Overview
Your student has a checklist of things they need to do this summer before classes begin. Some of these steps are administrative. Some require decisions. All of them belong to your student to complete, not you.
Your role this summer is encouragement, accountability, and patience — not doing it for them. This section walks you through each step so you know what your student is working on and how you can support them without taking over.
The Summer Enrollment Checklist
These are the key steps your student needs to complete before fall. We have organized them by when they typically happen.
Right Now: Academic Steps
- Placement exams. Your student may be required to complete math and/or writing placement assessments online. These help determine which courses they start in. Encourage them to take these seriously, but know they are not pass/fail.
- Academic advising appointment. Your student will meet with an academic advisor to plan their fall course schedule. This is one of the most important steps. Ask them when they have scheduled it, not whether they have done it yet.
- Financial aid. Your student should log into My Rutgers and review their financial aid award, accept what they need, and complete any outstanding requirements such as loan entrance counseling. More on this in Section 2.
Soon: Health and Wellness Requirements
- Immunization records. New Jersey state law requires all students to submit proof of certain vaccinations before starting classes. Your student needs to upload their records to the Rutgers Student Health Portal. This is time-sensitive: missing records result in an account hold.
- Mandatory Health Form. In addition to immunization records, your student is required to complete a Mandatory Health Form. This form should be completed as soon as possible, as the answers inform Rutgers what additional action items are necessary for your student to participate on campus.
- Health insurance. Students are automatically enrolled in the Rutgers student health insurance plan. If your student is covered under your family plan and the coverage is comparable, they can waive the university plan. The waiver deadline is early in the fall semester.
- Drug and alcohol education modules. All incoming students must complete AlcoholEdu and Haven online before classes start. These are required by the university.
Housing and Commuting
If Your Student Is Living on Campus
- Confirm housing application and deposit are complete
- Encourage your student to connect with their roommate before move-in
- Help them make a packing list using the university's approved items guide
- Note the move-in date and time window, but let your student take the lead on organizing it
- Move-in day is emotional. Plan for it to be longer than expected.
If Your Student Is Commuting
- Help them think through a realistic commute plan before classes start
- Talk about what happens on days when the commute is difficult, and make a backup plan
- Encourage them to spend time on campus between classes rather than driving home — students who stay on campus connect more easily with peers
- A campus parking permit is required; encourage them to purchase one early
What to Say and What Not to Say
These are real scenarios supporters encounter during the summer transition. Here is how to navigate them.
Less Helpful
- "I will call the Financial Aid office for you."
- "Just let me fill that form out, it will be faster."
- "Have you done your placement test yet? Why not?"
- "I will email your advisor to set up your appointment."
- "Let me handle the housing paperwork."
More Helpful
- "Have you had a chance to call Financial Aid? Do you want to talk through what to say?"
- "Let me know if you get stuck on any of the forms. I am happy to help you think it through."
- "How is the summer checklist coming? Anything you want to talk through?"
- "Did you get your advising appointment scheduled? Navigate is the tool for that."
- "What can I do to make move-in day easier for you?"
Orientation: What to Expect
Rutgers-Camden holds New Student Orientation sessions for both students and supporters. Orientation is designed to help students connect with their campus and complete any remaining enrollment steps.
Registration for orientation is done by schools. Please make sure to register here: admissions.rutgers.edu/CamdenOrientation2026.
Confirmed Orientation Dates for Fall 2026
- CCAS and Business: Thursday, July 16 • Friday, July 31 • Thursday, August 6
- Nursing: Thursday, July 23
What to Expect for Supporters
- Supporter orientation programming runs alongside student orientation on select days.
- Supporters attend separate sessions from students, by design — your student needs space to begin forming their own relationship with campus.
- You will have opportunities to ask questions of staff, meet other supporters, and learn more about the support systems available to your student.
- Supporters will have the opportunity to attend new student orientations with their students throughout the summer. Orientations will provide an opportunity to learn about important next steps, understand academic and engagement expectations for success, and connect with campus resources that will be an integral part of your student's journey.
- The biggest focus is on your student's integration into the college experience and the Rutgers-Camden community. There may be additional opportunities throughout the summer for supporters to join — keep an eye out in the Newsletter.