Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of questions and answers to help you prepare for Orientation.
Am I required to attend the New Student Orientation program?
Can my parent/guardian attend?
What is scheduled for the day?
Will Columbia offer housing accommodations for out-of-town orientation participants?
How do I check on my college transfer credit?
Should I bring a portfolio?
I have transfer credit and lots of experience in my major field, will I still be required to register for introductory courses?
I'm an international student. Do I follow the same protocol as other students?
Will the orientation session be accessible for participants with disabilities?
How do I find out more about my immunization records status?
How do I know if I must attend The Bridge Program?
Is there a fee to attend orientation?
What are the Weeks of Welcome?
When will I receive my room assignments for the fall semester?
What is The Loop?
What is Loopmail?
What is the Campus Card?
I have questions that aren't on this page.
Am I required to attend the New Student Orientation program?
Yes! All NEW first-year and transfer students are required to attend an orientation session. This is your ONLY opportunity to learn about Columbia's resources and register for your classes.
Can my parent/guardian attend?
Yes, we offer a special program for parents and guests. Please be sure to tell us in your RSVP if they will be attending.
What is scheduled for the day?
Click here to see a tentative schedule for students and parents. Please note that Orientation dates and times are based on the student's major.
Will Columbia offer housing accommodations for out-of-town orientation participants?
Some of the students attending Orientation and their parents or guests chose to stay at the University Center. Some choose to stay at a Hotel. Just go here to get the low down on what the options are.
How do I check on my college transfer credit?
Only official transcripts can be used toward credit; however, unofficial transcripts can be used to help you plan your first semester schedule. Transfer evaluators will conduct unofficial reviews during Orientation . You must bring an unofficial copy of your transcript(s) or your green evaluation sheet from your transcript evaluator.
For more information about transcripts, please contact the Office of Transcript Evaluation according to your last name:
A through F, contact Corin Gagliardi, cgagliardi@colum.edu, (312) 344-7387
G through N, contact Michael Kilinski, mkilinski@colum.edu, (312) 344-7763
O through Z, contact Cory Byrd, cbyrd@colum.edu,
(312) 344-7352
Should I bring a portfolio?
If your major is:
Art & Design
Students who are transferring to Columbia College and have previously taken art and design courses at another college and/or university should be prepared to show a portfolio of your work to be evaluated by the Art & Design faculty who will be available during your Orientation and Registration session. Your work must reflect only courses taken on the college level. If you have large pieces of work, put them on a disc or slides to bring for your review. Your transcripts and/or grade reports from your transfer school may also be used in the evaluation process, however, it is not a requirement for the evaluation. Be prepared to answer very specific questions regarding your work.
Dance
All Dance students should come to Orientation ready to participate in a dance level placement audition. Please bring ballet slippers (not pointe shoes), a leotard, and convertible tights. For the modern portion of the class, bare feet are required. A changing room will be available.
PLEASE NOTE:
*Students who have had previous training in Ballet and Modern will participate in a Level Placement audition.
*Students with no previous training in Ballet and Modern are strongly encouraged to enroll in Dance Fundamentals and will proceed directly to schedule planning and registration.
All students wanting to enroll in Dance Center Courses as MUST attend an Orientation/Level Placement Audition date before each semester begins for evaluation.
If a student misses level placement auditions they may take various movement courses (that do not require an audition) and other dance academic courses, but may not enroll in Modern, Ballet or Dance Fundamentals without an audition.
Music
Music students who have experience reading written music or playing an instrument will take a series of assessments on their Orientation day. These assessments include a written music theory examination, a sight singing and aural skills assessment and a keyboard skills assessment. Music students taking these assessments should bring a pencil and eraser with them.
Musical Theater
Musical Theater Performance students will participate in a Musical Theater Dance placement and a Vocal Evaluation in the Theater Department, as well as a Music Theory placement exam in the Music Department.
For these placements and evaluations, you will need to bring the following with you on Orientation Day:
- Appropriate dance attire (leotard/tights or fitted shirt/jazz pants. jazz shoes are fine.)
- TWO contrasting songs (Cut to 16 measures each.)
- Pencil and paper for the Music Theory placement.
Photography
Students who are transferring to Columbia College and have previously taken photography courses at another college and/or university or have a significant amount of photography experience should be prepared to show a portfolio of their work to be evaluated by the Photography faculty who will be available during their Orientation and Registration session. Black and white or color prints should be made traditionally in a darkroom, however students may also include digital prints. Your transcripts and/or grade reports from your transfer school may also be used in the evaluation process, however, it is not a requirement for the evaluation. Be prepared to answer very specific questions regarding your work.
Film and Video
Students who have previous Film & Video courses from another college accepted to Columbia should come prepared with the course syllabus for review towards course equivalency credit . Students who have 16mm film production courses in addition to a course Syllabus should bring a copy of a film that was produced in the class and be prepared to take a film production test. Film courses taken at the High School level are not eligible for credit in the Film & Video major.
