Prepare for Your Appointment

Students who have attended or are currently attending IU Indianapolis

To prepare for your appointment, it's important that you do the following:

  • Review your iGPS degree map to determine what requirements you still need to fulfill for your program, giving the highest priority to those courses required for admission to your degree-granting school.
    • If you’re not sure what courses you’ve already taken to fulfill requirements on your degree map, feel free to review your unofficial transcript or run a what-if AAR for your major.
  • Choose courses from your iGPS degree map to add to your iGPS plan. A good rule of thumb is to choose those nearest the top of your degree map first, while paying close attention to the number of credit hours you are adding.
    • Completing this step allows your student success advisor to review your classes prior to your appointment and to be prepared with their approval or have recommendations for you to consider before you register for your next semester at IU Indianapolis. This also allows more time during your appointment to discuss any questions you have.

Visit the video below to get a walk-through for this process.

How to add courses to your iGPS plan

A parallel plan allows you to plan for two majors and/or career paths at once, focusing on common coursework in the first year in particular. Parallel plans are highly recommended for students pursuing competitive programs and those who aren’t confident in their primary major choice.

To prepare for your appointment, we recommend that you do the following:

  • Review majors and/or degree requirements to determine programs that match your interests and skills. 
  • Bring a list of major options that caught your eye and the pros and cons you see with pursuing each program as a parallel plan to your appointment so you can discuss this with your student success advisor.
  • If you feel confident in a parallel plan, add courses that overlap on each iGPS degree map to your iGPS plan. Instructions on how to do this are included in the Schedule Planning for the Upcoming Semester section above.

To prepare for your appointment, be sure to do the following:

  • Identify the admission requirements for your degree-granting school. If you don’t know these requirements by heart already, go to https://acd.indianapolis.iu.edu/majors/, click on the major you’re pursuing, and then scroll down to the Get Admitted section.
  • Bring a list of admission requirements you have yet to meet to your appointment.
    • If you’ve met all admission requirements and need assistance applying to your program, prepare a list of specific questions you have about the application process. This will ensure you make the most of your time with your student success advisor.

To prepare for your appointment, you’ll first need to view the hold(s) on your record for the IU Indianapolis campus. Holds for another IU campus will not impact your ability to register at IU Indianapolis.

Determine what steps you need to take, based on your hold:

  • V00 probation: Prepare for your appointment by following the steps outlined in the Schedule Planning for the Upcoming Semester section above. 
  • V02 academic dismissal: Prepare for your appointment by following the steps outlined in the Returning to IU Indianapolis After Time Away section below.
  • V03 advising: Prepare for your appointment by following the steps outlined in the Schedule Planning for the Upcoming Semester section above.
  • V06 transition: Prepare for your appointment by following the steps outlined in the Admission Requirements for Degree-Granting School and Schedule Planning for the Upcoming Semester sections above.
  • V12 register for one term only: Prepare for your appointment by following the steps outlined in the Schedule Planning for the Upcoming Semester section above.
  • V26 sophomore exploratory: Prepare for your appointment by following the steps outlined in the Explore Other Major Options section below or the Schedule Planning for the Upcoming Semester section above.
  • V45 orientation advising: Prepare for your appointment by going through the three-step process outlined in the Already Attended Another IU Campus or College/University section near the top of the page.

Please note that holds not included above are not advising holds. In these cases, we help you identify your next steps, but are not the primary office able to assist with the update or release of the hold.

  • To prepare for your appointment, review majors and/or degree requirements to determine programs that match your interests and skills. 
  • If you’re uncertain which programs match your interests or skills, do some self-reflection and exploration by completing the Focus assessment and having your results ready to discuss during your meeting.
    • Don’t worry if you disagree with any of the results. The information may need to be interpreted by your student success advisor and can still be helpful to get the conversation going during your appointment.

