Advising & Registration in

VSTAR
Instructions & Registration Strategies
for Beginning Students

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Table of Contents

Welcome to Purdue & the College of Science!

Tips for College of Science Success
 Section 1: Academic Advising
 Section 2: Your First Advising Appointment
 Section 3: Glossary of Registration Terms
 Section 4: Course and Schedule Planning
 Section 5: Next Steps
 Section 6: International Students

Note: There will be a quiz at the end of this presentation

07/18/2020 2
Welcome to the College of
Science and Your
Future at Purdue!
We’re excited you will be
joining us this fall! Boiler Up!

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A welcome message to you from Spring 2020
Graduate Maya Black

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Welcome to Purdue & the College of
Science
Purdue Success starts with you!
 This is your education, and you will be expected to work hard, ask
questions and use university resources to meet your goals. We are here to
help!
 There are no shortcuts to learning and innovation. Choose to be a focused
student from the very start of your Purdue journey.
 Just like your courses, everything we share in this presentation is needed
for your overall success. Thoroughly read and review, review, review this
presentation.
 Be sure to include our tips for College of Science success in your
academic success plan.
07/18/2020 5
 So let’s begin your
Purdue journey
with your first success
tip!

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 SUCCESS TIP 1:

Science is HARD
(but you already knew that!)

the College of Science

is HARD squared!

But you will do it…

with help!

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Purdue provides extensive resources to
support your success.
ACADEMIC
ADVISORS
Our rigorous coursework requires
incorporation of multiple resources to Friends and
meet your academic goals.
Students in FACULTY
your major
Counseling
and Dean of
Psychological
Services
YOU! Students
Tutoring
Services & Academic Learning
Private Help Rooms Success Communities
tutoring Center
Teaching Family
Assistants Mentoring & Staff
Support
Residence Disability
Life & RAs Resource
Tip: Get to know our resources before
Center
starting the fall semester by reviewing Registrar &
them here. Division of
Financial Aid

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 SUCCESS TIP 2:
Aim for success, not perfection. Never
give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to
learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear
always lurks behind perfectionism.

David M. Burns

Perfection in high school grades and test scores earned you your place
at Purdue. Now, the ability to strive for knowledge and innovation, and
to stumble, fall, and get up again, will be to currency of your success in
science and discovery. Embrace failure for only through failure is
scientific discovery possible.

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Section 1: Academic
Advising
We’re here for your success!

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Section 1: Academic Advising
How will my advisor help me?
Your academic advisor:
 Will be one of the most important assets to your success!
 Is your first contact for any questions you may have about Purdue
 Helps you investigate your strengths, interests, and abilities
 Works with you to form an individualized plan to help you achieve your educational and
career goals
 Helps you select classes, make choices, and explore options in your degree plan
 Connects you with campus resources for your mental, physical, and academic health

Read more about how you make your advisor part of your academic journey here.

07/18/2020 11
Section 1: Academic Advising
Who is my academic advisor?
After you complete your VSTAR tasks and quiz, an advisor will be assigned
to you.
 Your advisor will email you to introduce themselves and start the Fall 2020
advising and registration process
 You can learn more about your advisor by visiting your advisor’s website
here

07/18/2020 12
Section 1: Academic Advising
What will VSTAR advising look like?
 Academic advising and registration will start May 18, in the College of Science and
conclude July 10*

 Your advisor will send you a request to schedule an advising and registration
appointment. Scheduling this appointment will be based on your advisor’s availability
and your schedule.

 You will discuss your plans for Purdue and enter Fall course requests

 Fall 2020 class schedules will be available July 16

*Colleges and Schools will individually determine their first day of VSTAR advising
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Section 2: Your First
Advising Appointment

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 SUCCESS TIP 3:
Discover your own path to your Purdue destination

Along the way…don’t be distracted by the path and goals of others.

Determine your own footpath through Purdue.
We’re waiting to see what you will do!

Let your advisor know about your goals and plans for Purdue.
Share extra-curricular commitments (sports, band, ROTC, work,
etc.) and ideas you have about experiential learning such as
research and study abroad.

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Section 2: Your First Advising
Appointment
How can I set up a registration appointment?

Step 1: Complete your VSTAR tasks

Step 2: Complete your Student Information Form (SIF) found in the
your new student portal

Once we verify that you have completed your VSTAR, we will assign an
advisor who will contact you at your Purdue e-mail account within 10 business
days.

