You may still be enjoying your senior year in high school, but the following tips for new Freshmen will help ensure a smooth transition to Ramapo.

• Contact the Testing Coordinator at (201) 684-7560 to register for the Ramapo College Placement Test.  Do this early because this directly impacts your registration!  You may be exempt based on your SAT scores. For more information go to the Office of Institutional Research Testing Web site.
  
  
• Contact the Financial Aid Office with any specific questions at (201) 684-7549.

2. First Year Transfer Students

For information about Placement Testing if you are not transferring English and/or Math course, please visit the Office of Institutional Research Testing Web site (link below).

Testing

For more information about transfer credit policies, visit the Admissions Web site section on Requirements (link below).

Admissions/Requirements

Make sure you have your final transcripts sent to our Admissions Office.  Frequently students who register early will not yet have all their transfer information officially in our campus records.  If this information is from a semester that just ended, you will receive an update of your transfer evaluation soon after we receive it. This final transcript is especially important if you received an AA or an AS degree. Your registration window opens based on when you are admitted.  You will receive a letter from Admissions declaring your acceptance at Ramapo College.  That letter will also have  instructions and dates regarding advisement and registration.  It is to your benefit to submit your application and materials as early as possible.

You are encouraged to see a professional advisor to discuss your academic plans and receive an academic orientation to Ramapo before you register.  Call (201) 684-7441 to make an appointment.  The Advisement Center will begin seeing new part-time students near the end of each semester.  If you are a transfer student, you are encouraged to see an advisor in your major also.

You are strongly advised to read the Comprehensive Guide to Advisement and Registration (link below) before you register for your first semester and use the Advisement Checklist for New Transfer Students (link below)

The Comprehensive Guide to Advisement and Registration

Advisement Checklist for New Transfer Students

Your transfer credit evaluation may contain courses designated as Ramapo equivalents and/or electives.  Each designation is thoroughly described on the back of the evaluation sheet.  Some electives can be petitioned and changed to course requirements for your major.   Read course descriptions!  It is your responsibility not to repeat coursework.  Do not go by course title.  For example: Accounting I at Bergen Community College transfers in as Financial Accounting here, and you would know that because it equates clearly to ACCT 221.  Note the titles do not match.

Transfer students have an advantage and disadvantage over freshmen.  You already know basically how a college functions.  You can read a schedule of classes and understand the vocabulary of the institution.  However, do not assume that Ramapo's policies are the same as your former school's policies.  Check the Online Catalog (link below) or the Schedule of Classes for Ramapo policies regarding withdrawals, incompletes, grades, and other information.  Please review the Frequently Asked Questions section about grading below. Check the Placement Testing site for information if you are not transferring English and/or math courses.

Online Catalog

Testing

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I withdraw from a class?
To withdraw from a class early in the semester, go to the Registrar's Office and fill out a withdrawal form. Check the Academic Calendar for the deadline for a 50% refund. To withdraw later in the semester, you must bring a withdrawal permission form to your professor to sign, then return this to the Registrar before the deadline. No withdrawals are permitted after the deadline.

Will my professor withdraw me if I just stop going?
No. You must withdraw or receive an "F" in the class. Look in the Schedule of Classes for information about Medical Withdrawals if you have an emergency.

Incomplete Option:

How do I get an Incomplete in a class?
Incompletes typically are given for extreme circumstances that keep you from finishing one or two of the last assignments in a course. Use this option carefully! If you must take an Incomplete, make sure you finish your assignments as soon as possible. Many people wait until just before the deadline the following semester, and have to finish Incompletes and study for mid-terms! Your professors also need time to grade your work, so plan on turning in assignments early.

Incomplete Forms are available at the Registrar's Office. You will not receive an Incomplete if you do not return this form with your professor's signature by the deadline!

RF Option:

I failed a class, but will register for it this semester. I heard I can retake it, and the new grade will replace my old grade. Is that true?
NO. Once you take a class, it will always remain on your transcript. However, Ramapo does have an "RF" option. You can request an "RF" (Repeat of a Fail) when you are retaking a course you previously failed. When you successfully pass it, your "F" is no longer factored into your G.P.A. It becomes an "RF" on your transcript. You can use this option twice.

You can request an "RF" as soon as you are registered to retake a course. Come to the Advisement Center to fill out the form. If you already have retaken the course, you can still use this option.

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Returning Adults:  Perhaps you attended school briefly many years ago or are just getting started.  Ramapo offers special opportunities for returning adults.

Credit options for returning adults:  If you have prior learning experience that has an academic component, you may be eligible for Individual Assessment of Prior Learning Program (PLEX) credit. For more information visit the PLEX information Web site (link below).

PLEX You cannot receive PLEX credit until after you have at least 15 Ramapo credits completed, so click the link above to learn more about PLEX credit before you make an individual appointment to discuss your  credits. Note: You cannot receive PLEX credit for any course for which you could take a standardized test. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests are the most commonly used tests at Ramapo.  They are given for several basic freshman and sophomore level subjects.  For more information visit the CLEP Web site (link below). If you want to schedule a test, make an appointment with an advisor in the Advisement Center. Ramapo does not grant credit for every test, so check with an advisor before taking a test to fill out off campus study form.

CLEP

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Non Degree Seeking Students  If you intend to take courses at Ramapo, but do not want to apply, follow the guidelines below.

General Advisement Information The Online Catalog has information about majors and requirements.  These are clear, user-friendly guides to the requirements of the majors and minors Ramapo offers.  We recommend using these if you intend to eventually get your degree.  Please note that non-degree seeking student registration is permitted only on a space available basis. Web for Student Registration instructions

Online Catalog

Web for Students

If you are starting college we recommend that you take the Ramapo College Placement Test to diagnose your skill level in reading, writing, and mathematics.  Follow the link for more information and registration. More information about Testing can be found at the Office of Institutional Research Testing Web site (link below).

Testing

Courses are numbered according to their level.  Freshman courses are 100 level, Sophomore are 200, Junior are 300, Senior are 400, Graduate are 500 and above.  If you are beginning college, start with 100 level courses.

If you have previous college credit, but have not earned a degree we recommend that you are careful not to take any of the same courses at Ramapo that you have taken at other institutions.  Read course descriptions before registering for any course.  Go by course content, not course title!

Ramapo is an accredited institution.  Except for skills level courses, credit earned here with a 2.0 or better  will apply to your degree at Ramapo and should transfer to any institution of higher learning.

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New Part-time Students If you are taking less than 12 credits read below for advisement appointment information. Read any of the above information that pertains to you as a freshman or transfer student.

Your registration window opens based on when you pay your admission deposit.  You will receive a letter from Admissions declaring your acceptance at Ramapo College.  That letter will also have  instructions and dates regarding advisement and registration.  It is to your benefit to submit your application and materials as early as possible.

You are encouraged to see a professional advisor to discuss your academic plans and receive an academic orientation to Ramapo before you register.  Call (201) 684-7441 to make an appointment.  The Advisement Center will begin seeing new part-time students near the end of each semester.  If you are a transfer student, you are encouraged to attend the SOAR orientation event.

You must read the Comprehensive Guide to Advisement and Registration (link below) before you register for your first class.

The Comprehensive Guide to Advisement and Registration

Suggested Schedules (only for freshmen)

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