Welcome to the College of Engineering

Congratulations on joining the College of Engineering community! Your academic advisors are excited to work with you and help you prepare for your first semester at the University of Iowa.

The materials in this section focus on the critical academic information you will need to prepare for your SOAR Appointment. It may take you a couple hours to complete this section. It does not all need to be completed in one session, but you must watch all the videos and review the linked webpages, explore course options, and practice using schedule builder before your SOAR appointment. 

We know this is a lot of information to review and take in! Our team is here to support you every step of the way and we are eager to help you personalize your experience in the College of Engineering. If you have any questions about the academic advising process after you review the materials in this section, please contact us: 319-335-5763. 

If you have any questions about the SOAR Program, you may contact Orientation Services 319-335-1497 or orientation@uiowa.edu.

Sincerely,

Your Engineering Academic Advisors

Understanding Your Degree, Selecting Courses, and Building Schedules

Before you begin searching for classes, you must understand the basics of a University of Iowa degree and other critical content specific to engineering students. 

This video highlights common college terms and how you will work with your academic advisor during the SOAR appointment and beyond. 

This video highlights the requirements to graduate with an Engineering degree and the resources available to help you.

This video highlights how you will select your first semester courses and some things to consider when building your first semester schedule.

The links below provide step by step instructions on how to complete various steps around searching for classes.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the degree requirements, you can begin selecting courses for your first semester.

  1. Identify courses in each of the following categories that you will take in your first semester. Use the Engineering Course Placement Guidelines and Searching for Engineering General Education Courses webpages linked above to help select courses.
  • Math (need placement score)
  • Science (need placement score)
  • Engineering 

  • Rhetoric / Gen Ed (choose three gen ed options you would interested in taking - you will not register for all three but need to have options identified.) 

     

  1. Add selected courses to your Schedule Builder Course Cart. The webpage below provides a step-by-step process to add courses to your Schedule Builder.

Preparing for your SOAR Appointment

A week before your SOAR Program, if you have completed all required content on this SOAR page, you will be emailed a link to schedule your SOAR Appointment. This will come to your University of Iowa email account. 

To prepare for your SOAR appointment: 

  1. Three days before your SOAR Appointment, revisit this SOAR page to find an Individualized Recommendations Document (IRD) uploaded at the top of the page. The attachments will appear first, followed by an advising note with personalized instructions. The IRD will be prepared by your SOAR advisor and offer course suggestions based on their expert review of your academic file (grades, placement test scores, transcripts, transfer credits, etc.). Make any needed adjustments to the courses in your Schedule Builder Course Cart.
  2. Build possible schedule options based on your updated course selections. This video shows how to: 
  • Create schedules once courses have been added to the course cart
  • navigate and read the details of schedule options
  • pin/exclude courses from schedules
  • save and manage preferred schedules. 
  1. Learn how to register for classes by reviewing this video. You will register during your SOAR appointment. 

Thanks for working through the advising section of the SOAR page! Please review the checklist below to ensure you are prepared for your SOAR Appointment:

STUDENT ONLINE ADVISING AND REGISTRATION CHECKLIST 

Using Zoom for your SOAR Appointment

Your SOAR Appointment will be in Zoom. 

You must attend your SOAR Appointment on a desktop, laptop, or a tablet, and not on your cell phone. Using a phone is very limiting since you will share your screen with your advisor to talk about courses, build schedules, and register. 

You must arrive on-time and with full Zoom capability. To achieve that, please:

  • Watch this video to learn how to find the link to your SOAR Appointment, install and practice Zoom, and share your screen with your advisor. 

  • Review written instructions on how to find the Zoom link for your SOAR Appointment, getting into your Zoom meeting, and how to share your screen. 

You should attend your SOAR Appointment in a quiet, private place that contributes to a smooth experience for you and for your advisor. Please plan ahead when scheduling your SOAR Appointment and ensure your environment is appropriate for a meeting with a University of Iowa staff member.

To summarize:

  • Download and familiarize yourself with the Zoom app. 
  • We would like you to use a Zoom account through the University of Iowa rather than a family member's account. 
  • Ensure you'll have a laptop (not a just cell phone).
  • Please have a quiet, private place for your SOAR Appointment.

5 Things to do before your SOAR Appointment

Here are 5 things you need to do before your SOAR Appointment: 

1. Take any necessary placement tests at least one week before your SOAR Program.

  • If you are required to take the math and/or chemistry placement tests, those appear toward the top of your SOAR Page.
  • If you are considering a program of study that would require a math and/or chemistry placement test, information is toward the top of your SOAR Page.
  • If you are required to take the music placement test, that appears toward the top of your SOAR Page. 

2. Report any incoming credit (transfer coursework, dual enrollment, AP tests).

  • You need to ensure you have sent all final transcripts.
  • You need to report any credit that does not display on your degree audit. The credit reporting form appears toward the top of your SOAR Page.

3. Read the note from your advisor and review advising materials and instructions.

  • The note from your advisor will be at the very top of your SOAR Page a few days before your SOAR Appointment. You will be notified when it's ready via email sent to your University of Iowa account. 
  • Advising materials and instructions are in the Academic Advising Information section of your SOAR Page.

4. Use Schedule Builder. 

  • Explore course ideas.
  • Put courses into your Course Cart.
  • Try building some schedules.

5. Be ready to Zoom. 

  • Download and familiarize yourself with the Zoom app. 
  • We would like you to use a Zoom account through the University of Iowa rather than a family member's account. 
  • Ensure you'll have a laptop (not just a cell phone).
  • Please have a quiet, private place for your SOAR Appointment.

Student Online Advising and Registration (SOAR) Support

If you have questions about the SOAR process, contact Orientation Services (319-335-1497) or orientation@uiowa.edu. 

If you have questions about searching for classes, using Schedule Builder, or something else, and you would like to talk with a current Iowa student, please join our SOAR Support Zoom Drop-In Hours! 

SOAR Support hours: Monday through Friday, 10am-2pm (CST), during SOAR Programs:

May 12-16

June 2-6

June 9-13

June 16-20

June 23-27

June 30-July 2

July 7-11

July 14-18

August 18-22