New Student Advising and Registration

Registering for your First Term

Welcome to Seattle University!

We want to make registration for your first term at Seattle University as seamless as possible. Taking your academic interests and anticipated transfer credits into account, your Academic Advisor will help you build your first term schedule and complete your course registration. So easy!

To help us create a great first term schedule for you, we need your input. The steps below will guide you through your responsibilities in the registration process. After your first term, you will take the lead in planning, selecting, and registering for your classes. But, your academic advisor will still advise and support you through to your graduation.

Photo of academic advising staff on front steps of Lemieux Library at Seattle University campus.

We can't wait to connect with you and help set you up for success. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!

 ~ The University Advising Team

Fall Quarter 2026 - First-Year Students @ First Hill Campus

The following steps explain the advising and registration process for First-Year students attending classes on the First Hill campus.

We want to make sure your fall class schedule reflects your interests and commitments. Are you more of a science person or a history person? Do you want to explore issues of social justice or literature (or both)?

The Course Preference Form is an opportunity to share some of your interests with the academic advisors who will build your course schedule. Be sure to include all college course credits you anticipate completing before you start at Seattle U, even those that you haven’t yet completed.

We also want to know whether you’re a morning person or if you have outside commitments that may impact your schedule. With this information, we will do our best to accommodate your needs and preferences to create a great schedule for you!

Depending on your major, completing the appropriate placement exam is a critical step in preparing for registration. Math and language placement exams will determine the most appropriate starting course level for your degree requirements. If a placement exam is required for your major, this step must be completed before we can register you for classes.  

ALEKS Math Placement Assessment information will be provided on your New Student Checklist.

Review our Language Challenge Exams site for language exam requirements.

Students who have confirmed their admission to Seattle University will have access to the Challenge Exam webpage.

 

 

Be sure to review your schedule carefully. We will create your schedule based on the information you share with us on the Course Preference Form and any placement exam results. However, it’s important to check for potential time conflicts or courses for which you already have college credits. While our ability to change schedules based on personal preference will be limited, we can adjust for errors or completed credits. Please discuss any potential issues when you meet with your advisor. We’ll do our best to make it work! 

Academic Advising at Seattle University is more than just an appointment to discuss classes. Advising is a partnership in which you and your advisor collaborate to ensure that you get the most out of this educational opportunity. We’re looking forward to getting started over the summer to discuss your fall schedule, learn about your academic and career goals, and offer insights on how to make the most of your time at Seattle University.  

  • Students attending Redhawk Launch Sessions 1-4 do not need to schedule an advising appointment, they will meet with their Advisor when visiting campus in July.
  • Students attending Redhawk Launch Session 5 are required to schedule a virtual advising appointment to meet with their Advisor during the summer. See Step 6 below.

If you have completed college credits elsewhere, many of those courses may be equivalent to Seattle U courses and can apply to your degree. Please submit official transcripts for all college courses, AP exam scores, IB scores, and Running Start or dual-enrollment courses taken in your high school. Your high school transcript will not award college credits; contact the awarding college/university, the College Board (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) directly to order a transcript. Your official transcript should be ordered after your classes are completed and final grades are posted.

Most colleges use one of two national clearinghouses, and the cost for an official transcript is typically $10-$15. Just search for "[College Name] official transcript" on your favorite search engine for that institution’s instructions. Electronic delivery to Seattle U is preferred – request official transcripts to be sent to admissions@seattleu.edu. Any paper transcripts must remain in a sealed envelope from the awarding institution to remain official (if you open it, we can’t accept it!).

We will take care of your course registration, but we still want to meet with you!

  • Students attending Redhawk Launch Session 5 are required to schedule a virtual advising appointment to meet with their Advisor during the summer.
  • Students attending Redhawk Launch Sessions 1-4 do not need to schedule an advising appointment, they will meet with their Advisor when visiting campus. However, you can connect with your Advisor via email or scheduling appointment if you have something to discuss with them.

In the Orientation Portal, you will find your assigned Academic Advisor and a link to schedule an appointment. You will need to use your SU sign-on credentials to access the link.

