: Introduction to Acting, is designed for actors and other theater practitioners, regardless of their level of experience. Admission to the course is by audition only.
Follow this link for full instructions about preparing and presenting your audition for THEA 100.
Students interested in taking a math course in the fall should review the department’s guidance on options for their first mathematics class. As explained in the linked information, only Math 130: Foundations for Calculus and Math 133: Calculus I require that students take an online Calculus Placement Survey. In order to enroll in Math 130 or Math 133, students must email calculus@oberlin.edu after taking this pre-advisement survey. For all other math classes, students do not need to take a pre-advisement survey.
All students interested in taking CHEM 101 or CHEM 102 in Fall 2025 must take a 60-minute General Chemistry Entrance Survey on Blackboard.
May–July: Participate in webinars and departmental information sessions
The Academic Advising Resource Center (AARC) and academic departments will host virtual sessions for students throughout the summer. Students are encouraged to attend webinars hosted by the AARC as well as info sessions in academic areas of interest. See the list of sessions.
Recording of May 22 webinar: Summer Overview & Portfolio Introduction
May 19-June 4: Submit first-year seminar preferences
All first-year students are encouraged to enroll in a first-year seminar, which introduces students to liberal arts learning. First-year students will submit their top six choices for a first-year seminar through Engage, and the Academic Advising Resource Center (AARC) will place you in one of these choices. Chances are not improved by only listing one to two top choices. Learn more about the First-Year Seminar Program, including fall 2025 course offerings.
May 19-June 25: Complete first-year advising portfolio prompts
This is a chance to introduce yourself to your summer advisor and your academic advisor and reflect on your academic and co-curricular interests and goals.
July 1-July 30: Meet with your summer advisor
All first-year students will have an individual appointment with an assigned summer advisor over Zoom. Students will receive information about their advisor, as well as how to schedule the meeting, by the end of June.
August 6-August 15: New student registration period
Students will register for additional classes through the registration portal.
August 25: Meet with your academic advisor and make schedule adjustments
The AARC will assign each student an academic advisor in mid-August. (Your academic advisor is a pre-major advisor separate from your summer advisor.) During new student orientation, students will meet with their academic advisor to review their schedules and discuss possible changes. In the afternoon, students will be able to make schedule adjustments.
September 8: Add/drop deadline
Once classes begin, students are able to make changes to their schedule until September 8, the eighth day of the semester. Students are encouraged to finalize their schedules early in the semester.