Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior

Freshman Checklist (0-29 credit hours)

• Stop by the Financial Aid Office in Eder Hall 103 if you intend to use aid to pay your tuition and fees and to discuss your federal, state and local financial aid and scholarships. If you have not yet filled out your FAFSA to receive aid, visit the Financial Aid Office immediately.
• If you intend to pay tuition and fees yourself, or if financial aid does not cover your bill, go online to www.missouriwestern.edu/businessoffice/payment_options.asp to pay in full or to make payment arrangements. Students need to work with the Business Office once they have registered for class to avoid being assessed late fees. The Business Office is located in Eder Hall 104 or call 816-271-4324.
• If you have dual credit hours that were earned during high school and you have not yet had an official transcript sent to Missouri Western, a hold will be placed on your registration before the next semester. This transcript request process sometimes takes a few weeks, so make sure to get these transcripts requested early in the semester so it will not keep you from registering for the next semester.
• If you have taken any college-level courses at any other institution, you need to make sure to request that an official transcript be sent to Missouri Western. This should be done prior to your first semester at Missouri Western to avoid a registration hold being placed on your account. Students can also see delays in receiving financial aid monies if official transcripts are not provided to Missouri Western for all prior college course work.
• Visit the Center for Academic Support (CAS), located in Hearnes Center 213, to get information about tutoring services and workshops in academic skills and test taking. The CAS is open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. Friday.
• All new freshmen were pre-registered into classes the first semester. To get registered for future semesters at Missouri Western, students must go see their academic advisors each semester. Students are assigned a new Alternate PIN each semester that is required to register for the following semester's classes.
• Discussions with an academic advisor should include career and life planning, declaring a major, and course selection for the next semester.
• Students should work with their academic advisor to develop their four-year plans. A fill-in form titled Advisement Graduation Planner is available at www.missouriwestern.edu/advising by clicking on the tab titled "Current/Continued Students" and clicking on the section "How to Prepare a Four-Year Plan." There you will see instructions and tips to assist students with the development of their educational plans. The Advisement Graduation Planner is a tool for students to assist them with preparing their plans of study. The form will help students stay on track, take their courses in the proper sequence, and project their graduation dates. There are also sample four-year plans available for each major by going to your GoldLink account, click on the "Student Academics" tab, and in the center box click on "Find a Major."
• If you are unsure of which major you want to pursue, go to www.missouriwestern.edu/advising under any of the student tabs, click on "How to Explore Majors/Careers" to find some helpful career exploration websites to assist with this process. Focus is another career assessment available to all Missouri Western students free of charge. To access this assessment go to www.missouriwestern.edu/careerdevelopment and click on "Career Counseling," then "Focus."

Sophomore Checklist (30-59 credit hours)

• If you have taken any college-level courses at any other institution, you need to make sure to request that an official transcript be sent to Missouri Western. This should be done prior to your first semester at Missouri Western to avoid a registration hold being placed on your account. Students can also experience delays in receiving financial aid monies if official transcripts are not provided to Missouri Western for all prior college course work.
• By the time students are approaching 60 credit hours, they should have declared a major. This will help students avoid taking classes they don't need, or having to take additional general studies classes that are specific for a major they choose later.
• If you are still unsure of which major you want to pursue, go to www.missouriwestern.edu/advising under any of the student tabs, click on "How to Explore Majors/Careers" to find some helpful career exploration websites to assist with this process. Focus is another career assessment available to all Missouri Western students free of charge. To access this assessment go to www.missouriwestern.edu/careerdevelopment and click on "Career Counseling" and click on "Focus."
• Look into professional organizations/fraternities for specific majors. These organizations can provide some great networking connections, as well as possible job opportunities in the specific field of study.
• Explore the clubs and organizations available on campus by going to www.missouriwestern.edu/cse and click on "Find the Student Organization for You!"
• Check out the study away and exchange program opportunities that are available to students by going to www.missouriwestern.edu/studyabroad.
• Some majors require job shadowing hours and/or internships or practicums. Visit with your faculty advisor about these opportunities within your major to begin to gain experience in your field of study.
• Visit with your academic advisor about any updates on your Advisement Graduation Planner; revise as needed and provide the revised form to your academic advisor.
• Attend the Career Fair in the spring semester, as well as any additional departmental career fairs or expos that are hosted by academic departments. These are great opportunities to network with potential future employers, discuss what their expectations are for employees, and talk about possible internship or part-time employment opportunities they offer.

Junior Checklist (60-89 credit hours)

• If you have taken any college-level courses at any other institution, you need to make sure to request that an official transcript be sent to Missouri Western. This should be done prior to your first semester at Missouri Western to avoid a registration hold being placed on your account. Students can also experience delays in receiving financial aid monies if official transcripts are not provided to Missouri Western for all prior college course work.
• Visit with your academic advisor about any updates on your Advisement Graduation Planner; revise as needed and provide the revised form to your academic advisor.
• Work with your academic advisor on internship and job shadowing opportunities in your field of study.
• Get your major declaration form filed with the academic department of your choice of study.
• Visit the Career Development Office to obtain assistance with writing your résumé, letters of application, and important tips for your career search process.
• Attend the Career Fair in the Spring semester, as well as any additional departmental career fairs or expos that are hosted by academic departments. These are great opportunities to network with potential employers, discuss what their expectations are for employees, and talk about possible internship or part-time employment opportunities they offer.

Senior Checklist (90+ credit hours)

• If you have taken any college-level courses at any other institution, you need to make sure to request that an official transcript be sent to Missouri Western. This should be done prior to your first semester at Missouri Western to avoid a registration hold being placed on your account. Students can also experience delays in receiving financial aid monies if official transcripts are not provided to Missouri Western for all prior college course work.
• Work with your academic advisor on internship and job shadowing opportunities in your field of study.
• Visit with your academic advisor about graduate school opportunities in your field of study; discuss the graduate exams required in specific fields of study (ex: LSAT, MCAT, GRE, Miller Analogy.)
• Make sure your address and phone number are updated to ensure that you receive all important information regarding the institutional exit exam and any departmental exit exams.
• Attend the mock interview sessions and Senior Series workshops that are offered through the Career Development Office. Go to www.missouriwestern.edu/careerdevelopment for information about the mock interview sessions and the various Senior Series workshops that are being offered.
• Apply for graduation. If you are a Fall graduate, you must apply for graduation by July 1.If you are a Spring graduate, you must apply for graduation by November 1. If you are a Summer graduate, you must apply for graduation by March 1.There is a fee to file this application.
• Go to the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Blum Union and get your cap and gown for the graduation ceremony.
• Order your graduation announcements through the Campus Printing Services located in Wilson Hall 112.
• Register your address and phone number with the Alumni Services Office to ensure you will receive information about important events going on at Western in the future. The Alumni Services Office is located in Spratt Hall 108.