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 complete your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) and submit your SIR fee. If you only SIR and neglect the fee, you won't be able to get into the CalSO reservation system!
Frequently Asked Questions about CalSO
Click on the question, and you'll get an answer!
Signing up for CalSO
1. If I attend a later CalSO session, am I going to sign up for my classes later than everyone else? Am I going to get into my classes?
4. How do I change or cancel my CalSO reservation?
5. Can I bring my parents, spouse, and/or siblings to CalSO?
6. How do I pay for CalSO? Do you take a credit card?
7. I can't afford the CalSO fee. Can I get a fee reduction?
9. I can't stay for my whole CalSO session. What do I do? Will I be able to register for classes?
10. What do I need to do before CalSO? What should I bring to CalSO?
11. When should I make travel arrangements?
13. I'm participating in Summer Bridge. Do I still need to come to CalSO?
14. I am participating in UC Berkeley Summer Sessions. Do I still need to come to CalSO?
At CalSO
1. I live out of town. Can I come in a night early and/or stay a night later?
5. My parents don't speak English. Does CalSO provide translation assistance?
6. I have food allergies and/or require a special diet. Can I request special meals at CalSO?
7. Will I get to see my residence hall room at CalSO?
Can't come to CalSO
1. I can't attend CalSO this summer. How will I register for classes?
2. If I can't attend CalSO, can my parent or guest attend in my place, and sign up for my classes?
Answers
1.If I attend a later CalSO session, am I going to sign up for my classes later than everyone else? Am I going to get into my classes?
At your CalSO program, you will be able to complete Tele-BEARS Phase I (meaning you'll be able to sign-up for up to 10.5 units). Some classes do fill up more quickly than others, but working with an academic advisor and your CalSO counselor, you'll be able to identify strategies to help you get into some of the classes you really need during your first semester. Many new students worry that they have to take specific courses in their first year to successfully progress through the rest of their time at Berkeley, but there are lots of options that our staff will share with you. (A good example is that many students think that only English will satisfy Reading and Composition requirements, but there are also classes in Chicano Studies, Film, Linguistics, and many other departments that fulfill the same requirements.) Additionally, come to CalSO with back-up choices in mind (for example, think about a bunch of different freshman seminars, not just one, that might be interesting to you).
2. I heard that there are other CalSO programs that didn't show up on my registration page when I logged into the CalSO website. How do I sign up for one of those programs?
When you logged into our website, you were shown all of the programs you are eligible to attend based on your college and/or other identifiers we use in our reservations database. Unfortunately, you may not attend a program other than those identified on your personalized registration page.
3. I want to change colleges. Can I sign up for a different college's CalSO session? Can I change colleges at CalSO?
Change of college cannot be considered until you start school. You must attend a CalSO session for the specific college to which you were admitted.
4. 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 cancellation/change of program fee. 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.
5. 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 a first-come, first-served program for all attendees, 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 concurrent with, but separate from, student programs. Parents and guests may not attend the student program.
6. 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 at at the start of your first semester. (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.
7. 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.
8. If I don't intend to stay in the residence halls during the CalSO program, is there a reduced program fee?
Unfortunately, there is no separate fee for attendees who do not stay in the residence halls. All accommodations are single-sex, except for parents and guests attending the program as a couple, who will be assigned to the same room. Many CalSO attendees end up staying in touch with their CalSO roommates after the program is over.
9. I can't stay for my whole CalSO session. What do I do? Will I be able to register for classes?
Students must attend all of the academic advising and course selection components of the program in order to receive their Adviser Code and therefore be able to register for classes. All attendees are encouraged to sign-up for a CalSO session that they can attend in its entirety.
10. 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/before.html.
11. 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.
12. I participated in a campus visit program after admissions decisions came out. Do I still need to come to CalSO?
There are a number of programs that introduce newly admitted students to the University. They are designed to provide you with the information you need to help you decide if Cal is right for you. These programs include: the Alumni Scholarship Overnight Stay Program; bridges Senior Weekend; Fly-to-Berkeley; the Incentive Awards overnight program; the Overnight Host Program; and the Regents' and Chancellor's Scholars overnight program. These are not orientation programs and do not substitute for participation in CalSO. You are still encouraged to come to a CalSO program.
13. I'm participating in Summer Bridge. Do I still need to come to CalSO?
Summer Bridge students will receive some specialized transitional support programs during the summer, but are still strongly encouraged to come to CalSO to prepare for the fall semester. As a participant in Summer Bridge, your CalSO program fee will be waived. The CalSO reservations website will only allow you to sign-up for a CalSO program that doesn't conflict with your Summer Bridge schedule.
14. I am participating in UC Berkeley Summer Sessions. Do I still need to come to CalSO?
Berkeley's Freshman Summer Session and Transfer Summer Session are not orientation programs and do not substitute for participation in CalSO. You are still encouraged to come to a CalSO program. Please do not sign-up for a CalSO program that conflicts with your Summer Sessions courses.
At CalSO
1. I live out of town. Can I come in a night early?
We are able to accommodate early arrival CalSO attendees for an additional fee. You'll be asked about these arrangements when you sign-up for your program through our website. If you need help making changes to your early arrival accommodations, please contact our office by calling 510/642-4970 or emailing askcalso@berkeley.edu at least 2-3 days before your arrival date.
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. You will need to purchase a daily parking permit ($7/day) when you arrive on campus.
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 at 7:30AM sharp on the morning of your program, as we have plenty of time and staff to smoothly check-in all attendees before the program starts. However, we do strongly advise you arrive before 8AM.
4. I am attending CalSO with a friend who's also an incoming student. Can we share a room during CalSO?
Rooms are assigned when you check-in at CalSO. If you and your friend visit the housing check-in table at the same time, you may request to be roommates during the program.
5. 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 needs 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.
6. 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 needs 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. Vegan and vegetarian options are available at every program; you don't have to notify us in advance.
7. Will I get to see my residence hall room at CalSO?
Unfortunately not. You will get a sense of what the residence halls are like, as all CalSO participants will be staying at the Unit 3 residential complex. For complete information about the residence halls, visit the Cal Housing website at http://housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal.
8. I've signed up for CalSO, but plan to come with a parent who is not going to attend CalSO. Can s/he stay in the residence halls with me or other parents?
No. The fee for the CalSO program is inclusive of overnight accommodations. Parents who do not have their own reservation with CalSO will need to stay at a hotel or guest housing.
I can’t attend CalSO
1. I can't attend CalSO this summer. How will I register for classes?
It's essential that you log into our website at http://calso.berkeley.edu, click on the "I Can't Come to CalSO" link, and let us know why you aren't coming. Please do this no later than June 13, 2008 in order to receive critical enrollment information. Students who do not attend CalSO will be assigned Tele-BEARS registration appointments in mid-July. If you can't join us for CalSO this summer, we encourage you to attend our Getting Your Bearings program on August 26 (more information to be posted on our website in July).
2. If I can't attend CalSO, can my parent or guest attend in my place, and sign up for my classes?
No. Parent/guest programs are separate from student programs, and parents/guests may not attend a student program. There are also strict FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) laws that restrict who may have access to student records and information.