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Section 2: Your First Advising
Appointment
What can I expect to discuss and do during my first
advising appointment?
The focus of your first advising appointment will be your Fall 2020 schedule; four-
year planning activities will happen later in the academic year.
You will discuss:

 your interests, hobbies, high school coursework, and career goals,

 how your college credit can transfer to Purdue and how this credit may influence your
fall schedule,

 class choices for the fall semester and walk through the online Course Request process,
and

 anything else you’d like your advisor to know to help you build your first semester
courses.
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Section 2: Your First Advising
Appointment
How can I prepare for my advising appointment?
 Check your purdue.edu email account for an initial email from your advisor. Let your
advisor know if you have issues accessing the internet or a webcam.*
 Ensure your dual or transfer credit transcripts and test scores (IB, AP, A-levels, etc.)
have been submitted to Purdue. If you do not have them yet, be aware that:
 Scores cannot be used to choose courses until they are evaluated by Purdue University
 If your transfer credit/AP/IB, etc. are not available at your appointment, your advisor will
provide an alternative schedule that will used your scores once they are received
 Not all test scores and transfer credit may be used to meet degree requirements.
 Review the rest of this presentation for more information on requirements and
incoming credit.

* Your advisor will communicate through your Purdue email account only. Do not email from a personal email
account or forward your Purdue email to a personal account. 07/18/2020 18
Section 2: Your First Advising
Appointment
What if I want to change my major?
 If you are unsure about your major or are thinking about a change, let your advisor
know. You may visit the Changing Majors During Star website for more
information and deadlines here.
 Your advisor will discuss course options that will help you to prepare for and
qualify to change to a new major.
 You cannot officially change your major until you meet the Change of Degree
Objective (CODO) requirements, which are listed for each major at this link.
 Be aware that some majors are space restricted, which means that even if you meet
CODO requirements, you may not be competitive, based on available space in a
major to make a change.

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Section 3: Glossary of
Registration Terms

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 SUCCESS TIP 4:

We love our terms and acronyms at Purdue so get ready to

learn a new language as you navigate the next chapter of
your education!

To follow are common terms we use in advising

and registration.

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Section 3: Glossary of Registration
Terms
myPurdue
MyPurdue is your source of academic and financial account information at Purdue. You can
access myPurdue here.

Your will use your Purdue Career account to log into myPurdue to:

 Find your VSTAR task list

 Request, add, or drop classes
 Pay your bill
 Check your final schedule of classes
 Review your degree progress

By now you have already used myPurdue for many tasks. Your advisor will teach you more
uses in the future!
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Section 3: Glossary of Registration
Terms
myPurduePlan

MyPurduePlan is an online degree auditing tool that allows you to

review degree requirements and track your progress towards degree
completion.

You can access your myPurduePlan in myPurdue. More information

can be found here.

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Section 3: Glossary of Registration
Terms
BoilerConnect

BoilerConnect is a student information system that advisors

and other Purdue professionals use to support and
communicate with students.

You will use BoilerConnect to make appointments with

your advisor and other campus resources. You will receive
important messages through BoilerConnect in support of
your personal and academic success.

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Section 3: Glossary of Registration
Terms
Registration PIN

A Registration PIN (personal identification number) is a six-digit

number used to modify course schedules in myPurdue after you have
your Fall schedule.

This PIN must be used every time you change your schedule.
Your advisor will note your PIN in BoilerConnect, under the Reports
tab. Your PIN changes every semester. You will need to meet with
your advisor to receive your PIN.

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Section 3: Glossary of Registration
Terms
Pre-Registration Window
A Pre-Registration Window allows students to enter course requests
into the Course Request Form in Scheduling Assistant. Your advisor
will open your Pre-Registration Window after your VSTAR
appointment.

Open Registration
Open Registration allows all students to make changes to their course
schedule. It starts the day after schedules are released to all new
students. Important: Always contact your advisor before making any
course changes to your schedule.
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Section 3: Glossary of Registration
Terms
Recitation
A recitation is a scheduled class time, in addition to
lectures, in which you meet in a smaller group with your
instructor or a teaching assistant. Many courses use
recitation time for quizzes and questions.

PSO
PSO stands for “Practice/Study/Observation.” PSOs
allow you to prepare for your laboratory sessions or
complete experiential activities.

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Section 3: Glossary of Registration
Terms
Hybrid Course
Hybrid courses combine online and in person instruction. Typically,
lectures are viewed online in preparation for in person recitations. The
online location of the course will show as “TBA” (to be assigned) on a
course schedule.

IMPACT Course
IMPACT courses are hybrid courses in which one or more of the in-
person class periods consist of intensive problem-solving active
learning sessions, which usually have an attendance requirement.

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Section 3: Glossary of Registration
Terms
Distance Learning
Distance learning courses are courses taught completely
online. In some cases, exams may be required to be
proctored or completed on campus.
The online location of the course will show as “TBA” (To
Be Assigned) on your course schedule.

