Transfer Orientation Program (TOP) -The essential and necessary steps to help you with your initial enrollment at Saginaw Valley.  In addition to assisting you with the transfer process, a TOP allows you to learn about the services and opportunities available to you at SVSU.  At a TOP all of this information is provided in one convenient visit.

What happens at a TOP session?

1. If necessary, based on a review of your transfer credits, you may need to complete course placement testing.

2.  You'll meet with an academic advisor to discuss your transfer credit evaluation and choose appropriate courses for the Fall Semester.

3. You'll register for Winter Semester classes.

4. You’ll have the opportunity to meet financial aid and housing staff, tour the campus, and you will receive your student ID. Advisors meet small groups of students with similar majors and explain degree requirements and review transfer credit reports. Orientation programs are scheduled in four hour blocks with morning and afternoon sessions available to students. 

Attendance at a TOP is mandatory in order to enroll at Saginaw Valley. The length of your program will vary depending on the number of placement tests you may need to complete that day.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FINANCIAL AID   Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) ASAP for the 2009-10 academic year.  The Sate of Michigan deadline is March 1, 2009.  SVSU has no deadline for applying for aid, but we encourage students to apply early.  You can complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov .  The FAFSA must be completed every year to determine a student’s eligibility for aid. 

Apply for U.S. Department of Education personal identification number (PIN) by visiting www.pin.ed.gov .  Both you and your parents can apply for a PIN and use it to electronically sign your FAFSA form, thus making the application process simpler and faster.  These PIN numbers can be used every year and your parents only need one PIN for all their children.

SVSU’s federal institutional code is 002314.  In order to have your FAFSA information sent to Saginaw Valley you will need to list our code in the first spot of Step 6 on the FAFSA form.

For more information regarding the financial aid process, scholarship opportunities, and cost of attendance information please visit our web site at www.svsu.edu/financialaid/important-financial-aid-new-updates .

Students will have an opportunity to meet with financial aid advisors on their TOP date, but we encourage students to plan ahead and make an appointment with a financial aid advisor by calling 989.964.4103.   

3 STEPS to TOP

The TOP dates are listed below. Remember to rank ALL of the dates with your choices from first to last.  The sooner you return your request form with your top date picks, the more likely you are to get your first choice.  SVSU’s orientation programs are filled on a first come, first served basis.

1. Complete and return the TOP Request Form PDF (26KB, download Acrobat Reader), and we will assign you an orientation date based on your preferences and program availability. A $20 non-refundable fee is required to attend TOP.  Make checks/money orders payable to: SVSU

2. Return the form to:
TOP - Admissions Office
7400 Bay Rd
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI 48710

3. WAIT FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION CARD. Watch for your confirmation packet in the mail.  It will let you know the specific date that you will need to attend TOP. 

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the number of students attending TOP, you MUST attend only the specific TOP date listed in your confirmation packet. To formally change your date you will need to complete a “date change” form available at www.svsu.edu/aac/orientation/top-date-change-form.

QUESTIONS? PLEASE CALL 989.964.4202 OR 1.800.968.9500 OR EMAIL orientation@svsu.edu