Next Steps

Below is a guide that will help you get started with your graduate student career. There is still a lot to do as you get settled in as a new student!

Step 1 – Review your Admission Letter and Submit Required Documents

All offers of admission are conditional until applications are reviewed for a final time. We will notify you of any outstanding prerequisites, transcripts, and/or documents by email. Delays in submitting the required documentation may prevent you from registering. For those of you who are still enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program, submit a final transcript to the Office of Admission once your degree has posted. We must keep up-to-date documents in your student file.

Electronic transcripts may be emailed to admissions@paloaltou.edu.

Step 2 – Log Into MyPAU and OneLogin

Your PAU ID grants access to a myriad of PAU systems including the MyPAU student portal. Your username will be emailed to you soon. If you need to reset your login you can submit a request to support@paloaltou.edu. 

OneLogin is a single sign-on and identity management tool for cloud-based applications. It will be used to streamline all of PAU's cloud-based applications into a single web portal. Once logged on, everyone will have single-click access to applications such as:

• • • MyPAU

    • Google Apps, including Gmail

    • Office 365 

    • Canvas

    • E2Campus

    • Qualtrics

    • Papercut

    • Zoom

    • Docusign

As incoming students, all communications will be sent to your PAU email address. Be sure to log in to your PAU email account. You can forward emails from your PAU account to your personal if you prefer to receive emails at your personal email address as well. 

The MyPAU student portal is used for: 

• • • Course Registration

    • Financial Billing

    • Degree Progress Information

    • Grades

    • Updating personal information such as address and SSN

Step 3 - Update your Social Security Number

Your SSN is required at the time of your deposit so that we can provide you with a 1098T for your federal tax return and furnish the National Student Clearinghouse with verification of your enrollment.

The easiest way to update your SSN is to log into MyPAU (see above), click on the Student tab, and update your personal information. 

If you do not possess a SSN, contact admissions at admissions@paloaltou.edu or by phone at 650-417-2055 to process your application. We keep SSN’s confidential.

Step 4 – Attend New Student Orientations

There are three types of student orientations required of all students.

1. Program Specific - you will receive information about these from your academic program.

2. Campus-Wide New Student Orientation - TBA

3. Mandatory Training Modules - Information will be emailed. 

Step 5 – Apply for Transfer Credit (if applicable) 

Please see your program-specific pages for information about transfer credit.

Step 6 – Explore Student Services

Student Success: The Department of Student Success includes the Office of Financial Aid, the Writing Studio, International and Veteran Student Support Services, the Office of Accessible Education (works with students on accommodations due to disabilities), and leadership development through the Office of Student Support.

University Library: This website has links to general and targeted databases used to find journal articles and ebooks online, as well as other materials in the library collection, such as streaming videos, print books, and psychological tests. Email the PAU librarians at librarian@paloaltou.edu for assistance and instruction on finding articles and other materials in the databases and the library. 

Information Technology Support: If you are experiencing difficulties with your login or accessing any of the OneLogin programs, the IT department is a resource. You will automatically receive a "ticket" in response, and they will attend to your request as soon as possible. Your Canvas course may be visible to you before classes begin if the professor has published the course, but if they have not yet published the course, you will not be able to see the course until they publish it during the first week of classes. 

Office of the Registrar: The Office of the Registrar maintains the accuracy and integrity of all student academic records and supports students with respect to registration, transcripts, degree audit, verifications, graduation, etc.  For step-by-step instructions on how to add/drop courses, access degree audits, view unofficial transcripts, order official transcripts, etc, check out the “Registrar How-To’s” section in the Student tab through the MyPAU Portal.

Step 7 – Register for Classes

Please see your program-specific pages for information about course registration.

Step 8 – Update Your Address

If you are relocating, update your personal information in our system. 

To change your address, log into your student portal at my.paloaltou.edu/ICS/Student

• Navigate to the "Student" tab

• Select "Update Personal Info"

Step 9 – Enroll in E2Campus

Enroll in e2Campus: Alert system that allows PAU officials to contact you during an emergency by sending messages to you via email, text message or voice message. You may register for this service through MyPAU using the "PAU Alert." 

Step 10 - Review the Academic Calendar

Check out the academic calendar for key dates, including tuition payment due dates. 

Step 11 - Review and Pay your Bill

Log into MyPAU to view your bill and explore payment options. Be aware that students may accrue fees for late payments. As you prepare your budget, consider reviewing this article by the APA: "Tips for broke graduate students."