Learn about what you need to do to prepare for an exciting first year here at UCIrvine. Click here!

Students:

1. Do I have to attend SPOP? What can I expect at SPOP?*

2. Do my parents have to attend?

3. Are there scholarships for the orientation programs?

4. Can Transfers attend SPOP?

5. What is the room arrangement at SPOP?

6. Where is UCItems located and what do I need to get a student ID card?

7. Is academic advising included in SPOP?

8. I received a scholarship but I already paid full price for the session. How and when do I get refunded?

9. Is parking free?

10. Do I register for classes at SPOP?

11. How do I register for Placement Testing?

12. Can I make a reservation for Summer Orientation over the phone?

13. Why didn't I get my first choice for orientation dates?

14. How do I activate my UCInetID?

15. What if more than 1 member of our family will be starting at UCI this year?

16. What if I cannot afford to pay for SPOP?

17. What if I still cannot afford the program?

18. What if I cannot make it to any of the SPOP dates?

19. I am an international student and visa restrictions prevent me from entering the US in time for any of the orientation programs. What should I do?

20. I will be attending the Freshman Summer Start Program, do I stil need to attend SPOP?

Parents:

1. Do parents have to attend?

2. How do I get from John Wayne Airport to SPOP or Transfer Success?

3. How do I make hotel arrangements?

4. Can I bring more than 2 parent/guardians or a brother or sister?


Students:

1. Do I have to attend SPOP? What can I expect at SPOP?*
If you are a freshman, Yes. SPOP offers a comprehensive orientation to UCI. Academic advising, program planning and class registration are part of all the programs for freshman. Campus tours, social activities and meeting current and new UCI students are also available at SPOP. You can attend SPOP with or without your parents/guardian ...whatever works for you!
(*Students participating in CAMP or Summer Bridge do not attend SPOP)

2. Do my parents have to attend?
While parents/guardians of new students are welcome at Summer Orientation, they are not required to attend. Up to 75% of our student participants attend without their parents.

3. Are there scholarships for the orientation programs?
Yes, partial scholarships are available for STUDENTS ONLY! We work with the Financial Aid Office and scholarships are based on need and meeting all prior deadlines for Financial Aid. If you qualify, your rate will be automatically reduced when you sign up. Please visit https://www.ofas.uci.edu/visualaid/ to check on the status of your financial aid package.

4. Can Transfers attend SPOP?
Unfortunately, No. SPOP is geared to "first-timers" to college. We do have a program geared towards transfer students called Transfer Success. While Transfer Success is an excellent resource, please note, it does not include academic advising. Academic advising is mandatory for all incoming students. If you are a transfer student, be sure to schedule an advising session with your school as soon as possible.

5. What is the room arrangement at SPOP?
Within each residence hall there are single sex suites only!

6. Where is UCItems located and what do I need to get a student ID card?
UCItems is located in the UCI Student Center. You will need your student ID number to obtain an ID card. There is time during SPOP to get your photo ID

7. Is academic advising included in SPOP?
Yes. Academic Advising is one of the many benefits of attending SPOP. You will receive the advising that is required for you to register for your classes during orientation.

8. I received a scholarship but I already paid full price for the session. How and when do I get refunded?
Please contact us at orientation@uci.edu or (949) 824-5182.

9. Is parking free?
No. You will have to purchase a parking permit at the parking structure upon arrival.

10. Do I register for classes at SPOP?
Yes, freshmen register for classes at SPOP. Incoming transfer students register for classes after they receive academic advising.

11. How do I register for Placement Testing?
Placement testing precedes each of our programs; however, it is highly recommended that students test in June. Students can sign up for Placement Testing separately on either the SPOP site, or the Testing Office site. Questions? Call (949) 824-6207. Refer back to the Orientation 2008 home page for links to important placement testing links.

12. Can I make a reservation for Summer Orientation over the phone?
No. Reservation for orientation will be available in May 2008. We will only accept reservations for orientation online. All reservations will be processed in the order they are received by our office. All confirmations will be sent via email unless otherwise noted.

13. Why didn't I get my first choice for orientation dates?
Unfortunately we are limited in the number of students and parents we can accommodate at each orientation. If your first choice is full when we receive your reservation, please try to find another program to attend or add yourself to the wait list.

14. How do I activate my UCInetID?
Your UCInetID allows you to sign up for orientation & placement testing and to access e-mail and other services at UCI. Activation of your UCInetID will be available in early May 2008. In order to complete your activation, you will need your student ID number, date of birth, and social security number. Instructions are provided by UCI's Network and Academic Computing Services (NACS) at http://activate.uci.edu.

15. What if more than 1 member of our family will be starting at UCI this year?
Please sign up each student individually for orientation. UCI wants to make sure that every new student receives academic advising before enrollment in classes begins. Our current Summer Orientation registration request website can only accommodate 1 student per order. Please place reservations for any additional students separately.

16. What if I cannot afford to pay for SPOP?
We understand that not all students can afford to pay the reservation fee for SPOP.  In many cases, students who have difficulty with the reservation fee will have qualified for a scholarship rate (see question #3).

17. What if I still cannot afford the program?
Whether or not you qualified for a scholarship, if you still cannot afford the reservation fee, you have two options.  In some cases it is possible to receive a deferred payment.  This means you can attend a SPOP this summer, but will not be required to pay for it until the fall.  The second option is to request an exception.  If an exception is granted, you will not be required to attend SPOP, and will make arrangements for alternative academic advising and course enrollment.  To request a deferred payment or an exception, please visit this link.

18. What if I cannot make it to any of the SPOP dates?
SPOP is required for all incoming freshmen, so you are strongly encouraged to arrange your schedule to accommodate a program.  If this is absolutely impossible, you can request an exception at the following link. If an exception is granted, you will not be required to attend SPOP, and will make arrangements for alternative academic advising and course enrollment.  Please note, documentation will be required in order for an exception to be granted. 

19. I am an international student and visa restrictions prevent me from entering the US in time for any of the orientation programs. What should I do?
If you are an international student and you are unable to be in the country in time for SPOP, you should submit an exception request at the following link: (link will be provided when reservations for SPOP open). When the request is granted additional information on how to receive academic advising and enroll in classes will be provided. International Students will receive an orientation through the International Student Center in September during Welcome Week.

20. I will be attending the Freshman Summer Start Program, do I stil need to attend SPOP?
Yes, you still need to attend SPOP. There is no academic advising / fall quarter registration during Freshman Summer Start and you need to complete this at SPOP. You will also need to register for one of the first 7 SPOP dates, since the Freshman Summer Start Program begins August 4th.


Parents:
1. Do parents have to attend?
While parents/guardians of new students are welcome at Summer Orientation, they are not required to attend. Up to 75% of our student participants attend without their parents.

2. How do I get from John Wayne Airport to SPOP or Transfer Success?
Click here for printable directions and a map webpage for this information. You would need to park in the "Student Center Parking Structure"(SCPS) or the "Mesa Parking Structure"(MPS).
DIRECTIONS

3. How do I make hotel arrangements?
Please download the pdf below for a listing of special SPOP rates at hotels in our area. Please contact the hotel directly for current UCI rates.
SPOP Hotels
For additional hotels, visit this link.

4. Can I bring more than 2 parent/guardians or a brother or sister?
Spacing is limited and only available to students and 2 parents/guardians. If you require additional parent/guardian spots, please contact our office to see if an exception can be made at orientation@uci.edu or (949) 824-5182

Campus Contact Information

Academic Contact Information