Academic Advising Center

Versión en español de estudiantes de nuevo ingreso

When will I register for classes?

All new Summer B/Fall residential, Fall PaCE, and Spring Innovation Academy admits are required to participate in an orientation program, Preview. New students register for all or nearly all their first term classes during Preview (Summer B residential freshmen will register for both Summer and Fall terms; Innovation Academy students will register for Fall connection classes at Preview – if desired – and then will register for Spring classes during their Fall semester). Some students may be registered for one course before Preview – a Quest 1 course.

All new students should check their @ufl.edu email for information on how to register for Preview and for additional information to come (don’t forget to check your spam folder in case the first email gets filtered out). Once you are registered for Preview, you will receive an email about your online Preview Prep assignment, which prepares you for course registration at Preview. You’ll want to be checking your email regularly for information and updates, and you’ll want to begin your online Preview Prep assignment promptly. Preview Prep will be available starting at 10:00 am ET on Monday, April 15, 2024. There are several other email reminders sent in the few weeks leading up to Preview, so check your email and take care of these tasks before Preview.

What happens during Preview?

At least a week before your Preview session, you’ll complete Preview Prep. If you realize while completing Preview Prep that you need a placement assessment, you’ll also take that assessment before your Preview session.

In Preview Prep , you will get a chance to:

1. explore majors,
2. learn about degree requirements and how your incoming credits are likely to apply to your degree,
3. consider your academic goals, and
4. begin to identify the courses that are the building blocks for your class schedule.

You’ll also learn in Preview Prep if you need placement for math and chemistry courses and will take any necessary placement exams at least a week before Preview.

All this will help you identify course options for your first term schedule(s).

On Day 1 of your Preview Session, you’ll meet with a Preview advisor and peer student Staffer twice in a small group setting to review the basic academic information learned in Preview Prep and to help you understand how this general information applies to you, your background, and your goals. You will attend presentations by two different colleges on campus to learn more about the colleges and their majors offered in your program. You’ll also have the chance to attend various breakout sessions on many topics. You’ll put all this information together with the information you learned and the courses of interest you identified in Preview Prep to develop a potential class schedule (with alternates in case of time conflicts or lack of availability).

On Day 2 of your Preview Session, you will meet individually with your Preview advisor. You will declare the major you feel you are most likely to pursue or select to be “Exploratory” for the first few terms. You will register for most of your courses while with your Preview advisor and then complete your schedule while working with the student Staffers.

When you leave Preview, you’ll be registered for your initial course schedule for Fall (and for Summer B if you are starting in Summer B).

You will have the opportunity to adjust your Summer B and Fall schedule during the designated schedule adjustment periods (5:00 p.m., June 28th—12:00 midnight, June 30th for Summer B and 10:00 a.m., August 2—5:00 p.m., August 21 for Fall).

Is there a “best” Preview date?

The University reserves seats in classes and releases them equally across all Preview sessions (and even over the course of Day 2 of each session). Students who register for later sessions are not at a disadvantage in getting into classes. However, there are not unlimited seats in any class, so at any given time a class may appear closed. Students are guaranteed to get the first semester courses required for their major, but for other courses (General Education, electives, etc.) students will want to have alternatives identified in case their first choice is not available. Students identify multiple courses of interest as part of Preview Prep, so they’ll have alternatives. Students can try to add preferred classes/times after Preview, during the designated schedule adjustment periods.

What classes should I take in my first term?

Most students will end up taking a combination of courses toward their major(s) of interest, Quest/General Education courses, and electives (including courses that explore other majors or minors or help develop skills, etc.). There are several steps to helping you select appropriate classes for your first term. Because there is a lot of information to grasp to make optimal decisions, you will first complete Preview Prep, which includes important information to help you select courses. During Preview, we will make sure you understand the information needed to select courses for your first term(s) and review your schedule worksheet. You’ll register for your classes during your Preview session. The University reserves seats in classes and releases them equally across all Preview sessions (and even over the course of Day 2 of each session). Students who participate in later Preview sessions are not at a disadvantage in getting into classes. However, there are not unlimited seats in any class, so at any given time a class may appear closed. Students are guaranteed to get the first semester courses required for their major, but for other courses (Quest, General Education, electives, or later courses in the major, etc.) students will want to have alternatives identified in case their first choice is not available. Students identify multiple courses of interest as part of Preview Prep, so they’ll have alternatives. Students can also try to add preferred classes/times after Preview, during the designated schedule adjustment periods.

