Next Steps for New Scholars 2024-25

Congratulations on your acceptance to Cal Poly!

Step 1 below should be reviewed before and after accepting the Cal Poly Scholars financial award. The remainder of the steps are to be completed after accepting the Cal Poly Scholars financial award.

Questions? Email cpscholars@calpoly.edu!

Step 1

 

  Review the Scholars' Agreements & Commitments

Year 1 Scholars

The Cal Poly Scholars program is committed to supporting you:

  • build a personal support network for college success
  • foster an inclusive community of Scholars, and
  • develop knowledge and skills for lifelong success.

Our commitment to you will look like community and educational engagement opportunities such as mentorship, residential learning community activities, workshops and events, academic advising with the MSC, UNIV 100, and more.

By accepting the Cal Poly Scholars financial award, you agreed to the commitments listed on New Scholar Agreements & Commitments 2024-25. Please review and become familiar with the agreements.

New Transfer Scholars

The Cal Poly Scholars program is committed to supporting you:

  • build a personal support network for college success
  • foster an inclusive community of Scholars, and
  • develop knowledge and skills for lifelong success.

Our commitment to you will look like community and educational engagement opportunities such as workshops and events, partnerships for academic success with the Office of Writing and Learning and the Transfer Center, and community building among Transfer Scholars and with other members of the transfer community. 

By accepting the Cal Poly Scholars financial award, you agreed to the commitments listed on New Scholar Agreements & Commitments 2024-25. Please review and become familiar with the agreements.

Step 2

 

  Sign up for SLO Days and attend our breakout session

Year 1 Scholars

The following SLO Days sessions are set aside and recommended for incoming Cal Poly Scholars. Registration for SLO Days opens in early April. We look forward to meeting you at our breakout sessions during these dates!
 
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
The Cal Poly Scholars program will host a breakout session during SLO Days that will feature a program overview, a presentation from our partners in the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, and time for Q&A.
  • For in-person sessions, you can also stop by our table at the Resource Fair during Day 2 of SLO Days.
 
REMINDER: As a Cal Poly Scholar, fees related to SLO Days and WOW are covered.
  • If you’ve already paid, please work directly with the Orientation team to request a refund by submitting an Orientation Request Form.
  • Orientation fees will be applied to the accounts of students who decline or are no longer eligible for the Cal Poly Scholars financial award. This can be processed by accessing the "Orientation Events" tab in your MyCalPoly Portal.
  • For SLO Days, the cost of attendance for supporters, additional meals, and merchandise are not covered as part of your Cal Poly Scholars award.
  • For WOW, plan to bring $25 in cash for use while exploring campus and beyond!

New Transfer Scholars

Incoming Transfer Scholars will have a two-part SLO Days experience. For Part 1 of SLO Days, you have the option of attending either virtually (July 26) or in-person (July 27). Part 2 is a virtual advising experience August (date is dependent on your academic college). Registration for SLO Days opens in early April. Stay tuned for additional details about a Cal Poly Scholars specific breakout session during Part 1.
 
REMINDER: As a Cal Poly Scholar, fees related to SLO Days and WOW are covered.
  • If you’ve already paid, please work directly with the Orientation team to request a refund by submitting an Orientation Request Form.
  • Orientation fees will be applied to the accounts of students who decline or are no longer eligible for the Cal Poly Scholars financial award. This can be processed by accessing the "Orientation Events" tab in your MyCalPoly Portal.
  • For SLO Days, the cost of attendance for supporters, additional meals, and merchandise are not covered as part of your Cal Poly Scholars award.
  • For WOW, plan to bring $25 in cash for use while exploring campus and beyond!
Step 3

 

  Complete your University Housing application

Year 1 Scholars (required)

The 2024-25 Housing Application opens on April 9, and the last day to edit your application is June 16. Learn more at housing.calpoly.edu/student-housing/freshman-student-housing.
 
