Congratulations, you're officially a Torero!

Claim Your USDOne Account and Email Address

Your USDOne account will help you stay connected and informed on the things that matter — your academic progress, our state-of-the-art resources, the happenings of the Torero community and more. If you're not sure how to claim your account, these step-by-step instructions should help you. If you have followed the instructions and are still having trouble claiming your account, give the ITS Help Desk a call.

Once you have claimed your USDOne account, please pause on completing the next steps on this list. It can take up to two days for your account to be fully active in all of our systems, and you won't be able to submit your questionnaire until this has happened.

From now on, you will NOT receive any emails to your personal email accounts (i.e., Outlook, Gmail, etc.). Be sure to check your USD email regularly for important updates and information, including on the academic advising process.

Download the Guidebook App

Please wait 24-48 hours after claiming your USDOne account and email before completing this step!

Download the Guidebook App and the New Toreros Guide starting May 9th! This guide will have all important spring/summer dates and deadlines, plus the orientation schedule. Guidebook will also be used throughout your entire first year for important Learning Communities events. Please make sure you have push notifications turned on, as this is how we will let you know that new information is available.

2 videos explaining how to download and use the guidebook app.

First, watch this video for how to download the Guidebook App, then access the USD Space and USD New Torero Guide once in the app. Please log in and create an account using the Single Sign On (SSO) option with your USDOne account (i.e., your USD email address and password).
Once you have downloaded the Guidebook App and the "USD New Toreros 2026-2027" guide, please watch this video to learn the basics of how to navigate once you are in the app.

Submit the Transfer Student Questionnaire

Are you thinking you want to major in Communication Studies? Or maybe Marketing? What about Mechanical Engineering? Whatever you choose (and trust us, there is plenty to choose from!), please complete the Transfer Student Questionnaire so that we can direct you to the appropriate advising offices. This will help ensure your advisor is prepared for your mandatory advising appointment.

The Transfer Student Questionnaire will be available beginning May 13 at 2 p.m. PT. To access it, log into your MySanDiego portal and navigate to Admissions > New Student and then select "New Student Checklist."

Submit Official College Transcripts

You've worked hard to be here, and we want to make sure those efforts are accounted for. If you haven't already done so, make sure to send in all official, final college transcripts.

• We can't accept any screenshots of grades or unofficial transcripts.
• If you have college work from a university outside the U.S, you are required to submit an officil course-by-course evaluation of your international transcript as part of your application. You can request a course-by-course evaluation from one of the following evaluation services: Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), International Education Research Foundation (IERF), The Evaluation Company (TEC), or World Education Services (WES). We can also accept a course-by-course evaluation from any current member of NACES.

Transcripts can be mailed to the Office of Undergraduate Admission or sent to admissions@sandiego.edu.

Submit Official High School Transcripts

USD policy requires that all incoming students provide proof of high school completion. Please request your official final high school transcript or other proof of high school completion (such as GED results or evidence of an associate degree) as soon as possible. Failure to do so will result in a hold being placed on your account until the document comes in, which can cause delays with registration and with financial aid disbursement, if applicable. Request that your official proof of high school completion documentation be sent to admissions@sandiego.edu.

Review Transferred Units in Degree Works

Any transcripts already received by USD are currently being evaluated to meet Core Curriculum, major and minor requirements. Once the Office of the Registrar has finished evaluating your transcripts through Spring 2026, your transferred units will show up in Degree Works, the university's degree audit reporting and academic planning system.

If a course you had taken at a previous institution is listed as an elective on Degree Works, and you would like to request an additional evaluation to see if it may fulfill a Core Curriculum, major or minor requirement, fill out the Pre-USD Transfer Course Evaluation Form form.

Submit Your Housing Application (If Applicable)

USD sits at the top of a hill, giving students some of the most spectacular views in San Diego. If you would like to enjoy those views 24/7, or if you are required to live on campus, make sure to submit a housing application. Please note that you are required to live on campus for two semesters unless you satisfy at least one of the following:

• You are 20 years of age or older by August 31, 2026
• You have completed at least 60 units of coursework prior to attending USD
• You have completed at least four full-time semesters of consecutive coursework prior to attending USD

If you are not required to live on campus, please know our housing is very limited, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. See the Residential Life website for more information.

Placement Surveys (If Applicable)

All incoming students must complete placement exams in three areas to ensure you're enrolled in courses that match your skill level. If you've earned credit through AP/IB scores or equivalent university-level coursework, you can skip the placement exam and enroll directly into the next level course.