What is UF Quest?

Undergraduate students take Quest courses to complete the general education requirement. Quest courses invite you to consider why the world is the way it is and what you can do about the problems confronting us. UF Quest promotes a high level of faculty engagement in undergraduate education, connects to and goes beyond your major, and gives you the opportunity to choose courses that are meaningful to you to complete the general education requirement.

The UF Quest Requirement
Students who enter during or after Summer B 2021 are required to complete the UF Quest 1 and UF Quest 2 requirement (unless they have earned an A.A. from a Florida public college/state university or are in the Innovation Academy program). Students are required to take one Quest 1, in their first year, to satisfy 3 credits of the general education requirement in the Humanities. They then take one Quest 2 course, typically in their second year, to satisfy 3 credits of the general education requirement in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Biological Sciences, or the Physical Sciences. Some Quest courses also fulfill the International (N) requirement and/or count toward the Writing requirement.

More information about Quest 1 courses

What happens in Preview Prep?

In Preview Prep, you’ll get a chance to

• explore majors,
• learn about degree requirements,
• understand how your incoming credits are likely to apply to your degree,
• consider your academic goals, and
• begin to identify the courses you might want to take.
• You’ll also learn in the course if you need placement for math or chemistry courses and take those exams before participating in Preview.

Everything in Preview Prep prepares you for the academic side of Preview, so you can be confident in major and course selection.

When should I meet with or speak to an advisor?

There is no need for you to meet with an advisor before your Preview session. During your Preview session, you will meet with an advisor twice in a small group advising setting and then in an individual advising session before you register. You will discuss your schedule for your first semester(s) and register for classes while you are at Preview.

What about majors? Do I need to know what I want to major in from the beginning?

Regardless of the major you listed on your admission application, if you are admitted as an incoming freshman, you will have ample time to explore majors and to change if your listed major does not suit your interests. As part of your online Preview course, you are given the opportunity to explore all majors offered in your program. You can also take advantage of the Exploratory student web site.

When you complete Preview Prep, you’ll be able to learn more about the colleges and majors offered in your program. You will declare the major you feel you are most likely to pursue or select to be “Exploratory” when you are meeting with your advisor during Preview.

More than half of UF students change majors at least once in their first two years at UF, so realize that you have time to explore and find the major that best suits you. Taking classes in multiple majors of interest is one of the best ways to really see what a college major is like, and which major is a good match for you.

In the meantime, you can check out information about the UF majors offered in your program:
   Residential Summer B and Fall freshmen
   Innovation Academy freshmen
   PaCE freshmen

I have no idea what I want to major in, how do I figure this out?

As part of Preview Prep, you are given the opportunity to explore all majors in your program. You can also take advantage of Exploratory student web site. In Prep, you’ll be able to view information about many different colleges on campus to learn more about them and the majors offered in your program. When you register for classes at Preview, you can declare the major you feel you are most likely to pursue, or you can select to be “Exploratory.” Either way, you should register for courses that will help you test out several majors of interest.

I’m pre-med, but I don’t see that listed as a major. What major do I choose?

Do what you love! UF does not have a “Pre-Health” major. Professional schools do not have any preference towards any specific major. You should explore majors and choose one based on interests and abilities. In the meantime, you can begin the process of exploring pre-health through our extensive Pre-Health advising web site.

I have taken AICE/AP/CLEP/IB exams. What courses will I get credit for and how will they apply to my degree?

As part of your Preview Prep, you will input the AICE/AP/CLEP/IB exams you have taken and scores, and we’ll show the courses for which you are likely to get credit. You’ll even see which General Education requirements the courses fulfill. UF will accept a maximum of 45 credits via exam. Pay special attention to this section of Preview Prep so you really begin to understand what requirements you may have met before your select courses. Your Preview advisor will make sure you understand this during your Preview session, but this information does take time to process. The more you understand beforehand, the more confident you will be in selecting and registering for courses. Exam course equivalencies will appear in the 2023-2024 UF Undergraduate Catalog, which will be posted on May 1. If you look at the current Catalog, be aware that some course equivalencies may change.

