Your Path to Mac

TRANSFER STUDENTS: Many of the steps and milestones below apply to all incoming students. For anything that’s different, details will be found in your New Student Portal. Transfer students will also have specific groups with other transfer students at Orientation.

Get Ready

WHAT TO EXPECT

Want the overview of what your next few months will look like? Hear admissions counselor Aisha, current student Rylan, and executive director Laurie share an overview of the things to keep in mind as you prepare to move to college. Then check out the list of next steps and major milestones below.

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ENROLLING & MAC ACCOUNT

Once you’ve committed to Mac, there are a few steps to access your Mac email account and other portals that keep you on track.

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NEW STUDENT PORTAL & FORMS

Before you come to campus, there are steps and milestones along the way to help you prepare for a smooth start at Mac.

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MOVE-IN & ORIENTATION

The day will arrive soon! Here is what you can expect when you move to Mac and start your college journey.

Beginning in May Find your Next Steps in your email and New Student Portal

The list below is an overview and gives students and their families a sense of the markers and milestones designed to prepare you for your start at Macalester. Links are available for reference but many next steps become available only after May 20 with your new Macalester account. Your New Student Portal and macalester.edu email will be the best sources for deadlines, links, and forms, so check them at least once a week.

Want the shorter overview? Find these same steps in our Path to Mac Quickview List.

MAY

SET UP YOUR MACALESTER ACCOUNT ON MAY 20 It all kicks off with your Macalester account. Information Technology Services (ITS) will send an email to your personal email address with your official Macalester username on May 20 with the subject line: “Initialize your Macalester Account and set up 2-factor authentication.” Follow the steps to set your password and enroll in 2-factor authentication.

SET UP DUO MOBILE AND GOOGLE 2-STEP AUTHENTICATION
You’ll need two kinds of 2-factor authentication to maintain access to your acount: Google 2-Step for Google and Duo Mobile for the rest of Macalester’s online services. Right after you set the password for your Macalester account, a ‘Success!’ page will appear with instructions for setting up 2-factor authentication with DUO and Google. Students must enroll in 2-factor authentication within 90 days of receiving the Macalester account initialization email. Those who don’t enroll within this timeframe will eventually be locked out of their account. This information is also found in the Student Technology Checklist (listed next).

STUDENT TECHNOLOGY CHECKLIST Information Technology Services (ITS) provides information and help with technology on campus. Follow the  Student Technology Checklist to understand how to connect your devices to campus wifi, print, view tech items to bring to campus, see where to stream movies and music legally and for free, and know where to get tech help.

CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT As soon as you have set up your macalester.edu account, you’ll begin to receive messages from various departments at Macalester helping with your transition to college. Look for messages in your Macalester email account about class selection, campus housing deadlines, Orientation, and updates from departments across campus. 

CHECK YOUR NEW STUDENT PORTAL Similar to when you applied, your New Student Portal is your checklist for all the required forms and information needed before college. You’ll receive an email prompt to set up your New Student Portal in your new Macalester email account. New Student Portal

DOWNLOAD MACNAV APP Download MacNav, Macalester’s official app for students, to track your progress on completing New Student Portal tasks and receive reminders about upcoming deadlines. Later this summer, MacNav will show you Orientation schedules and reminders as well. To get the most from MacNav, download and then log in with your new Macalester account after May 20.  Get MacNav

APPLICATIONS FOR AMETRICA, LIVES OF COMMITMENT, AND MENTORUP Three optional programs designed to engage around identity, develop leadership skills, and build connections will be open for application. These are not required, but have been successful in helping students find their sense of belonging and give back to communities around them. The level of commitment varies so be sure to review the details of each program.