Required Placement Exams

• Writing Placement Survey: Determines your appropriate writing course level.
• Math Placement Survey: Ensures your placed in the right math course for your skill level.
• Second Language Placement Exam: All students must complete third-semester competency (201) or higher in a second language to earn their core attribute.

Which applies to you?

• Placement Exam: I want to continue studying a language I've taken before or speak in a family or social setting. (The placement exam determines the appropriate course level for you)
• Waiver of Placement: I want to begin studying a completely new language at the 101 level.
• Competency Exam: I already have advanced proficient in a language other than English, and plan to test out of the second language requirement entirely.
• Requirement Already Satisfied: I have satisfied the requirement with AP exam scores or transfer credits.

Wellness Support (If Applicable)

If you have an ongoing psychological or physical health condition, need regular access to prescription medication, or have a documented disability requesting accommodation, please contact the appropriate Wellness program prior to arriving on campus.

Submit Required Immunization Forms

For step-by-step instructions on submitting your required immunizations, including your COVID-19 vaccination information, head to the Student Health Center's page on Required Immunizations and TB Screenings. If you have any questions or concerns about your submission, you'll want to send a secure message to the Immunizations Team directly through your MyWellness portal.

The deadline to submit your immunization forms is July 1; however, you can stil submit your documents after this date but there may be a delay in processing the removal of the registration hold.

Complete FERPA

Just as you may have done at your previous college or institution, you must complete FERPA again.

Per Federal Law, once school starts, you are now the sole party allowed access to your educational documents, unless you say otherwise. Talk with your parents or supporters about who, if anyone, will be authorized to view your information. Give these people access by the end of the month through your MySanDiego portal.

Get Ready for OLÉ! Weekend & Register for Parent and Family Orientation

OLÉ! Weekend orientation is quickly approaching next month. OLÉ! Weekend is mandatory for students and does not require registration as it is already included! Make sure you have checked the OLÉ! Weekend website and the full schedule on the Guidebook App and USD New Torero Guide once in the app.

If your family and supporters plan to attend Parent and Family Orientation in the fall, registration opens in early July. Check the Parent and Family Relations website for more information.

Complete the Mandatory Online Pre-Orientation Education Course Series on Canvas

As part of our commitment to the well-being of our students and to creating a diverse and welcoming community, all new undergraduate students are required to complete an online education course series which includes modules on the following topics:

• AlcoholEdu for College
• Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates
• Mental Well-Being for Students (suggested/not required)
• Hazing Awareness and Prevention
• Building a Welcoming Community
• Emergency Preparedness
• Civil Discourse

These mandatory courses will be released on Canvas in mid-July and will be due August 24th at 11:59 p.m. PT.

All students must complete this year's course series, including deferred students who might have already completed the course from last year. This ensures that all students have the most up-to-date information and that USD is complying with federal requirements.

IMPORTANT NOTE: A $250 non-compliance fee will be assessed directly to students who do not fully comply with completing the New Undergraduate Student Education course requirements by the indicated deadline. This is a non-negotiable non-compliance fee that will be assessed directly to your Student Account. A New Student Programs Hold (NS) will be placed on your student account should you fail to complete the Emergency Preparedness & Civil Discourse modules in Canvas AND attend in-person orientation (OLÉ! Weekend). You will be required to meet with a member of the New Student Programs team if you do not attend in-person orientation to remove this hold.

Submit a Photo for Your Torero ID Card

Your Torero ID card will give you access to services both on campus and off.

To submit your photo for your ID card, log into your MySanDiego portal, navigate to Torero Hub > My Torero Services and search for "Upload your Photo."

Student Health Insurance Requirement

All full-time USD undergraduate, graduate and law students are required to have health insurance. At the beginning of every academic year, students need to decide to enroll in or waive out of the USD Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP, Provided by Aetna). This requirement ensures that students in need of health and/or mental health care beyond the scope of services provided by USD Student Wellness can access the appropriate care and resources in the community. Learn more about USD's health insurance requirements.

The deadline to enroll in or waive out of the student health insurance plan for the Fall 2026 semester is early September. If a waiver form is not submitted by the published deadline, then all eligible students will automatically be enrolled in the "Annual Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan" and are responsible for the premium charged to their student account.

Complete All Financial Aid Requirements

You earned your money — make sure you claim it! You can complete all financial aid requirements on your MySanDiego portal, including verification documents, loan applications and information regarding scholarships.

To access your financial aid information and accept your award, navigate to Torero Hub > My Financial Aid (Non-Law).

For more information on this process, visit the Torero Hub's Financial Aid section.

