Academic Advising Resource Center

Incoming Students

This page provides an overview of the registration process for first-year Arts and Sciences students. Additional details and specific dates will be posted later this spring. Students will get updates to their Oberlin College email account and through the Engage Student Dashboard.

Advising and Registration Process

Participate in webinars

The Academic Advising Resource Center (AARC) will host virtual sessions on the advising and registration process in May and June.

Complete Arts and Sciences placement tests and surveys

Some subject areas require students to take a placement test or complete a survey. Links to placement tests and surveys will be available from this page. Deadlines vary by subject area and fall between late May and mid-June.

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.

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.

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 in mid-June on how to schedule.

New student registration period

Students will register for additional classes through the registration portal in early August.

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. Students will then be able to make schedule adjustments.

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.