VIEW COURSE SELECTION ADVICE PANEL  Recorded May 27,  staff and professors outline the steps for selecting courses as a new student. Panelists describe the registration process, suggest strategies for developing your list of course preferences, including your First-Year Course. This recording is available for viewing as you complete your Fall 2025 Course Selection Form, due on June 16. Watch Course Selection Advice Panel Recording

FALL COURSE PLANNING Available in mid-May, you can view classes in preparation for submitting your Fall 2025 Course Preference Form, which is found in your New Student Portal and due June 16. For advice about the Course Preference Form, you are welcome to join the optional Course Selection Advice panel which will offer tips about planning a balanced schedule and completing this form. You are also strongly encouraged to sign up for a group advising session with a faculty member (see below). These sessions, which will take place over zoom during early June, will provide an opportunity to ask questions about choosing your schedule in a smaller group setting. Along with the form, you will get detailed instructions about registration steps. You will receive your First-Year Course confirmation and advisor information in mid-July. We will place you in a second course based on your Course Preference Form. In late July, on the date and time that corresponds to your registration group, you may register for your third and fourth courses online. You may also change your second course at this time if you wish; you cannot change your First Year Course. The registration period will be open through August 1st, and you may make additional changes to your non-First Year Courses until it closes. You will meet with your advisor at Orientation and if needed, you will be able to make additional changes to your course schedule at that time. More about Course Selection and Registration

REGISTER FOR AN ADVISING SESSION From June 2-13, faculty will be available during pre-scheduled sessions to answer your questions about choosing courses and the course registration process. We recommend attending the Course Selection Advice Webinar and looking over available courses before your session to make the most of your time! Advising Session Registration can be found in your New Student Portal on May 20.

CELEBRATING A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION? Show your Macalester Pride with a Home of a Macalester Student sign, a Go Scots sign, or a simple Coo.

JUNE

PLAN FOR ORIENTATION Orientation happens at the end of August, with some virtual programs available for parents and families in mid-August. All students attend orientation August 25-29, with international students arriving earlier on August 19. Student athletes and special program participants will also have varied arrival dates. While orientation may seem far away, don’t wait to schedule travel and plan Move-In Day logistics. View Orientation Info

FORMS DUE JUNE 16 Your New Student Portal will list a variety of required forms including the Fall 2025 Course Selection Form and program applications. Forms are available in your portal before the due date, so you can take a look at what is expected and needed. Watch for email reminders and be sure to view your checklist to know exactly what is due. New Student Portal For students with accommodation requests, please submit the Disability/Accessibility Request Form available in the New Student Portal.

HOUSING FORMS DUE JUNE 16 The Housing Contract and Preferences Form will be linked from your New Student Portal on June 2, 2025. First-year students must complete and submit it by Monday, June 16. To access the form, log in to your housing and dining portal at 1600grand.macalester.edu. Navigate to My Housing and Dining, then select Housing and Dining Self-Service. Under Select Apps & Forms, you’ll find the Housing Contract and Preferences Form. Residential Life will send notifications about your roommate(s), residence hall, and meal plan on July 17. More details, including deadlines, will be sent to your Macalester email. Learn more about Residential Life

MONEY MATTERS – PAYMENT & FINANCIAL AID Before fall semester account statements are sent in July, students should set up authorized users, others who also need access to account statements, through 1600grand (What is 1600grand?). Students with a financial aid package may also have a few additional steps to put financial aid in place. See required steps

JULY

FINAL TRANSCRIPT DUE ON JULY 1 Macalester’s offer of admission is contingent upon your successful completion of all secondary school coursework at a level similar to your previous work. You will need to submit a final copy of your secondary school transcript for approval by July 1. If there are circumstances that have caused any limitations on your ability to complete your coursework or produce a final transcript email [email protected] and we will assist you.

DEFER REQUESTS DUE ON JULY 1 Considering a gap year? Students who want to defer their enrollment to Fall 2026 have until July 1 to submit a Request to Defer form. The form is available in your Applicant Portal. For some students a gap year is the best way to transition from high school to college. More about Requests to Defer

REGISTER FOR CLASSES JULY 21 – AUGUST 1 Check your registration group’s day and time, and log in to register for your fall courses. If you need a refresher on the registration system, find instructions and advice here.