I have taken dual enrollment courses; how will I know what those credits will count for?

If you earned credits from a Florida public state/community college or university, you’ll compare the course prefix (first three letters) and the last three digits of the course number to UF courses to see if there is an equivalent course at UF (e.g., AMH1010 = AMH2010).

Equivalent courses will generally fulfill the same requirements (e.g., general education, major) that the UF course fulfills. UF accepts a maximum of 60 credits from Florida public state/community colleges. There is no limit on the credits accepted from Florida public universities or other four-year institutions.

If you earned credits from a private or out-of-state institution, the credits will be evaluated by your college to determine if courses completed will fulfill specific requirements. Typically, you will handle this once you are on campus and your final transcripts have been received by UF and posted to your UF transcript. During Preview, you and your advisor will predict what those credits are likely to count for to avoid repeating coursework.

Is there any reason I would re-take at UF a course for which I have earned credit?

It is not unusual for students to repeat courses that are part of a sequence, especially if they do not feel confident in their mastery of the material, if it has been a while and the material is not fresh in their minds, or if the student is embarking on a challenging load of courses and they wish to ease their transition. This happens most commonly in math and science sequences (for example, a student who took AP Calculus AB may choose to retake Calculus 1 in their first term before going on to Calculus 2).

Do I have to take any placement tests?

If you are planning on a major that requires Calculus or General Chemistry, or you are pre-health, you will likely need to take the ALEKS math placement exam. In Preview Prep there is an interactive tool which will help you understand whether you need this placement exam based on your majors of interest or interest in pre-health and any incoming credit for which you have confirmation. If you are interested in taking Spanish, there is placement information in Preview Prep as well.

How do I select classes for General Education requirements or electives when there are tens or even hundreds to choose from?

As part of Preview Prep, you are encouraged to identify multiple courses of interest in each General Education area as well as multiple elective courses. It’s impossible to explore several hundred classes during your Preview session, so it’s important to do this in advance. Having lists of courses of interest that you have already reviewed helps you have desirable alternatives when you are registering for classes.

How do I plan my time at UF if I am bringing in a lot of credits (or even completed my AA while in high school)?

Preview advising is designed to help you get appropriately registered for your first semester. If you are bringing in many credits, your Preview advisor will help you register for a tentative schedule. You will then want to contact an advisor in your college/major after Preview to review your tentative schedule and create an individualized plan of study, taking into account your intended major/career goals, what courses you brought in credit for, and how long you think you want to be an undergraduate at UF. You’ll have the opportunity to change your first term classes (if needed) during the schedule adjustment period(s).

If you are entering as a first-year student with an AA completed in High School, you’ll meet with a college/major advisor during a special Preview session for HSAA students.

Note that earning an AA a public institution in Florida does not mean you meet all Bachelor’s degree requirements. Many UF colleges have additional requirements beyond Gen Ed, so you may, in fact, need additional non-major courses. Consult with an advisor in your college to understand what is required for a Bachelor’s degree.

If you are Pre-Health, you will be more prepared for professional school if you do not rush through your time at UF. Most health profession schools seek individuals who demonstrate not only long-term success in a rigorous academic setting, but also long-term and consistent demonstration of dedication to the profession and the community through clinical volunteering, community service, research, shadowing, and leadership experiences. Applicants with only one or two years of these activities after high school are generally not as competitive.

If you are Pre-Law, you will also be more prepared for professional school if you do not rush through your time at UF. Most law schools seek individuals who demonstrate long-term success in a rigorous academic setting. Pre-law students must develop analytical and problem-solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, research skills, and organization and priority management skills. Applicants with only one or two years of these activities after high school may not be as competitive.

I was accepted to the Innovation Academy program. Where can I learn more information about the program?

Review the Innovation Academy web page.

I was accepted to the PaCE program. Where can I learn more information about the program?

Review the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about this program.