First-Year Students

Jump to:

Note: Incoming first-year CMCI students are not required to take any placement tests.

Students may choose to take a placement test if they want to take advanced math, science or language course that requires a placement score. It is possible to complete all CMCI requirements without taking any courses that require placement scores.

Campus Resources

New first-year students should meet with their assigned first-year advisor for any advising-related needs during their first two semesters.

First-Year Advising

Connect with Advisors

Advisors serve as partners in your college experience. We'll help you establish your academic goals, and understand what your academic options are as you progress through any majors and secondary areas of study. Your role as a student is to engage with us. Come prepared to discuss your experiences and academic goals. We'd love for you to partner with us so we can help you reach your full potential. Prepare for your meeting with us by reviewing the .

  Meet With Your Advisor   

CMCI Advising empowers our students to become active, intentional, and engaged members on their educational journey.

We provide accessible and inclusive information and resources to support the needs of our students. As such, our commitment to our students is founded on the values of inclusivity, empowerment and critical thinking to ensure our students are heard, respected and capable. At the end of their academic journey, we encourage our CMCI graduates to apply their unique strengths as they venture confidently into the world and pursue their goals.

Types of Advising Support

  • Get quick questions answered without an appointment! Typical time spent: 5 to 10 minutes
  • ​Campus-Wide Drop-ins: Mondays, 1 to 3 p.m. Meet with your CMCI advisor or an advisor from a different college.
  • First-Year advisors also offer drop-in hours on Thursdays! Check specific times on BuffPortalAdvising.
  • LiveChat is also available (click on the icon in the lower right-hand corner of this page to access)
     
 
  • Plan to meet with your advisor before registering for classes in fall (November) and spring (March).
  • Prepare questions and check your degree audit on Buff Portal Advising before your appointment!
 
  • You can email your advisor directly with questions! Email first-year advisors Sam Whitaker or Paige Wilson.
  • Make sure to include your student ID number in all correspondence. This is how we look up your student record.
  • Generally, advisors answer email during normal business hours: Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please allow one to two business days for advisors to respond.
  • Students are required to use their assigned @colorado.edu email for all advising correspondence. 
 
  • Group advising is an opportunity to learn important skills and information for your program while connecting with your CMCI peers.
  • Group advising sessions will be offered during your first year to give you tools and skills when you need them! See the group advising schedule and sign-up for sessions by viewing your advisor’s calendar in Buff Portal Advising.
  • Group advising includes registration labs, orientation and academic workshops, informal community gatherings, and more!

Continuing Students

First-Year Registration Timeline    

Make sure to review the timeline regardless of when you get started in your process so that you don’t miss anything! For more dates and deadlines, view CU Boulder's academic calendar →

Stay connected: Follow @CUBoulderCMCI and @CUBoulderLife on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

 

October

Oct. 28-31 

  • Attend a Registration Readiness workshop to learn important skills and information for your program while connecting with your CMCI peers! Note: you only need to attend one registration readiness workshop to plan for spring. 
    • Students are expected to attend a group advising session before scheduling one-on-one meetings with their assigned advisor. 
    • Each workshop includes a required presentation followed by optional working time for individual planning for spring semester. 
    • Workshops are offered both in-person and virtually, and all sessions are held in Mountain Standard Time (MST). Be sure to add your selected workshop to your calendar!

Coming soon: Nov. 1

  • 10-week deadline: Last day to withdraw from a class on your own. 

Reminders

  • Transfer any credit: Incoming first-year students may already have college credit from AP or IB exams or from dual-credit/concurrent-enrollment programs. To receive credit students must submit final, official documents directly to CU. 
  • . Find information about how to submit your final scores directly on the or websites.
  • Final official transcripts for dual credit or concurrent enrollment coursework must be sent directly from the college-level institution to CU Boulder’s office of admission or can be emailed.
  • Make sure to also notify your assigned advisor of any AP/IB/college credit that you may have to make sure you’re planning appropriate spring classes!

Nov. 1

Nov. 4-7: Attend a Registration Readiness workshop to learn important skills and information for your program while connecting with your CMCI peers! Note: you only need to attend one registration readiness workshop to plan for spring. 

  • Students are expected to attend a group advising session before scheduling one-on-one meetings with their assigned advisor.  
  • Each workshop includes a required presentation followed by optional working time for individual planning for spring semester.
  • Workshops are offered both in-person and virtually, and all sessions are held in Mountain Standard Time (MST). Be sure to add your selected workshop to your calendar!

Nov. 11-25: Attend a Registration Lab for support during spring registration!

