New Student Checklist

Welcome to Webster! Pursuing a graduate degree is an exciting time in your professional journey as you are clarifying your academic and career goals. Your academic advisor can be your academic partner during this time and serve as a resource and guide. As a newly admitted Webster University graduate student, please take the following steps:

• Schedule your initial academic advising appointment. Advisors are available for in-person or virtual meetings. During this appointment, you and your academic advisor will clarify your academic and career goals, review program pre-requisites and requirements, discuss your graduation pathway, and discuss your next term’s registration.
  
  
• If you have taken graduate coursework elsewhere, please discuss transfer credit opportunities with your academic advisor.
  
  
• If you have completed certain military training opportunities, please provide a copy of your DA1059 or JST to your academic advisor for evaluation.
• Attend the Graduate Student Orientation. Typically held in August and January, the Graduate Student Orientation is designed to provide critical and timely information for a successful start in graduate school.
  
  
• Become familiar with the Graduate Catalog, which outlines your program requirements and other important academic policies and procedures.
  
  
• Make financial arrangements. Please review graduate student tuition rates. If you are applying for financial aid, make sure to submit both your FAFSA and the Webster University Financial Aid application. Students with a military affiliation should visit the Office of Military Affairs website for steps to secure the correct military tuition rate.
  
  
• Set up your Connections Account – Connections is a student portal where you will access information such as your classes, unofficial transcript, degree audit, financial information, bursar account, and other online services.
  
  
• Set up your profile in the Student Success Portal, powered by Starfish – The Student Success Portal is a single sign-on platform through Connections and WorldClassRoom that gives you 24/7 access to your success team. Please update your email, communication preferences, and time zone in your profile so that your success team has an accurate way to contact you! Check out the “Student Getting Started Guide” here.
  
  
• Understand the Academic Calendar including the add, drop, withdrawal, and refund dates. Most graduate courses run on either an 8 or 9 week term and meet one night per week. For more information about term information, visit http://www.webster.edu/advising/grad-resources/academic-advising-graduate.html#terminfo.
  
  
• Review the Course Schedules. Click on the "Power Search." Once you click on the Power Search you will be able to set all the fields to search for classes in a given term.
  
  
• Obtain a Student ID card and Parking Permit if attending classes on main campus.
  
  
• Get your books. You can order books online through Follett Bookstore or visit the bookstore on main campus.
  
  
• Learn more about Webster’s history, hear from the President and Provost, and connect to Resources by visiting http://www.webster.edu/graduate/grad-orientation.html.