Fall Quarter 2026 - Transfer Students @ First Hill Campus

The following steps explain the advising and registration process for Transfer Students attending classes on the First Hill campus.

While you will work collaboratively with your advisor to plan your first term schedule, the Course Preference Form will help us understand some of your interests and priorities as we prepare to meet with you. The form will ask you to upload an unofficial transcript to share what credits you expect to transfer. Be sure to include all college course credits you anticipate completing before you start at Seattle U, even those that you haven’t yet completed.

You will not be able to schedule your advising appointment, you must complete your Course Preference Form.

Depending on your major and transfer college credits, completing the appropriate placement exam may be required before registration. The placement exam will determine the most appropriate starting course level for your degree requirements. If a placement exam is required for your major, this step must be completed before we can register you for classes.  

Review our Language Challenge Exams site for language exam requirements.

Students who have confirmed their admission to Seattle University will have access to the Challenge Exam webpage.

To register for fall classes, you must meet with an academic advisor. We set aside seats for incoming students and are confident we’ll get you into the classes you need.

You will find your assigned Academic Advisor and a link to schedule a virtual appointment with them in your Orientation Portal. You will need to use your SU sign-on credentials to access the link.

Academic Advising at Seattle University is more than just an appointment to discuss classes. Advising is a partnership in which you and your advisor collaborate to ensure that you get the most out of this educational opportunity.

During your first advising appointment, we’ll look at your transfer credits and degree requirements to map out a pathway to your graduation. We also hope to learn about your academic and career goals and offer insights on how to make the most of your time at Seattle University. We’re looking forward to getting started! 

Please submit official transcripts for all college courses, AP exam scores, IB scores, and other sources of college credit. Contact each awarding college/university, the College Board (AP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) directly to order an official transcript. Your official transcript should be ordered after your classes are completed and final grades are posted.

Most colleges use one of two national clearinghouses, and the cost for an official transcript is typically $10 - $15. Just search for "[College Name] official transcript" on your favorite search engine for that institution’s instructions. Electronic delivery to Seattle U is preferred – request official transcripts to be sent to admissions@seattleu.edu. Any paper transcripts must remain in a sealed envelope from the institution to remain official (if you open it, we can’t accept it!).

Fall Semester 2026 - First-Year & Transfer Cornish Students @ South Lake Union Campus

The following steps explain the advising and registration process for First-Year and Transfer students attending Cornish College of the Arts who are taking classes on the South Lake Union campus.

To register for fall classes, you must meet with an academic advisor. You will find your assigned Academic Advisor and a link to schedule a virtual appointment with them in your Orientation Portal. You will need to use your SU sign-on credentials to access the link.

Academic Advising at Seattle University is more than just an appointment to discuss classes. Advising is a partnership in which you and your advisor collaborate to ensure that you get the most out of this educational opportunity. We’re looking forward to getting started over the summer with an individual appointment, in which we’ll discuss your fall schedule, learn about your academic and career goals, and offer insights on how to make the most of your time at Seattle University.  

You can schedule your advising appointment through your Orientation Portal. While advisors are eager to meet with students this summer to ensure you are fully set up for the fall, we recognize some students may not be available to meet virtually in the summer. In that case, we will reach out to connect with you this fall.

Students will meet with their Academic Advisor and other peers in their major to discuss fall classes and learn about advising resources.

If you have completed college credits elsewhere, many of those courses may be equivalent to Seattle U courses and can apply to your degree. Please submit official transcripts for all college courses, AP exam scores, IB scores, and Running Start or dual-enrollment courses taken in your high school. Your high school transcript will not award college credits; contact the awarding college/university, the College Board (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) directly to order a transcript. Your official transcript should be ordered after your classes are completed and final grades are posted.

Most colleges use one of two national clearinghouses, and the cost for an official transcript is typically $10-$15. Just search for "[College Name] official transcript" on your favorite search engine for that institution’s instructions. Electronic delivery to Seattle U is preferred – request official transcripts to be sent to admissions@seattleu.edu. Any paper transcripts must remain in a sealed envelope from the awarding institution to remain official (if you open it, we can’t accept it!). 

Certain majors use auditions or portfolio reviews to assess your preparation and place you in the appropriate course level.