Notes for incoming Cal Poly Scholars:
  • At Cal Poly, students request to live in a Residential Learning Community (RLC) -- not a specific building. As a Cal Poly Scholar, you can request any RLC, but you are highly encouraged to reside within the Year 1 Scholars Community with fellow Scholars.
    • If you are also participating in the Education Opportunity Program (EOP) or TRiO Achievers, you might only be able to select a room within those respective communities. Note: All Year 2 Scholars, including those who are also participating in EOP and TRiO Achievers, are expected to reside on-campus, and are encouraged to live in the Year 2+ Scholars Community.
  • You can request a roommate who is not a Scholar! As long as you both request each other as roommates and choose the same community, you can reside in any RLC.
  • Looking for a roommate? Consider joining a group on social media with other incoming Cal Poly students!
  • To learn more about first-year, on-campus housing requirements, including possible exemptions, visit housing.calpoly.edu/freshman_live_on_requirement.

New Transfer Scholars (optional)

Incoming transfer students in the Cal Poly Scholars program are NOT required to live on campus.
 
The 2024-25 Housing Application opens on April 9, 2024 and the last day to edit your application is June 16. Learn more at housing.calpoly.edu/student-housing/transfer-graduate-student-housing.
Step 4

 

  Request your laptop

As part of the Cal Poly Scholars program, you will receive a free, new laptop! This device will be yours to keep, so be sure to choose the option that works best for your academic and educational needs.

Note: Based on your academic major or college, a laptop may have been ordered for you. An email was sent in late June indicating if you can request a laptop or one has been ordered for you. If your laptop has been ordered for you, you will not have the option to select a laptop.

Review our step-by-step guide for selecting and ordering your laptop!

Ordering Deadlines

  • EOP's Summer Institute Scholar participants - Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
  • CENG’s Jumpstart participants - Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Quarter+ Scholar participants - Sunday, July 28, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
  • All remaining ScholarsSunday, August 12, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Requests submitted after August 12 will arrive on campus approximately 1-5 weeks after the order date.

If you have questions about the specific devices available for Cal Poly Scholars, please email Deanna at d.hanna@follett.com. All other questions should be directed to cpscholars@calpoly.edu.

Step 5

 

  Join a mentorship or coaching program

Year 1 Scholars

As a new student in the Cal Poly Scholars program you'll be partnered with a mentor! Through one of our approved mentorship programs, you and your mentor will meet a minimum of three (3) times during the academic year - ideally once per quarter or multiple times your first quarter. These connections may include one-on-one interactions, small group gatherings, and/or participating in Scholars community events together.  

A few benefits of having a mentor include:  

  • Tailored peer connection and guidance to support your personal transition to Cal Poly 

  • Clarify university policies and procedures and direct you to campus and community resources and services 

  • Enhanced opportunities for campus and community involvement, such as exploring clubs and organizations and participating in Cal Poly Scholars events. 

More information regarding specific mentorship options will be shared via email this summer. Keep checking your Cal Poly email for details. 

New Transfer Scholars

As a new student in the Cal Poly Scholars program, beginning this fall, you will have the opportunity to connect with a Transfer Scholar Academic Coach offered through the Office of Writing and Learning and the Transfer Center! By joining the academic coaching program, you will be paired with a Transfer Scholar Coach who you will be required to meet with a minimum of once (1) per quarter for total of three (3) meetings during the academic year. These connections may include one-on-one interactions, small group gatherings, and/or participating in Scholars community events together.  

A few benefits of having a Transfer Scholar Academic Coach include:  

  • Tailored peer connection from Transfer Scholars and guidance to support your personal transition to Cal Poly 

  • Academic support during your transition to Cal Poly

  • Clarify university policies and procedures and direct you to campus and community resources and services 

  • Enhanced opportunities for campus and community involvement, such as exploring clubs and organizations and participating in Cal Poly Scholars events 

More details regarding sign-ups will be sent out later this summer. Keep checking your Cal Poly email for details. 

Step 6

 

  Attend the Welcome Reception!

Join us in celebrating new Scholars at our annual Fall Welcome Reception! More information and registration links to be shared this summer.
 

Date: TBD

Time: TBD

Location: TBD

Scholar Definitions
Year 1 Scholars New Cal Poly Scholars who are enrolled in their first academic year at Cal Poly as non-transfer students
New Transfer Scholars New Cal Poly Scholars who are enrolled in their first academic year at Cal Poly as transfer students
Cohort or Scholar Cohort A group of Cal Poly Scholars who enrolled, for the first-time, at Cal Poly in the same academic year as either Year 1 Scholars or New Transfer Scholars (ex. Scholars who entered during the 2022-23 academic year are in the 2022 Cohort)

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