Next steps

Set up your WSU account.

This is your gateway to your university email account, course registration and academic tools. Locate your AccessID and temporary password in your admitted student portal. Your temporary password is the nine-digit number on that page. Using this information, log in to Academica. You will be asked to change your temporary password at this time and set up a recovery email address (be sure to verify the link we send you in your personal email address).

Check on the status of your financial aid.

Have you applied for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? For questions about applying for the FAFSA, click here. Wayne State University's school code is 002329. 

You can check on the status of your award and view any notifications from the Office of Student Financial Aid on Academica. Once you log in to Academica, click on Student Resources, then click Financial Aid Portal and choose the menu item you would like to review. Be sure to follow up on all requests from WSU so that your financial aid award is disbursed on time. Please note that email communications from the Office of Student Financial Aid are sent to a student's WSU email account.

Questions? Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid by emailing studentservice@wayne.edu or by calling 313-577-2100. 

Pay your enrollment deposit.

Once you have confirmed that you will be attending Wayne State, you will be required to submit a $50 enrollment deposit to secure your place at WSU. First-year students will not be able to make their orientation reservation until this deposit has been paid or deferred (if eligible).  

Make your orientation reservation.

We offer a variety of programming options for orientation! This includes both on-campus and virtual sessions, as well as some select overnight experiences for first-year students. We offer different sessions for first-year and transfer students, so please be sure to click on your correct student type below. 

Double check that your major is correct.

As you register for orientation, you will be signing up for an advising session based on the major that we currently have on file. In order to ensure that you meet with the correct advising team and are placed in appropriate courses, please notify us of any changes to your major as soon as possible. You can email us at orientation@wayne.edu with your full name, AccessID, and new major so we can assist with processing those changes. Any major changes must be updated at least one week prior to your scheduled orientation session. 

We offer over 120 undergraduate degree programs for you to choose from. Please review our full list of undergraduate majors to help you find the one for you!  Please note that while our Pre-Med and Health Science Center offers advising and specialty events to ensure the success of our pre-professional students, we do not offer specific majors in areas such as pre-med, pre-physician assistant, and pre-dental. All students are required to declare a major from the list above.

Check out your options for living on campus.

Living and learning in Detroit is an experience like no other. With classrooms and libraries steps away from your front door to pro-athletic events minutes from campus, you'll have access to so many activities both in and outside of the classroom. You'll also make new friends and form quick study groups! Review your housing options at housing.wayne.edu.

The housing application for new students opens on Monday, January 29, 2024. You can find more information and apply at https://housing.wayne.edu/apply. 

Submit your test scores and final transcripts to Wayne State.

If you took or are planning to take Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, be sure to have your test scores sent to WSU once available. These scores must be sent to us directly from the testing agency. 

For first-year students, a final copy of your high school transcript must be sent showing your graduation date. Additionally, for anyone with college credit, we must also receive an official transcript from the college or university where you took your courses. This is the only way we can grant transfer credit to your student record for any applicable courses. 

Review placement exam information.

Math, biology, and chemistry

Wayne State offers placement exams in math, biology, and chemistry. Before you are able to register for courses in these subject areas, you must meet placement requirements into those courses. All incoming students are able to take these three exams for free.

Select programs, including STEM majors and pre-health students, are required to take select placement exams. You can review this chart to find out which placement exams are required based on your major. If you have any questions about which placement exams you should take, please contact your academic advisor. 

Placement exam registration is completed online via ASTRO. Students must log in using their AccessID and password. We recommend taking your placement exams at least two weeks prior to your orientation session.

English - College Writing

There are two introductory courses that meet general education requirements for most students - ENG 1010 and ENG 1020. Complete your directed self-placement survey to determine for which English course you should register.

Upload a photo for your WSU OneCard ID.

You don't have to wait until your orientation session to take a student ID picture. You can submit an approved photo from home, then the OneCard and Parking Service Center will mail your OneCard to you upon course registration. 

Check in with Student Disability Services.

Disabilities come in all different shapes and sizes. Student Disability Services (SDS) serves as a resource for the Wayne State University communiy to ensure academic access and inclusion for students, supporting a view of disability guided by social, cultural and political forces. SDS supports all students with a variety of disabilities, ranging from learning disabilities, visual disabilities, students with medical and psychiatric conditions, and even temporary disabilities (such as a broken arm!). Please note that accommodations from another institution, IEP, or 504 plan do not automatically carry over with you and each new student will need to register with the SDS office to develop an appropriate accommodation plan. For more information, please contact SDS at studentdisability@wayne.edu or call (313)-577-1851 to get started.

Canadian and international students

The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) works to help ensure that all new international students are prepared for their arrival to Wayne State and Detroit. In addition to attending a regular orientation session, OISS also requires that international students schedule a check-in session with their office.

Anyone who intends to attend WSU with an F student visa must submit all necessary financial documents to obtain an I-20. For any questions related to the I-20 process or requirements, please email i20unit@wayne.edu.   

Reach out with questions

If you have any questions or get stuck making your transition to Wayne State, reach out to our office at orientation@wayne.edu or 313-577-9019.