Orientation Advising for New Students

Welcome to the University of South Carolina! An essential component of New Student Orientation is your introduction to your academic college and advisement & course registration for your first semester at South Carolina. On this page, you will find helpful information and resources for your pre-Orientation and day of Orientation needs.

Summer 2025 Orientation - Academic Advising

Complete the following steps to prepare for advising at Orientation

Incoming students are required to complete Cocky Transitions, a set of online, pre-orientation modules that cover essential programs and services at USC. Cocky Transitions will be available to complete two weeks prior to your registered New Student Orientation session. Within these modules, you will learn more about your chosen academic college and the Carolina Core.

Complete the Pre-Orientation Advising Worksheet located on your Enrollment Checklist in the USC Admissions Portal. Your advisor will use the information you provide to advise you for courses.

You will complete the Math Assessment of Prerequisites online. This is a requirement before attending your Orientation session. Failure to complete the MAP will impact your advisement. You must take the MAP at least 7 days before your Orientation session.

Students must register to take the test via the Language Placement Testing Website. It is recommended that students take the exam at least two weeks prior to their Orientation date. Upon registering, students will receive an email confirmation with details about the exam.

How prior coursework will transfer to USC is a key concern for many transfer students. If you have questions about how and if prior coursework will apply to your major, review the transfer student guide to credit articulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions maintains a table of the USC credit you may receive for high scores on Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams.

Be sure to request that testing agencies send official AP/IB credit directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The AP code for USC is 5818.

Consult the Transfer Equivalency Tables provided by the University Registrar.

Be sure to submit official, sealed transcripts for all coursework at non-USC institutions to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

DegreeWorks is an online academic planning tool that helps you review your progress toward degree completion. DegreeWorks will show all requirements for your intended major. Prior coursework received and processed will also appear.

You can access your DegreeWorks audit in Self Service Carolina.

Learn more about the Carolina Core, its requirements, and its courses. Please Note: some majors require specific Carolina Core courses. Not all courses listed on the website may apply to all majors. Your advisor will share more about this when you are advised.

Did you know that if you want to change your major it’s crucial to do so BEFORE your New Student Orientation session? It’s true! Whether you know you want to change your major or simply want to have a conversation about whether your current major is the right one, meeting with an Exploratory Advisor is your next step. Incoming Student Major Change appointments will be offered beginning Monday, April 28, 2025. Schedule an Incoming Student Major Change appointment with the Office of Exploratory Advising through EAB Navigate (login with your USC username and password).

Academic Advising