Next Steps to Becoming a Gator

We are thrilled to welcome you to the Gator family.  This checklist will walk you through the next steps to start your future at SF State.

Say YES! to SF State

Complete these two steps as soon as you know that you want to join the SF State Gator Family and are ready to make it official.

Fall 2024 admitted students:

  • The final deadline to accept your offer of admission has been extended to June 1, but accept your offer by May 15 to receive:

    • An early housing assignment.
    • Early access to orientation and class registration.
    • Early access to a unique 1-credit course to help you navigate living in San Francisco and making the most out of your time at SF State.

To accept your offer, you first need to set up your Student Center account with a password. Visit the SF State ID for New Student Password set up to complete this step. Make sure to have the SF State ID provided in your acceptance notice handy. You’ll need it.

Now let’s accept that offer.

  1. Log into gateway.sfsu.edu. Under the LaunchPad, click on the Student Center button.
  2. Once in your Student Center, go to the Admissions section and under the My Applications box, click Accept or Decline and ACCEPT YOUR OFFER!
  3. When prompted, pay the non-refundable $100 deposit, which is applied to your first-semester tuition (unless eligible for an automatic waiver). Select the type of payment and complete the payment process. Make sure you don’t have pop-ups blocked on your browser, or you won’t be able to complete payment.
  4. Your Student Center will automatically update with your acceptance status.

 Having problems, need help troubleshooting? Try following our step-by-step guide or watching the Accept Admissions Offer video or contact our admission reps at (415) 338-6486 or ugadmit@sfsu.edu, who will guide you through the process.

Your offer of Conditional Admission is based on the information you reported in your Cal State Apply admission application. We will need to confirm that you reported accurately in your application and that you are on track to complete all admission requirements.

Submit current official transcripts from each institution attended so that we can confirm your offer. 

Fall 2024 admitted transfer students:

  • Official transcripts should include grades earned through Fall 2023 and any in-progress Spring 2024 courses. Check your To Do List in the SF State Gateway for more detailed information about which documents are needed and the due date. 

How to Send Transcripts:

Your school(s) may be able to send official transcripts through a secure electronic service, like EDI or Parchment, which is preferred.  If not, please provide them with the mailing address below. Transcripts sent as email attachments or uploaded to the document submission portal are not considered official.

Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue 
San Francisco, CA 94132

For more information about how to submit transcripts and how to view your To Do List, visit the Submitting Transcripts page.

Prepare for Enrollment

Now that you have committed to SF State by submitting your official transcripts and accepting your admission offer, follow the next steps below to get ready for your first semester.

After accepting their admission offer, students will be automatically assigned an SF State email account. We will send detailed instructions regarding your SF State email account to your personal email address once it has been created. Once enrolled, you will receive critical reminders regarding class registration for the upcoming semester and other important information at that account.

You will also receive instructions for setting up two-factor authentication which will be required to access SF State information resources and helps protect your student account.

At SF State, you will find a variety of housing options with everything you need to make you feel comfortable in your new home and to help you make a smooth transition to college life.

For more information on how to apply, visit the Housing website.

New Student Orientation is your next step to your transition to SF State. Orientation is an excellent opportunity to explore campus and the surrounding Bay Area, meet with current students, make new friends, mingle with future classmates, register for your courses and more! 

Guests are highly encouraged to attend orientation with their student. Although they will have their own separate agenda for the day, they will learn how to support their student through their college experience and transition through presentations and guest speakers. For more information please visit our Family & Student Supporter Orientation Page.

Visit the student orientation website to reserve your spot and learn more about what orientation offers.

Freshmen should complete the following short modules before orientation to make informed course registration choices: Writing Advising Module and Math Advising Module. Questions? Email gatorsmartstart@sfsu.edu.

Did you know that 64% of our students receive financial aid? At SF State we believe in investing in your future, and that’s why we provide a variety of public and private financial aid options, including grants, Work-Study awards and loans. In the 2022-23 academic year, we awarded over $300 million in financial aid to our students.

To maximize your aid consideration, we strongly encourage you to apply for financial aid early.

Spring 2024 admitted students:

  • The 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Applications (CADAA) are available and you should apply as soon as possible to be considered for state financial aid.

Fall 2024 admitted students:

  • The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Applications (CADAA) will be available on January 1, 2024. Complete your financial aid applications by the April 2, 2024 priority deadline to be considered for state financial aid.

To review your financial aid award:

  1. Sign-in to the SF State Gateway. Under the LaunchPad, select Student Center

  2. Under the Finance section, click View Financial Aid and select your aid year.

  3. To accept your Financial Aid Award, click on Accept/Decline awards at the top of the page.

If you have any questions, visit the Financial Aid website.

 

Our admission offers are typically conditional and based on the self-reported information entered on the Cal State Apply admission application.

Admission offers will remain conditional until we receive your official final transcripts and have verified that all admission requirements have been met.

So, keep up the hard work and successfully complete the remaining classes you have in progress! Keep in mind that a minimum grade of C- is required for certain admission requirements. Also, some majors might have higher minimum grade requirements for the degree.

Please know that if you do not successfully complete all of your requirements in progress, you may have your admissions rescinded. If you end up dropping a class or receiving a grade below C-, reach out to us immediately so that we can discuss your options: ugadmit@sfsu.edu or 415-338-6486.

To verify your final admission eligibility, please plan to submit official, final transcripts from each institution attended.

Fall 2024 admitted students:

  • Deadline: July 15, 2024

  • To be considered final, the transcript must include all courses/grades completed through the Spring 2024 term.

  • If you completed an Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T), submit your transcript with the date of ADT certification. 

 

Official transcripts must be sent in a sealed transcript envelope to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions & Recruitment
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132

See our guide on submitting transcripts for more information.

Official AP/IB/CLEP Test scores are not automatically forwarded to SF State from your previous institution. Therefore, if you have taken any College Board Advanced Placement (AP) tests, International Baccalaureate (IB) tests or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, arrange to have your official results sent to San Francisco State University by visiting the following websites:

Check your email regularly for updates from the Admissions Office and log on to your Student Center and click on the To Do List section to make sure you complete any additional items on your list.

Information for International Students

If you are a New International Student on F-1 visa status, please visit the New International Students Page for additional F-1 visa-related information.

 

Information for Readmitted Students

If you are a returning student who has been readmitted, please visit the Readmitted Students Resources Page for helpful information as you transition back to SF State.