  • These drop-in hours are first-come, first-serve and are most appropriate for quick and timely questions related to your schedule. Drop in to get your schedule checked or adjusted as needed by your advisor before or during your registration. 
  • View meeting details and available times in . 

Nov. 18 and 20: 2-4 p.m.: Buckingham Hall Pizza Parties: Join us on either day for pizza in the CommRAP and get help creating your spring schedule!

  • These events will operate like drop-in hours, with advising sessions offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be prepared for a brief wait and have your student ID and any questions ready. 
  • This is the perfect time for quick, timely advising needs. Students will speak with an advisor in the order they arrive. 

Reminders

  • Transfer any credit: Incoming first-year students may already have college credit from AP or IB exams or from dual-credit/concurrent-enrollment programs. To receive credit students must submit final, official documents directly to CU. 
  • . Find information about how to submit your final scores directly on the or websites.
  • Final official transcripts for dual credit or concurrent enrollment coursework must be sent directly from the college-level institution to CU Boulder’s office of admission or can be emailed.
  • Make sure to also notify your assigned advisor of any AP/IB/college credit that you may have to make sure you’re planning appropriate spring classes!

Check your schedule and make adjustments as needed. Ensure that you remain at or above 12 credit hours to maintain full-time student status. Contact your advisor with any questions via Buff Portal Advising.

Check if you are on waitlists: CMCI advisors recommend avoiding waitlists whenever possible. In the rare instances when waitlisting for a class is necessary, follow these guidelines:

  • Always have a backup course.  When you are waitlisted you are not enrolled in a course. You will have access to the Canvas page, but that is not a guarantee you will be enrolled.  Make sure you have a backup class in case you do not enroll.
  • Set up Drop If Enrolled for your alternate course. Make sure you add the open course first before waitlisting for your preferred section.
  • Waitlists are never guaranteed. Don’t assume enrollment, no matter your waitlist position! 
  • Do not ask professors for permission to enroll in a class. They will refer you to academic advising for help adjusting your schedule to enroll in open classes.
  • Attend both your waitlisted and alternate courses.  This way you are not behind on coursework for the class you ultimately end up taking.
  • More information about waitlists →

Continuing Students

First Year and Second Year at CMCI

First-Year Students

New first-year students should meet with their assigned first-year advisor for any advising-related needs during their first academic year.

When meeting with your first-year advisor, students are encouraged to consider the following: 

  • Explore a variety of areas of study, learn about events, academic opportunities, etc.
  • Collaborate on a degree planning guide to include your academic goals.
  • Ask your advisor if there are ways to incorporate your other interests into the plan you create.
  • Create a class list of possible courses to take future semesters. Continuing students register for classes on their own and during their assigned enrollment appointment.
Continuing Students

After the first year at CU is complete, continuing students will transition to a major—or disciplinary—advisor for future academic support.

Students will stay with this advisor through the remainder of their time in CMCI. Advisor transitions for continuing students take place at the end of May. Check your assigned advisor in Buff Portal Advising! When connecting with your new disciplinary advisor, students are encouraged to consider the following: 

  • Secondary Area of Study
  • Long-term planning and graduation timeline
  • Clubs, organizations and Education Abroad

Other Support

Academic Coaching cultivates a steadfast partnership between coaches and students to support their individualized learning and growth process, contributing to a transformational student experience. Are you interested?

We:

  • Support students to develop critical thinking and academic skills.
  • Challenge students to deepen their self-awareness.
  • Encourage confidence in academics and self.
  • Facilitate an iterative and actionable goal setting process.
  • Trust and empower students to take ownership of their college and life journey.

Academic coaching is a complementary service to academic advising.  Academic coaches work in collaboration with advisors to provide targeted support to students.   

  • Through a partnership with students, academic coaches help students develop critical thinking and academic skills, while facilitating a goal setting process to support student’s personal and academic development. 
  • Academic advisors help students navigate their education, create plans to maximize their academic programs, and support students from a holistic perspective.
Student Counseling Services

Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) offers confidential, on-campus mental health and psychiatric services for a variety of concerns such as academics, anxiety, body image, depression, relationships, substance use and more. All services are remote this semester. 

Screening appointments can be scheduled through the . This is the first step for all clinical services. 

