Hi! We're usually available by phone during our working hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm). But if you can't get a hold of us, maybe this FAQ page will hold you over until we're available!
FYI: in order to sign up for CalSO you need to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) and pay your SIR fee. If you just SIR, you won't be able to get into our system!
Frequently Asked Questions about CalSO
Click on the question and you'll get an answer!
Signing up for CalSO
1. I want to change colleges. Can I attend a different college advising session during the CalSO program? Can I change colleges at CalSO?
2. How do I change or cancel my CalSO reservation?
3. Can I bring my parents, spouse, and/or siblings to CalSO?
4. How do I pay for CalSO? Do you take a credit card?
5. I can't afford the CalSO fee. Can I get a fee reduction?
6. What do I need to do before CalSO? What should I bring to CalSO?
7. When should I make travel arrangements?
At CalSO
1. I live out of town. Can I come in a night early and/or stay a night later?
4. My parents don't speak English. Does CalSO provide translation assistance?
5. I have food allergies and/or require a special diet. Can I request special meals at CalSO?
6. Will I get to see my residence hall room at CalSO?
Can't come to CalSO
1. I can't attend CalSO. How will I register for classes?
Signing up for CalSO
1. I want to change colleges. Can I attend a different college advising session during the CalSO program? Can I change colleges at CalSO?
Change of college cannot be completed until you start school. You must attend a CalSO session for the specific college to which you were admitted.
2. How do I change or cancel my CalSO reservation?
Please go back to the CalSO homepage at http://calso.berkeley.edu, and log back in with your CalNet ID and passphrase. To change your CalSO session date, you must cancel your current reservation and then sign-up for another date. There is a $20 change of program fee. There is a $20 fee for cancellations made at least one week before your session. If you cancel within a week of your session, you will be charged 50% of your CalSO fee. Day of cancellations and no-shows will be charged the full CalSO fee.
3. Can I bring my parents, spouse, and/or siblings to CalSO?
Parents, spouses, and other adult guests are invited to attend CalSO, but we strongly discourage you from bringing any children under the age of 18 (the parent and guest program generally isn't that much fun for kids). CalSO is first-come, first-served, and our parent and guest programs tend to fill up quickly, so if you would like to bring a parent or guest, please act fast. It is important to note that parent and guest programs are separate from student programs. Parents and guests may not attend the student program.
4. How do I pay for CalSO? Do you take a credit card?
All CalSO fees for student attendees are billed through the campus' central billing system called CARS. Your CalSO fees will show up on CARS after school starts. (We wait to apply the fees to CARS so that students with financial aid packages may be able to have their aid cover the CalSO fee.) CalSO fees for parents and guests must be paid by credit card when you make their reservation. Parent and guest fees may not be charged to CARS.
5. I can't afford the CalSO fee. Can I get a fee reduction?
For students who are receiving Pell grants, your CalSO fee is automatically reduced (the lower fee will show up when you log into our website). If you are not eligible for a Pell grant or need an additional fee waiver, please send an email to Roseanne Fong at rfong@berkeley.edu explaining your situation (include your full name and student ID number). All requests are reviewed individually and confirmed with the Financial Aid Office before determinations are made. There are no fee reductions made for parents and guests.
6. What do I need to do before CalSO? What should I bring to CalSO?
Refer to the email confirmation that was sent out after you registered for CalSO. It contains all the information regarding where to go, what to bring, and what to expect. If you have lost the email confirmation, please go back to the CalSO homepage at http://calso.berkeley.edu, log back in with your CalNet ID and passphrase, and click on the link for another copy of your email confirmation. For more information about what to do before CalSO, visit http://services.housing.berkeley.edu/NSS/
Content/SPbefore.html.
7. When should I make travel arrangements?
Please, do not make any travel arrangements until you have actually signed up for a CalSO session and received your email confirmation.
At CalSO
1. I live out of town. Can I come in a night early and/or stay a night later?
We are unable to accommodate students and guests in our residence halls during the fall semester (students are living there!). Check our Travel page for local hotel information.
2. Where do I park?
Refer to the email confirmation that was sent out after you registered for CalSO. It contains all the information regarding where to park. If you have lost the email confirmation, please go back to the CalSO homepage at http://calso.berkeley.edu, log back in with your CalNet ID and passphrase, and click on the link for another copy of your email confirmation.
3. Where do I check-in?
Refer to the email confirmation that was sent out after you registered for CalSO. It contains all the information regarding where to go and when to check-in. If you have lost the email confirmation, please go back to the CalSO homepage at http://calso.berkeley.edu, log back in with your CalNet ID and passphrase, and click on the link for another copy of your email confirmation. Please don't feel rushed to check-in on the morning of your program as we have plenty of time and staff to smoothly check-in all attendees before the program starts.
4. My parents don't speak English. Does CalSO provide translation assistance?
When you sign them up for your CalSO program, please include your parents' language needs in the special accommodations field. If you've already completed your registration, please email us at askcalso@berkeley.edu (include your full name and student ID number). While we do not guarantee that we'll be able to assign your parents to a counselor who speaks their language, we'll try our best to accommodate your request.
5. I have food allergies and/or require a special diet. Can I request special meals at CalSO?
When you sign-up for CalSO, please note your dietary restrictions in the special accommodations field. If you've already completed your registration, please email us at askcalso@berkeley.edu (include your full name and student ID number). We work with Cal Dining to accommodate as many dietary restrictions as possible during our programs.
6. Will I get to see my residence hall room at CalSO?
Unfortunately not, as students are living there right now! You can find out information about tours at: http://housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/
I can’t attend CalSO
1. I can't attend CalSO. How will I register for classes?
It's essential that you log into our website at http://calso.berkeley.edu by October 16; click on the "I Can't Come to CalSO" link, and let us know why you aren't coming. We use this information to follow-up with students who can't attend with your course registration information. Students who do not attend CalSO will receive an email on November 4 explaining next steps and how to access Adviser Codes and Tele-BEARS appointment times. (Appointment times will be scheduled between November 7-12.) If you can't join us for CalSO this fall, we encourage you to attend our Getting Your Bearings program on Thursday, January 14, 2010.
You should also check our page, "What to do if you can't attend."