SUMMER SEND-OFFS IN MULTIPLE U.S. CITIES Beginning in July, Macalester hosts Summer Send-Off events across the U.S. These casual events are designed especially for new students and their families to foster a sense of community, connect with alumni, and ask questions before the college journey begins. Watch for your Summer-Send-Off email invitation in June. Learn more about Summer Send-Offs. Note: We know not all students and families can join us at a Summer Send-Off. These events are optional and if you are unable to attend, be assured there will be many opportunities to meet other students at Orientation, and to connect with alumni through college and beyond.

PREPARE TO MOVE TO MAC As Move-In Day on August 25 gets closer, you’ll be thinking about what to pack. Current students and Residential Life have a list to help you prioritize what you want to bring, both the must-haves and the nice-to-haves. See Move to Mac Packing List

AUGUST

HEALTH INSURANCE Macalester College requires all students to have comprehensive health insurance coverage that complies with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) health insurance plan costs $3,329 for the 2025-2026 academic year, and for new students is billed on the first tuition statement. Please note your UHCSR health insurance information will come from Gallagher. All international students will be automatically enrolled in the Macalester-offered United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) health insurance plan. All other students must purchase the UHCSR health plan, or submit a waiver form. Students with U.S. citizenship who are covered by an alternative health insurance policy may have the fee waived, provided that their insurance meets the college’s specified requirements.  This is a waiver form open from June 4 to August 13, 2025. The charge for Macalester student health insurance will be removed for students who waive Macalester student health insurance by the deadline.

SEND MACPASS PHOTO MacPass is your campus ID card used for accessing buildings, tracking your meal plan, loading/spending Mac Money, and using library services. Sending in your photo by the due date means your MacPass will be ready and waiting for you on move-in day. See Photo Requirements

FORMS DUE AUGUST 13 Similar to the June 16 deadline, August brings a set of forms due on August 13 before coming to Macalester. New Student Portal  

MAC BOOKS – COURSE MATERIALS Once you are registered, The Highlander (Macalester’s campus bookstore, operated by Barnes and Noble College) will prepare course materials for students at the beginning of each semester. There is no separate charge for Mac Books; the cost of course materials is included in tuition. Students will be notified when physical materials are ready for pickup. Electronic materials will be delivered to students within Moodle. More about Mac Books

Save These Dates

• Pre-Orientation for International Students on August 19-August 25. 
• New Student Orientation on August 25-29. (Move-In Day August 25)
• Classes begin on September 2.
• Mac Fest is open to families for events, performances, and activities all weekend October 10-11.

Check out the college events calendar for other events.

 Get Social

• Meet other admitted Mac2029 students and current Mac students in the class Brightcrowd group.
• Share your Instagram posts using #Mac2029. Use #heymac to get on Mac Social.

Check Out Our Virtual Tour or Connect with the Mac Community

• Explore our campus on a virtual tour or video tour to experience Macalester without leaving home.
• Email Admissions or Financial Aid with any questions.
• Connect with your counselor by email or schedule a virtual meeting.

Review Transfer Credit process if applicable

For students who are considering transferring college or university credit, it’s important to understand the process.

Macalester College will accept a maximum of thirty-two (32) semester credits earned prior to matriculation. College/university credits, summer session college credits, credits earned through a post-secondary education program, International Baccalaureate credits, and Advanced Placement Program credits are included in this 32-credit limitation.

Once enrolled, you must request that an official transcript be sent directly to the Registrar’s Office by the college or university through which you took courses. Student-issued transcripts will not be accepted for transfer of credit.

Once the official college/university transcript is received by the Registrar’s Office, the evaluation process will begin and credit will be transferred accordingly. Transcripts can be mailed to the address below, or sent via secure electronic transmission to Macalester College.

Electronic Transmission:
[email protected]

Mailing Address:
Registrar’s Office
Macalester College
1600 Grand Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105-1899

If you have questions about transfer credits before enrollment, contact your admissions counselor directly or send questions to [email protected].

Our Mac community looks forward to your arrival on campus!

What is 1600Grand?

PHOTO NEEDS FOR MACPASS