  • SilverCloud Health: CU’s online program to support emotional health and well-being at your own pace. 
  • Peer Wellness Coaching: Free service available to all CU Boulder students. Attend one-on-one virtual meetings with peer coaches to help set and achieve wellness goals. Schedule a session online. 
  • CAPS hosts workshops on a variety of topics. View upcoming dates for workshops on managing anxiety, practicing mindfulness, determining ways to coping with emotions, and methods to manage stress. 
  • Health and Wellness Services also hosts workshops.  for workshops on managing anxiety, practicing healthy sleeping habits, and managing stress. 
  • Feel Good Fridays is a drop-in group that lead you through a powerful guided meditation to help you reduce stress, relax and feel better.  
content list: trinity mental health

Trinity Bryant

CMCI Embedded Therapist
Wellness
trinity.bryant@colorado.edu

CMCI Registration

CMCI First Years: Registration Readiness workshops

Attend CMCI group advising workshops to learn important skills and information for your program while connecting with your CMCI peers! Students are expected to attend group advising sessions before scheduling one-on-one meetings with their assigned advisor.  Each workshop includes a required presentation followed by optional working time for individual planning. Workshops are offered both in-person and virtually, and all sessions are held in Mountain Standard Time (MST). Be sure to add your selected workshop to your calendar!

Workshop format

  • Required Presentation: 30 minutes
  • Optional Individual Working Time: 45 minutes

During the workshop, you will:

  • Learn essential tools and skills for class registration.
  • Plan potential spring schedule options.
  • Get answers to your registration and enrollment questions.
 
Registration Labs

Attend a Registration Lab for support for spring registration! These drop-in hours are first-come, first-serve. This time is appropriate for quick and timely questions. Drop-ins cannot be reserved in advance. Show up by using the Zoom link via Buff Portal Advising to enter the waiting room. Students will be seen in the order that they arrive. There can be a wait, so please have your questions and Student ID number ready! All appointments are in Mountain Standard Time (MST).

Please try to have access to a computer and the internet during your appointments.

 

 

Events for First-Year Students

Registration Guide

Follow these steps to prepare for class registration. 

Review Degree Audit in Buff Portal

Log in to , CU's one-stop shop for students.

How to navigate the official student portal:

[video:https://youtu.be/gegl7JN1SQc]

 

Detailed Degree Audit Walk-Through

[video:https://youtu.be/agBTQ6yKP8Y?si=v-WChDfbHxET9RmP]

Log into your Buff Portal to access your "." Open the "Plan" section and click "view Degree Audit" to access the audit page.



 

Click on Transfer Evaluation, if applicable, to review AP/IB/Transfer credit.


Request an audit type:

  • For declared programs, click Run Declared Programs.
  • To view alternative programs of interest, click Select Different Program. Select criteria from the drop-down menus. Click Run Different Program.

 After the degree audit is finished processing, click View Audit (look for the link on the right).

Planning courses

  View Sample Schedules

Review the below video from New Student and Family Program (also included in your Online Experience)

[video:https://youtu.be/2zPwm3jTSLM]

New first-year students are encouraged to register for a minimum of 13-16 credits during their first semester. Remember that you will be pre-registered for some classes at the end of June!

  • First-Semester Students may be pre-enrolled in: 

    • CMCI 1040 (4 credits) required in first year—fall or spring (students are pre-enrolled in this course and do not need to self-register)

    • The first class for their selected majors

    • A CMCI Core or RAP class (such as WRTG 1160 or ANTH 1170)

Plan to complete the rest of your schedule by adding one to three more classes to get to your desired number of credits.  Additional major courses, CMCI Core classes, or lower-division electives make great options for your first semester schedule. 

  • CMCI Major Classes to consider: Note: First-Year students should look for lower division (1000-level or 2000-level classes)

    • Communication:

      • COMM 1210: Perspectives on Human Communication—3

      • COMM 1300: Public Speaking—3

      • COMM 1600: Group Interaction—3

    • Information Science:

      • INFO 1111 (Fall): Introduction to Information Science: Understanding the World Through Data—4

      • INFO 1121 (Spring): Introduction to Information Science: Designing Interactions—4

    • Media Production:

      • CMDP 1400: Introduction to Contemporary Media Cultures—4

      • CMDP 2100: Historical Media Practices—3

    • Media Studies:

      • MDST 1001: Foundations of Media Studies—3

      • MDST 1002: Introduction to Social Media—3

      • MDST 2002: Media and Communication History—3

    • Journalism:

      • JRNL 1000: Principles of Journalism and Networked Communication—3

      • JRNL 2401 

      • JRNL 2014

    • Strategic Communication:

      • APRD 1003: Principles of Communication—3

      • APRD 1004: Fundamentals of Grammar—1

  • CMCI Core classes to consider: 

    • Note: First Year students should look for lower division (1000-level or 2000-level classes)

    • Note: Students with AP and/or IB credit may already have fulfilled some areas of CMCI Core. Contact your advisor if you need help understanding your completed credits. 