To prepare for your appointment, please do the following:

  • Review your transfer credit report to determine any/all undistributed transfer credit. 
    • To identify undistributed credit, look specifically at the Equivalent Course column of your transfer credit report. If you see courses that have a department code with a dash then "UN 100,” this means the course you took previously is undistributed, and we need more information to determine if it fulfills a requirement for your program. 
  • For each class listed as undistributed, please gather the course description and/or syllabus to have ready for your meeting with your student success advisor. Having these materials in an electronic format is ideal for purposes of the re-review process.
    • Please note that the evaluation of undistributed credit can take four to six weeks after submission.

To prepare for your appointment, please do the following steps:

  • Make sure you’ve updated your admission status with IU Indianapolis. Undergraduate Admissions priority deadlines are November 15 for spring and May 15 for fall. 
  • If you are returning to IU Indianapolis after having been academically dismissed, make sure your reinstatement petition has been accepted. If you’re unsure about the status of your petition or need more information about the process, email reinstat@iupui.edu.
  • Review the iGPS degree map for the major you intend to pursue to determine what requirements you still need to fulfill for your program.
    • If you’re not sure what courses you’ve already taken to fulfill requirements on your degree map, feel free to review your unofficial transcript or run a what-if AAR for your major.
  • Choose courses from your iGPS degree map to add to your iGPS plan. A good rule of thumb is to choose those nearest the top of your degree map first, while paying close attention to the number of credit hours you are adding.
    • Completing this step allows your student success advisor to review your classes prior to your appointment and to be prepared with their approval or have recommendations for you to consider before you register for your next semester at IU Indianapolis. This also allows more time during your appointment to discuss any questions you have.

Visit the video below to get a walk-through for this process.

How to add courses to your iGPS plan

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

All new freshmen at IU Indianapolis take a first-year seminar (FYS) course that introduces them to student life, college expectations, the campus, and their majors.

Most students start their first-year seminar during Bridge Week, which is a weeklong program that takes place the week before the beginning of the fall semester to help prepare students for their first year of college. During Bridge Week, students make new friends, get a jumpstart on learning about their majors, and start connecting to campus activities and resources. You might even get started on some of your fall course work!

If you have concerns or questions about starting your first-year seminar during Bridge Week, let your student success advisor know when you meet.

  • Additional information: Most class notes provide additional information about the section, like meeting locations and dates, additional fees, and prerequisites. This is information you are responsible for knowing prior to enrollment. The TRANSFERIN initiative note is common and will have no impact on how course material is delivered or whether you will be allowed to register for it.  
  • Block enrollment: Courses that list a BE 499 course number or indicate BRIDGE or LC in the note require you to enroll in other specific courses linked to the one you are viewing. These classes require permission from a student success advisor.
  • Special populations: Be aware of courses that are for particular types of students. A rule of thumb is that you would probably know if you fall into the particular population listed. If you are unsure, ask your student success advisor.
  • Online courses: There are a variety of ways that online class material can be delivered. Make sure the course is a good fit before you register by reading the course description and contacting the listed professor or department with questions.

  • Dual credit: This is college credit a student earns while completing a high school diploma. To ensure you receive college credit at IU Indianapolis for the dual credit courses you took in high school, you will need to make sure to have the official transcript with these credits sent to IU Indianapolis Undergraduate Admissions from the college institution granting the credit. Credits are then posted to your official record within six to eight weeks after your transcript is received.
    • To get your transcript to IU Indianapolis as soon as possible, request it be emailed to mycredit@iupui.edu. 
  • AP credit: The Advanced Placement (AP) program allows high school students to enroll in college-level courses and to test their proficiency by taking an exam. If you have taken the AP exam, you should request that your scores be sent to IU Indianapolis. The Undergraduate Admissions Center will evaluate the results and mail you a credit transfer report. For more information on AP credit, click here.
  • IB credit: IU Indianapolis recognizes the rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. We will grant 8 semester hours of credit for higher-level exams with scores of 4 or above. For more information, click here.
  • CLEP/DANTES credit: The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Program (DANTES) enable students to earn transfer credit for what they have learned on the job, through self-study, or through personal interest. If you have already completed college or university coursework in a particular academic discipline and now want to test in that area, you may not be eligible to receive credit by exam. The Undergraduate Admissions Center will pre-approve an exam for IU Indianapolis degree students who submit a credit transfer agreement form. For more information on CLEP/DANTES credit, click here.

