Some common questions about Summer Orientation are answered below. By clicking on many of the questions,
you will be taken to the section of this website that provides a detailed description.
Freshman Orientation: You must check in at Manzanita Village from 7:30-9:15am.
Transfer Orientation: You must check in at Manzanita Village from 7:15-8:10am.
It takes approximately 10 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the check-in area.
Please allow extra time for parking and walking to Manzanita Village.
Freshmen who are declared Dance or Music majors must check in by 8:15am for a department meeting.
- Money - for parking ($8 per weekday and $3 per weekend day, parking fees are subject to change);
for ACCESS student ID card ($15); for student night out ($5)
- Copies of transcripts from previous college level courses
- Casual, comfortable clothes; walking shoes; jacket for evening; pen and paper for taking notes
- For those who are staying overnight in an on-campus residence hall during the freshman program
- alarm clock; personal toiletries; bathrobe (restrooms are not adjoined to bedrooms)
Sheets, blankets, towels, and pillow are provided for those who are staying
overnight in an on-campus residence hall.
We encourage casual and comfortable clothing for your visit to the campus this summer.
Yes. You will need to purchase a visitor parking permit from the dispenser in the parking lot upon arrival.
Display the permit on your dashboard. Parking fees are $8 per day on weekdays and $3 per day on weekends.
Orientation parking is in the 22 Parking Structure. You can print a map and directions from this website.
Follow the signs to Orientation parking when you arrive on campus. Be sure to purchase a visitor parking permit
from the dispenser in the parking lot and display it on your dashboard.
- In order to park on campus, you must purchase a parking permit
- You may not park in spaces marked Enforced At All Times, Reserved, or Restricted
- Please observe all parking signage as parking violations are subject to citation
Is Orientation mandatory?
No. Orientation is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. Approximately 96% of the incoming
freshman class and 77% of the incoming transfer class attend Summer Orientation. At Orientation
you will receive detailed academic advising and register for fall classes. You also get a chance to
meet some of your new UCSB classmates and learn all about the UCSB campus.
We recommend it! Parents attend a separate but concurrent program that addresses
their unique needs, and introduces them to campus resources and academic life at UCSB.
Yes. After the FSSP residence hall move-in on July 31, there is a special Orientation session for
FSSP students and their parents on August 1-2. See the FSSP section of this website for more details.
Will I register for my fall classes while at Orientation?
Yes. You will leave with a full and appropriate class schedule for fall quarter.
Will I have a better chance of getting my preferred classes if I
attend an early session?
No. Orientation Programs holds class space in appropriate freshman courses and distributes it equally
during the sessions throughout the summer. Therefore, all Summer Orientation participants have an
equal chance of getting their preferred class schedule, regardless of which session they attend.
Should I wait to attend Orientation until my pending AP and/or IB
scores are in?
It is not necessary to wait to come to Orientation. Students with pending AP or IB scores will still
be able to register for a full load of appropriate courses at Orientation. Your Orientation advisor
will work with you to select classes that fulfill requirements but do not depend on pending AP or IB scores.
We offer foreign language placement testing in Spanish, French, and German during Freshman Orientation.
Math: The Calculus Placement Test is not a requirement
for all students at UCSB. However, for certain majors the exam is necessary
to place you in a math class. See the Placement Exams
section of this website to determine whether you need to take the exam.
Students who intend to take Calculus in the fall MUST either complete the Calculus Placement Test online
prior to coming to Orientation or have scored a 2 or higher on the AP Calculus AB or BC exam.
Please note: Students with college level course work in Calculus do not need
to take the Calculus Placement Test, but do need to bring copies of transcripts from the Calculus course to Orientation.
The Calculus Placement Test is available at
http://hw.math.ucsb.edu/placementtest/.
See the Math Department website for
details on math placement.
Writing: The UC Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE) is NOT offered
during Orientation. Students who need to take the AWPE should have done so when it was offered in May.
Students who did not take the exam in May, nor have an alternate way of satisfying this requirement,
must take the AWPE in the fall at UCSB. Advisors at Orientation will let students know if they have or
have not already met this requirement. Please see the UC website at
http://www.ucop.edu/sas/awpe/
for detailed information about the AWPE.
For those who choose the Program With Accommodations option, overnight accommodations
are provided in an on-campus residence hall, double occupancy, with students and parents roomed separately.
Remember to pack separately. Students are roomed with another same-sex student. Parent couples are
roomed together, while parents attending alone will be placed with another same-sex parent roommate.
Sheets, blankets, towels, and pillow are provided. The overnight is on Monday night for the Monday-Tuesday sessions
or on Thursday night for the Thursday-Friday sessions. Space in campus accommodations is limited.
Those who choose the Program Only option will need to make their own overnight arrangements.
Local accommodations are listed on this website.
I’ve submitted my online Reservation Form. Now what?
Freshmen: You will receive a confirmation postcard by mail with your assigned session date.
If you have not received your confirmation postcard within 7 days, please call us at 805-893-2197
to find out your assigned session date.
Transfers: You are confirmed for a session date online when you complete the Reservation Form.
If you log back in to see your session date, please note that any changes made by phone to your original
reservation are not visible online.
Can I change my session date?
Changes are subject to availability and service charges apply to all changes and cancellations.
See the Freshman or
Transfer reservation section of this website
for details. Changes and cancellations cannot be made online. Please call Orientation Reservations
at 805-893-2197 if you need assistance.
Why do I have to pay for Orientation?
Orientation programs are strictly self-supported and non-profit. We receive no state money
to offset the costs of the program.
Is there a fee reduction available for the cost of Orientation?
Yes. A limited number of fee reductions are available to eligible students from families with annual incomes
of $35,000 or less. If you qualify, you may apply for a fee reduction by completing and mailing the
Freshman or
Transfer
Application for a Fee Reduction on this website. Fee reductions are allocated based on need and in the
order we receive applications until funds are depleted. Fee reductions are not available for parent program fees.
When will I be billed for Orientation?
All Orientation charges will be billed in the fall to the student’s UCSB billing account
known as the BARC Billing Statement. Fee payment deadlines will be noted on the statement.
Can I pay by credit card?
No. All Orientation fees are billed to the student’s UCSB BARC Billing Statement.
The Billing Office does not currently accept credit card payments.