    • Quantitative Reasoning or Computing or Natural World

    • Lower Division Composition

      • Recommended: WRTG 1160: CMCI First-Year Writing and Rhetoric—3

    • People and Society

    • Humanities and the Arts

    • Historical Views

    • Diversity and Global Cultures

  • Elective classes: Note: First Year students should look for lower division (1000-level or 2000-level classes)

    • Electives are classes that apply to your total required number of credits for graduation, but may not be meeting specific major or core requirements. 

    • Most CMCI students will need some elective credits to graduate. 

    • Elective credits are great for exploring possible areas of interest outside of your major and may help you choose your secondary area of study later on in your program. 

Make an Appointment with an Advisor

Log in to Buff Portal Advising.

Click on the advisor's photo under 'Student Success Team' to view their calendar.

Click on an available group-advising session, drop-in or meeting:

  • Only group advising and individual appointments can be scheduled in advance. 

  • Make sure to check the modality of your selected meeting so you know how to attend. CMCI offers advising over Zoom, phone and in person.

Confirm or cancel appointments by clicking 'Show History' under My Meetings in the upper-right corner of the Buff Portal Advising Site.

View the  (PDF) for more details.

Check your Enrollment Date and Time on your  in  (you may be prompted to log in).  

Continuing student registration remains open from your assigned enrollment date until the date specified in the registration calendar.

Check for Any Holds or To-Do Items

These items are listed in Buff Portal on the "" card.

Expand the menus for more information.


Holds: Prevent you from taking some kind of action (i.e. registering for classes). CU Boulder departments and offices may place a hold on a student's record for a number of reasons. Resolve holds as quickly as possible by following the instructions associated with each hold listed.

To-Do items: Recommended actions necessary to complete specific outcomes. Some to-do items become holds if not completed by a specific date. Monitor to-do items closely and follow the instructions to resolve it.

Search for Classes/Add to Cart

Log in to  and navigate to your "."

Open the “Plan” section and click the search for classes link. You can also navigate directly to the CU Class Search directly by clicking the below button or by typing into your web browser

  How to Search for Classes

Simple 'Search Classes' tips

Use the following search criteria:

  • Title, Subject, Instructor or Keyword: enter class code (e.g. CMCI 1010 or 1020)
  • Term: (e.g. fall, spring, summer)
  • Any Campus: select Main Campus (Continuing Education classes cost extra)

'General Education/Core Courses' search tips

  • Open the “General Education/Core Courses Search" section to see Core requirements by college.
  • Use the CMCI Core Attributes filter to search for courses that meet the CMCI Core Requirement Areas listed in your Audit.


'Advanced Search' tips

Select the following:

  • Open, Waitlisted or Closed: use Open Only

     
  • CU continues to offer courses in a variety of instruction modes. Learn more about Instruction modes in the Registrar's Glossary of Terms. Use the “Instruction Mode” filter to look for classes in the modality that you prefer.

 

Click on the class options generated from the search. Review class registration restrictions, description, time and location and section information.



Registration Restrictions:

  • Prerequisite: a specific class that must be completed before taking another class at the next level.
  • Co-requisite: a specific class that, if it has not been completed already, must be taken at the same time as another class.
  • Recitation: some classes require enrollment in a Lecture (LEC) and a Recitation (REC); a recitation is a smaller class that meets in addition to the lecture.

Click on the desired section(s). Note: Classes may require a LAB or REC (Recitation) along with the LEC (Lecture). Select both to register for the class.

Click Add to Cart.

Hints:

  • To view instructor and/or class ratings, click on the hyperlink with the instructor's name or on Course Evaluations. The scale is 1 (lowest rating) to 6 (highest rating).
  • You can view from past semesters. (Not all are currently available.)

Register for Classes

At the date and time of your enrollment, log in to .

Click on Classes and Registration, Registration Checklist and select Enroll in Classes

  How to Enroll in Classes

Review schedule in the  to confirm enrollment.

  See the Office of the Registrar's website to learn how to waitlist for a closed class, swap a class or drop a class.

Important notes about registration:

  • Saving classes in the shopping cart does not save a spot in the class. Students are not enrolled until they complete their enrollment through Buff Portal.
  • Students are encouraged to avoid waitlists and confirm enrollment. Waitlisted classes do not count towards enrollment.
  • RAP Coordinators need to make any changes to RAP classes. First-Year Academic Advisors are not authorized to add, drop or swap RAP classes.
  • Students may make changes to their schedule (with the exception of any RAP classes) during the first full week of classes.

Review Academic Calendar Dates

  View Calendar

  Visit