Pay Your Bill or Register for a Payment Plan

To pay your bill or register for a payment plan, you'll need to access your Student Account in your MySanDiego portal. To access your Student Account, navigate to Torero Hub > My Student Account. For more information on this process, visit the Torero Hub's Billing and Payment section.

The 2026 deadline to pay your bill is August 26th.

Purchase a Parking Permit (If Applicable)

If you plan to bring your car to campus, you'll need to purchase a parking permit. Visit the Parking Services website to learn more about how to purchase a parking permit. You will also be able to find other important information housed there, such as a campus parking map.

Select Your Meal Plan (If Applicable)

If you're a residential student, you are required to have a meal plan here at USD. Evaluate your meal plan options and pick one by July 1 (or the lowest required plan will be assigned to your account).

Order Your Course Materials

The USD Torero Store has everything you might need for classes, as well as all of your correct edition books. Visit usdtorerostore.com.

Sign Up for Summer Send-Off Socials (OPTIONAL)

We are so excited to meet you and your family at one of our Summer Send-Off Welcome Events. These events provide an opportunity to gather timely information, connect with USD administrators and connect with local families. These events are hosted throughout the summer at various different locations across the country and virtually. Dates for the 2025 summer are still being decided. Check back soon on the Parent and Family Relations website for exact dates and locations!

Join Torero Tips for Success Webinars

There are three Torero Tips for Success webinars hosted throughout the summer (once a month). During these webinars you will hear from different faculty, administrators and staff from several USD departments and get your questions answered! Registrations for this year's series of Torero Tips for Success will open in June.

Torero Tips for Success 1: Beginning Your Torero Journey will take place on June 17th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT and will cover the following topics:

• USD Mission and Values
• OLÉ! Weekend (i.e., In-person Orientation)
• Learning Community Experience
• Academic Excellence
• Health & Wellness

Torero Tips for Success 2: Your Support Network & Preparing for Arrival will take place on July 22nd from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT and will cover the following topics:

• Housing Details & Necessities
• Auxiliary Services (i.e., meal plans, dining, books, Campus Cash and more!)
• Support Systems - Who can you turn to?

Torero Tips for Success 3: Cultivating Your Path Beyond the Classroom will take place on August 12th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT and will cover the following topics:

• Torero Athletics
• Student Leadership and Involvement
• Become a Changemaker
• University Ministry and Spiritual Development
• Safety on Campus

Can't make it live? Don't worry, we will post it here on the checklist for you to refer back to as needed!

Watch the Navigating Your USD Experience: From Financial Aid to Campus Life Webcast

The Navigating Your USD Experience: From Financial Aid to Campus Life with Your Torero Connect Counselor webcast goes over important information on financial aid, paying your bill, payment plans, FERPA and much more!

The Navigating Your USD Experience Webcast will go live in early July and the link will be emailed to your USD email address and posted here on the checklist!

Get Connected With Your Scholastic Assistant (SA)

By the end of July or shortly after you enroll in your Transfer Learning Community (TLC) course (whichever comes first), your Scholastic Assistant (SA) peer mentor will be reaching out to you to offer support and can answer questions about your transition to USD! Learn More about the Scholastic Assistant (SA) Role.

Get Paired Up with Your Torero Connect Counselor (TCC)

Every new transfer student will be assigned a Torero Connect Counselor (TCC). Your TCC will be your main point of contact for all of your non-academic-related questions, providing you with guidance and support throughout your first year at USD. You'll be notified via email of who your TCC is; if you have not received an email by September 1, please use the Torero Hub question form to let us know.

Participate in Orientation

You'll probably have a lot of questions before you officially start classes, and that's okay! We require your attendance at orientation to ensure you receive all the information you need to start classes, meet other new transfer students and begin to build community.

Visit the Fall Transfer Orientation section to learn more.

Download the TimelyCare App

We're proud to offer telehealth so you have access to virtual mental and physical health care, self-care and well-being tools — 24/7. Download the TimelyCare app and create your account.

Download TimelyCare

Submit all Required Documents for the Form I-20

You must upload the necessary documents to request your Form I-20 in your MySanDiego portal, under Admissions > New Students. Upon approval, your Form I-20 will be sent to you via email to your USD email account.

Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission with any questions about the Form I-20.

Attend International Student Orientation

All incoming international students are required to attend both International Orientation and Spring Transfer Orientation. The mandatory international orientation programs are for undergraduate first-year, transfer and exchange students as well as graduate and law students.

Visit the International Students and Scholars website for information on International Orientation and other pre-arrival tasks.