Congratulations! It takes a lot of hard work to get into college and it’s a big deal that you’ve been admitted to CU Denver. We are so excited to welcome you to the Lynx family.
Take your due time to celebrate and, when you’re ready, move through the following steps to get you prepared for your first day of classes. There are a few key things you’ll need to do to be squared away to start your first semester at CU Denver but, don’t worry, we’ll break everything down for you. You got this!
Step 1: Reply to your offer of admission.
Log into your admissions portal (you can find a link to this in your decision email). Select your application and click “Reply to Your Offer.” You must do this before you can do any of the following steps. If you don’t remember your username, you can use the email address you used to apply.
Step 2: Claim your CU Denver account.
Visit the Claim Account webpage. Enter your last name, birthday, and student ID number, which you can find in your decision email. You’ll be prompted to complete six steps. When you reach the end, click “email” under the resource column and log in using your university credentials. This is an important step that you must take to gain access to your CU Denver email, which is how the university will communicate with you in the future. If you choose to live on campus, you will also need a CU Denver email to sign up for on-campus housing.
Step 3: Submit your FAFSA or CASFA.
Hoping to get financial aid? You must submit your FAFSA so that CU Denver can determine what you qualify for. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid that universities use to determine what financial aid students qualify for. The national deadline each year is June 30 for the following academic year, but you should submit your form as soon as you can to ensure it is processed by the beginning of the semester. Learn how to submit your FAFSA here (and all the documents you need to do that). CU Denver’s FAFSA code is 004508. Students who do not qualify for FAFSA will submit Colorado’s state-level equivalent, CASFA. Learn more about CASFA here. Please be aware that you may be awarded loans in your financial aid package. If you don’t want them, you do not have to accept them.
Step 4: Send in your immunization records.
Visit the Health Center at Auraria’s dedicated webpage to see what immunizations you are required to show proof of. Then, scroll down to CCD and CU Denver Student Immunization Submissions Instructions and follow the steps to submit yours. If you have questions, call 303-615-9999 or visit the health center’s website.
Step 5: Turn in your official transcripts.
Once you have completed all semesters at your high school or the institution you are transferring from, you must submit your finalized transcripts to CU Denver. If you do not submit your finalized transcripts by the census day of your first semester (this is usually in September in the fall and February in the spring), a hold will be placed on your account, and you will not be able to register for future classes. Official transcripts can be emailed to admissionstranscript@ucdenver.edu or mailed to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Campus Box 167
P.O. Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217
Step 6: Register for New Student Orientation.
If you are a newly admitted first-year student, you are required to attend new student orientation. You may not register for classes until you have met with a registration specialist, which you will do at orientation. At this event, you’ll be given important information to help you navigate your first year at CU Denver. You’ll also learn about valuable resources CU Denver provides to students to help them succeed, and you’ll start to meet your new classmates. Several dates are offered, so pick one that works for you.
How to register for orientation:
1. Visit your application portal.
2. Click “Register for New Student Orientation.”
3. Pick the day and time that works best for you.
4. If you have questions about orientation, please call 303-315-3503 or email orientation@ucdenver.edu.
Now you know what you need to do and you’re ready to take on your first semester at CU Denver with confidence. We’re proud to have you in the Lynx community. See you soon!
