New Student Advising

Academic Advising Checklist

• Complete the New Student Advising and Registration Online Course. This online course, which includes four modules, is intended to help prepare you for your New Student Advising and Registration Appointment. The course contains lots of helpful information about degree requirements, building a class registration plan, registering for classes, and more.
• Sign up for a New Student Advising and Registration Appointment. In June, all students will receive an email directing them to sign up for a New Student Advising and Registration Appointment. You'll talk about your academic interests, build your class schedule, and register for your first college courses — right during the appointment!
• Submit your official college transcripts if you have taken college coursework and wish to have it evaluated for transfer credit. Students will then receive a transfer evaluation, outlining which courses have been accepted for credit toward your Lawrence degree.
• Send AP score report to Lawrence (if applicable). If you have taken any AP exams, you should have your official AP score report sent to Lawrence. 
• Complete any necessary placement exams. Lawrence utilizes placement exams for certain class sequences to help determine where students should begin in the sequence. Check out the list below to determine which placement exams you'll need to take this summer. 

Placement Exams

MATH 

If you're planning to take calculus or physics at Lawrence, you are required to complete the proctored ALEKS Math Placement Assessment during Welcome Week.

But before that, all new B.A. students must complete the online ALEKS Placement Assessment this summer before registering for classes.

The online assessment helps you:

• Understand your current math skill level
• Unlock the ALEKS Prep and Learning Module: a personalized, self-paced online review tool to refresh and build your skills

Completing the online assessment ensures you're ready for advising and class registration.

WORLD LANGUAGES

If you plan to take a world language at Lawrence, you should take a placement exam to help determine your initial class placement. This is especially important if you have already studied the language or speak the language at home, as a 101-level class might not end up being the best fit for your language level. While many of our smaller language programs offer placement exams during Welcome Week, there are several languages with online placement exams that should be taken before your New Student Advising and Registration Appointment:

• French Online Placement Exam
• German Online Placement Exam
• Latin Online Placement Exam
• Spanish Online Placement Exam

CHEMISTRY

The introductory chemistry sequence at Lawrence includes CHEM 115 and 116. Students with experience in IB/AP chemistry, or with other strong chemistry backgrounds, may consider starting the introductory sequence at CHEM 116. Students who wish to place out of CHEM 115 and proceed to CHEM 116 must take an online chemistry placement exam.

BIOLOGY

The introductory biology sequence at Lawrence includes BIOL 130/131 and BIOL 150. Students who have earned AP or IB credit in biology are exempt from the BIOL 130 & BIOL 131 course, but not the other introductory courses. Students also can take a departmental exemption exam for either BIOL 130 and/or BIOL 150 if they feel well qualified based on previous coursework. Contact the program chair, Judith Humphries (judith.humphries@lawrence.edu), for more information.

MUSIC THEORY

The Music Theory Placement Exam is required of any student who wishes to enroll in the Music Theory Sequence. This includes entering B.Mus. students (including transfers) as well as any other music-interested students who wish to take the Music Theory Sequence. The Placement Exam will be used to place you into one of four sections of first-year Theory & Analysis and Aural Skills courses, and into one of five sections of first-year Sight Singing courses. You must complete the exam in order to receive placement in any courses in the Music Theory Sequence. The Music Theory Placement Exam will open on May 17 and close on June 13.

All entering B.Mus. students (including transfers) and B.A. students who wish to enroll in the Music Theory Sequence should visit artusimusic.com and use your @lawrence.edu e-mail address to register free of charge for the Music Theory Fundamentals E-course. Complete both the Written Skills and Aural Skills Preliminary Assessments to assess your current level of knowledge and experience.  If you score below 85% on either of the Preliminary Assessments, work through the Music Theory Fundamentals E-course over the summer, in preparation for your theory studies in the fall. This E-course will be available between June 17 and September 15.

New Student Registration 

Registration Dates

All new students will be able to register for classes on the following dates:

• Tuesday, July 9 (8:00AM Central Time): New transfer students will register for classes 
• Wednesday, July 10 (8:00 AM Central Time): New first-year students will register for classes

Important resources

Registration Portal
This is where you'll build class registration plans and register for classes.

Registration Portal Tutorial Videos
Check out our tutorial videos to help to create registration plans and register for classes.

Class Schedule
Explore the full 2024-2025 class schedule as you prepare to meet with a faculty advisor.

Course Catalog
This is the official record of Lawrence’s requirements. It has full information about requirements and academic procedures and regulations.

Questions?

If you have any questions about new student advising, please contact Jacklyn John Fischer, Director of Advising, at 920-832-6986, or

Email Director of Advising