Course Request Number (CRN)

Every course has a unique number for each specific section
of a class. For instance, a course with a lecture, lab, and
recitation will have three associated CRNs.
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Section 3: Glossary of Registration
Terms
Prerequisites
A course or requirement that you must complete before enrolling
in another course. Some examples of course prerequisites are:
 Calculus 1 is a prerequisite to Calculus 2
 A certain test score is required to enroll in a class

Co-requisites
Some courses have a co-requisite course, which means that both
courses must be requested for a successful registration.

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 Section 4:
Course and Schedule
Planning
This is Your Purdue and Your Path.
Do not be distracted by the paths, choices, or
the successes of others.
You are in charge of Your Purdue.

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Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
What will it take to complete my degree?

 A Purdue University degree requires the completion of at least 120

credit hours.
 To complete 120 credit hours in 4 years (8 semesters), you will
average 15 credit hours per semester.
 A typical student will take 14 to 16 credit hours during their first
semester. This is equal to 4 to 5 courses.
 Students wishing to complete their degrees in less than four years
will work on an alternate plan with their academic advisor.

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Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
How do I Earn a College of Science Degree?
To graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) from the College Science,
a student must earn a minimum cumulative (overall) GPA of 2.0, meet major
GPA requirements and complete:

 a minimum 120 credit hours (for most majors)

 University Core requirements
 Program or major requirements
 College of Science core requirements
 A minimum 32 credits at or above the 300-level at Purdue West Lafayette
or a Purdue Regional Campus.

Your advisor will work with you each semester to keep you on track to meet
these requirements.
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Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
What is the University Core Curriculum Requirement?
All students, regardless of program/major, must complete the University Core Curriculum (UCore).

You will choose courses that meet Science Core curriculum requirements, which in turn will meet the
following UCore Outcomes.
1. Written Communication (Freshman Composition)
2. Information Literacy (Multiple Science Core requirements)
3. Oral Communication (Technical Writing and Technical Presentation)
4. Science (2-course Laboratory Science sequence)
5. Science, Technology, and Society (Multidisciplinary)
6. Quantitative Reasoning (Mathematics)
7. Human Cultures: Humanities (General Education or Culture)
8. Human Cultures: Behavioral & Social Sciences (General Education or Culture)

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Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
How will I Meet the Science Core Curriculum Requirements?
The Science Core curriculum requires the completion of professional development outcomes, which
are important to a College of Science education. These requirements can be found here.

 Freshman Composition (3-4 cr)

 Technical Writing and Technical Presentation (3-6 cr)
 Teaming and Collaboration (0 cr)
 Foreign Language and Culture (9 cr)
 General Education (9 cr)
 Multidisciplinary (3 cr)
 Great Issues (3 cr)
 Mathematics (6-10 cr)
 Lab Science sequence (8 cr)
 Statistics (3 cr)
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Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
What Science Core requirements do students commonly
take their first semester?
A first semester student will choose an individualized combination of the following core
requirements.

 Freshman Composition (3-4 cr)

 Foreign Language and Culture (9 cr)
 General Education (9 cr)
 Mathematics (6-10 cr)
 Lab Science sequence (8 cr)

To follow is detailed information about the Mathematics, Foreign Language and General
Education requirements.

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Section 5: Course and Schedule
Planning
Which class will I take for the Mathematics Requirement?
If you bring college credit for a Purdue math class via AP, IB, transfer, or dual credit, you will be placed
into an appropriate math course based on this credit. Math course placement can also be determined based
on SAT Math, ACT Math, or an ALEKS score (see table). You may review ALEKS information here or in
the New Student tab.

Course Description SAT (MATH) ACT (MATH) ALEKS

MA 16100 and MA 16500

Plane Analytic Geometry and Calculus 670 29 85
I (most Science Majors)

MA 16010
Applied Calculus I (most Biology 620 26 75
majors ONLY)

Note: you must have your official scores sent to Purdue to use SAT or ACT for placement.

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 Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
May I register for a Calculus 1 course if it requires a score that is higher than my
SAT or ACT score?

 Yes, if you take the ALEKS Placement Assessment and meet the minimum score for the course you
wish to take. The ALEKS can be taken more than once and the highest score will be used.

 Students must take the ALEKS assessment if:

• They have no ACT Math or SAT Math score
• Their ACT Math score is below 21 or
• Their SAT Math score is below 530 (if taken after March 2016)

You may not need to take the ALEKS if you received (or will receive) Math credit from AP, IB, A-levels,
dual credit, or other testing sources. Purdue’s Transfer Credit page may be used to determine how test
scores will be evaluated for credit. Consult with your advisor for details.

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Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
How will I meet the Foreign Language and Culture Requirement?
There are different paths to fulfilling your Language and Culture requirement which can be found
here. One option is to take a sequence of foreign language courses.