If I have transfer credit and lots of experience in my major field, will I still be required to register for introductory courses?
You are required to send your official college transcripts to Columbia for course evaluation, but if you have not done so, you are encouraged to bring an unofficial copy of your transcripts to orientation. In addition, some departments may request you to bring a manageable portfolio of your relevant work. This portfolio may assist you with placing into advanced department courses. Music and Dance orientation sessions will include audition and placement level activities.I'm an international student. Do I follow the same protocol as other students?
We encourage international students to attend orientation. However, if you are unable to come to campus prior to the start of classes, we will provide an online option for you. When entering into the RSVP system, you will see information regarding this special provision.
Will the orientation session be accessible for participants with disabilities?
Columbia College Chicago supports all students who have an interest in attending college. If you are a student with a learning or physical disability, please contact the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities, Sandra Saunders, at ssaunders@colum.edu or by phone at (312) 344-8134.
How do I find out more about my immunization records status?
The Illinois Public Act 85-1315 requires all students enrolled for six credit hours or more to provide the college with proof of immunity against tetanus-diphtheria, measles, mumps, and rubella. Before beginning classes you MUST confirm that your records are up-to-date.
To view a record of which specific immunizations you may be missing: Sign on to Oasis - Click the Student tab - Click on the Immunization link in the student profile portlet.
To obtain a record of immunization Contact your parents or your doctor to request that they fax proof of immunization to 312.344.8073 or 312.344.8091. Please be sure fax includes your full name and Oasis ID. You may also be able to obtain a record of immunization from the high school you attended.
Questions about Immunizations?
Columbia Student Immunization Hotline: 312.344.7390
How do I know if I must attend The Bridge Program?
Students whose admissions application materials suggest that they may benefit from the program will be notified by The Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Is there a fee to attend Orientation?
All new students who register for classes are assessed an Orientation fee, which will appear on the student's Fall 2006 Course and Fee Statement.
What are the Weeks of Welcome?
Weeks of Welcome comprise a series of programs designed to wed Columbia's resources with the needs of its freshmen and transfer students, as well as students new to Chicago. The activities offer opportunities to interact with other Columbia students, staff, and faculty, as well as some of Chicago's arts and media personalities.
When will I receive my room assignments for the fall semester?
Room assignments will be mailed to you in July.
What is The Loop?
The Loop is many things, but mostly it's the place you will start whenever you want to find information online. Specifically it's the student home page, www.colum.edu/students. From this page you'll be able to locate all the critical resources and find all the collected services and programs Columbia offers to support you. Links to Oasis, your email, Student Financial Services. Bam. News and announcements about registration, job fairs, counseling services, speakers, gallery openings, etc.. Students will be able to access the loop a week or so after they register. It all starts there. Bookmark it. Use it. Love it. The Loop. Yes, you already have an email address, but Loopmail is the official student email address, so you're going to want to use it. What's so official about it? It's the only email address the College will use to send you information about registration, your academic progress, your financial aid award, a weekly digest of news and events on campus and basically just about anything else that happens at Columbia. Two days after you register, you'll be able to check your Loopmail accounts. To do so, visit the Loop, www.colum.edu/students, and look for the Loopmail link. You may find that Loopmail looks familiar. That's because its Gmail (Google mail) by another name. Just custom built for Columbia College students. If you prefer to get Columbia announcements in your cleverly named yahoo or hotmail account, you still can. When you login to your Loopmail you'll be able to set it to forward to whatever account you want. Just remember. This is the only address these core messages will be sent to. Ever.
What is the Campus Card?
The Campus Card office is your student service center for Campus Cards (Student ID’s) and U-Passes. You will start off your day at Orientation getting your Campus Card and U-Pass photos taken; Campus Cards will then be available for pick up at the end of the day. Your Campus Card is the key to many services Columbia has to offer, it will serve as your Student ID, your library card, and has an optional campus debit feature called Columbia Cash. Columbia Cash is accepted at vending machines around campus; the bookstore; the library coffee bar; the Plum Cafes; and at printers in the open labs, library, and Art + Design. Columbia Cash can be used with the Book Charge program too, so check with Student Financial Services (SFS) for details at the beginning of each semester.
All Full-Time students are given a U-Pass during the distribution dates announced at the beginning of every Fall and Spring semesters. This pass will allow you unlimited rides on any CTA bus or train from the beginning to end of each Fall and Spring semester that you maintain Full-Time status.
Students and parents can add Columbia Cash to cards using the following methods:
-Credit Card: Via the online card office at www.colum.edu/campuscard
-Check: Visit the Campus Card office at 600 S. Michigan Ave., Room 601
Contact the Campus Card office with any questions at campuscard@colum.edu or 312.344.7300.
Have more questions?
If you still have questions, please call the Office of New Student Programs & Orientation at (312) 344-8675 or email us at orientation@colum.edu.