Math: If you have college credit that was completed within the last three semesters for any of the following courses, you are not required to take the math placement exam.

  • MATH 11000 (with a grade of C or higher)
  • MATH 11100 (with a grade of C or higher)
  • MATH 13000 (with a grade of C or higher)
  • MATH 13100 (with a grade of C– or higher)
  • MATH 13200 (with a grade of C– or higher)
  • MATH 13600 (with a grade of C– or higher)
  • MATH 15300 (with a grade of C or higher)
  • MATH 15400 (with a grade of C or higher)
  • MATH 15900 (with a grade of C or higher)
  • MATH 16500 (with a grade of C– or higher)
  • MATH-M 118 (with a grade of C– or higher)
  • MATH-M 119 (with a grade of C– or higher)

Take the math placement exam

Chemistry: If you have never taken a chemistry course, you are not required to take the chemistry placement exam. In addition, if you have college credit that was completed within the last three years for any of the following courses, you are not required to take the chemistry placement exam:

  • CHEM-C 101 (with a grade of C of higher)
  • CHEM-C 105 (with a grade of C of higher)

Take the chemistry placement exam

World languages: If you have never taken a course in the language you wish to study and have no previous experience with the language, you are not required to take a language placement exam. If you have taken at least one semester of a language in an academic setting or have previous experience with a language in another setting, it is required that you take a language placement exam.

Take a language placement exam

  • Changing your major at this point in the process is really no problem! Consider meeting with a career consultant to explore your options for majors and careers before your scheduled academic advising appointment. You can also explore all of the majors offered at IU Indianapolis here.
  • Call our office to reschedule, if necessary, or to make sure your appointment is scheduled with an advisor who can best assist you, given your change of major. Call us at 317-274-4856, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
  • To prepare for your advising appointment, you can follow the same steps outlined above with a new major in mind. If you’re uncertain what major you want to pursue, take a look at the information for exploratory students, and we can help you narrow things down further in subsequent academic advising meetings.

  • To connect with your student success advisor, you’ll need access to a computer, tablet, or phone with internet access, a camera, and a microphone. The link included in your confirmation email will connect you to them at the time of your appointment.
  • For your appointment to go smoothly, it’s critical that you complete the appropriate steps to prepare, as outlined in the sections above. Should you be unable to complete those steps, a follow-up appointment may be necessary after your initial meeting, possibly delaying your registration. 
    • Have questions or concerns about completing the steps outlined to prepare for your meeting? Give us a call at 317-274-4856, so we can help!

In addition to discussing the courses you need for your first semester at IU Indianapolis, your student success advisor will likely want to learn more about you, why you’ve chosen your major, and what else you do beyond school. There will also be time for you to ask any questions you have, so come prepared!

Student success advisors do not register students for courses at IU Indianapolis, but will make sure you’re prepared to register yourself immediately following the appointment.

The student success advisor you meet with will email a copy of your appointment notes that include your approved course recommendations, a link to a video that will guide you through the registration process, and a link to connect with peer advisors should you have questions or run into issues while registering.

If you have questions about registering for classes or need help to troubleshoot an issue, our peer advisors are available to assist you!

  • You can connect with them virtually here during the summer:
    • Monday and Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
    • Wednesday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
    • Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
  • You can also give our office a call at 317-274-4856, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. If we're unable to answer, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

  • Your student success advisor’s contact information should be listed at the bottom of the advising note they emailed to you immediately following your appointment. In addition, if you recall who you met with, you can find all student success advisors' email addresses in our staff directory. 
  • Email is typically the best way to get in touch with your student success advisor. While we always aim to respond to students as quickly as possible, some questions require a bit of research or outreach to other departments on our end. For this reason, please allow up to three business days for a response.