 Students who have had 2 years or more of high school study of a language must take a
language placement test or complete a placement interview in order to determine their first course in a
language sequence.
 Students with test transfer, or dual credit may not sit for a placement exam.
 Students with no previous formal study of a language should contact their advisor for permission to enroll in
a 10100 language course.
 Students who place into a language course may earn departmental back-credit for lower level courses. For
example, if you test into a 20100 level language course and complete the course with a C- or better, you will
earn departmental credit for the 10100 and 10200 courses.
 Important Note: International students meet the intent of the Foreign Language and Culture requirement
through their international experience at Purdue University.

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Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
How will I choose a General Education class?
The College of Science has approved over 1,000 courses for the General Education
requirement. We recommend that students search the list for options that allow them to
explore interests, deepen their knowledge of a particular area of study, or expand their
knowledge as educated world citizens. You may start your course review here.

Credit through test and transfer credit can often meet this requirement.

Special Request: Prior to your advising appointment, please review the general
education list so you can share at least three (3) 10000 and 2000-level course options
with your advisor.

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Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
How will my transfer and/or Dual High School Credits be used to
meet my requirements?
A dual credit course earns a student both high school and college credit. You will need to request that
an official transcript from the college or university where you took your course be sent to Purdue
Admissions. Awarded credit will be listed on your Purdue transcript at myPurdue > Academics tab >
“View Unofficial Transcript” link. Important Note: Regional campus courses (IUPUI, IPFW, Purdue
Northwest) transfer both their credit and grade.

How will Credit by Exam be used?

Students can earn credits through exams such as AP, IB, and A-Level tests. You can determine
if your test scores will earn you Purdue credit by going to Purdue’s Transfer Credit page.

Important Note: Not all test scores and transfer credit meet degree requirements.
07/18/2020 41
Section 4: Course and Schedule
Planning
What is a Purdue Advanced Credit Exam?
Course credit may be earned by taking a Purdue departmental examination (Advanced Credit
Exam). Exams are typically given at the beginning of each semester. A permission form from
your advisor and online pre-registration is required.

Advanced Credit Exams may be attempted one time only and require an exam fee. Exams are
offered for General Chemistry courses, BIOL 12100, CS 15900, Math courses, and COM
11400.* More information on advanced credit exams can be found here. Consult with your
advisor to see if any of these exams are right for you and your goals.

* Students cannot register to take the COM 11400 test-out if they are enrolled in COM 11400 for
the fall semester. Failure to pass the exam will delay a registration request for COM 11400 to the
Spring 2021 semester.
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Section 5:
Next Steps

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Section 5: Your First Advising
Appointment
What do I do next?
Step 1: Complete your VSTAR tasks and quiz
Step 2: Complete your Student Information Form (SIF) in your new student
portal
Step 3: Continue to review this presentation to prepare for your advising
appointment
Step 4: Watch for a Purdue email from your advisor starting May 12
Step 5: Schedule your advising and registration appointment in BoilerConnect
Step 6: Meet with your advisor to determine your first semester course requests

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Section 5: Next Steps
I’ve finished my appointment. What happens next?

 Review your Course Request Form to ensure it is submitted no later than July 10 and
follows the course recommendations you and your advisor have agreed upon for your first
semester.

 Review your fall schedule July 16 after 5 pm. If you would like to make changes to your
courses, contact your advisor immediately for advice before making any changes. 

 Important Notes:

• Do not rely on advice from friends when choosing classes. Remember, their path through Purdue is not
your path. Your advisor is always your best source of information.

• If you make schedule changes without consulting your advisor, you may take courses that will not
count towards your degree requirements.

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Section 5: Next Steps
What can I do this summer to help me prepare for the
fall semester?
Review the following websites, in addition to links contained in this presentation,
for more information.*

 College of Science VSTAR page

 College of Science Homepage

 College of Science Advising page

 College of Science Majors page

 Academic calendar

 COVID 19 FAQ

07/18/2020 46
Welcome to the College
of Science
and your future at
Purdue!

We will look forward to 47

 Section 6:
International
Student
Information
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Section 6: Course and Schedule
Planning
International Students and English Courses
 English proficiency is very important for academic success. Even science and engineering courses
include a lot of reading and writing. Professors speak quickly and cover a lot of material each
class.
 IELTS or TOEFL scores and sub-scores determine your placement into English courses. Based on
your scores, you might be:
• Required to complete the PLaCE program before you can take first-year composition (ENGL
10600 or ENGL 10600-I)
o PLaCE consists of two, one-semester courses, ENGL 11000 and ENGL 11100
o PLaCE courses help improve English language skills and introduce you to American
culture
• Placed in ENGL 10600-I for International Students
• Placed in ENGL 10600 for native English-speakers

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