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Before You Arrive

There are many things that you can do before you arrive at Simmons, which will make your transition as smooth as possible. Throughout the summer, we will be adding to the following list of things to do Before You Arrive.

  1. Complete the New Student Survey
  2. Submit your Entrance Health Certificate
  3. Check your Simmons email
  4. Change your email password
  5. Disinfect and Protect your Computer
  6. Learn about what Technology to purchase
  7. Take the Online Chemistry Placement Test
  8. Take an online placement exam for French or Spanish
  9. Arrange for Fall 2009 Parking (Commuter Students Only)

Complete the New Student Survey

The information collected by this survey will help your faculty advisor assist you with your course selection for the fall semester and will help us assign you to an Orientation Leader. Take the survey!

Submit your Entrance Health Certificate

Submit your Entrance Health Certificate, including your immunization records, as soon as you can. Having your immunization records on file at the College is required by state law. If you have not received the forms in the mail, you can download it here. Select "Immunizations" from the menu. Please return all forms to the Health Center, 94 Pilgrim Road, Boston, MA, 02115 or by fax: 617-521-3467.

Check your Simmons Email

You should be checking your Simmons email account regularly throughout the Summer, because all official e-mails will go to your Simmons e-mail account. This includes communication from Simmons, Orientation eNewsletters, and communication regarding your academic advisor.

You should have received your username and password with your admissions materials. If you do not have this, you can call the Simmons Help Desk (617-521-2222) and they will provide you with this information. Note: you will need to provide your Simmons ID number when you call.

You can also forward your e-mail to another account.

Change your Email Password

The first time you use your Simmons e-mail, you should change your Simmons password. This will also change your password for AARC (Academic and Administrative Resource Center) and eLearning (online course communication). Change your password here.

Disinfect and Protect your Computer

If you plan to bring your computer to campus, you must "Disinfect and Protect" your computer before you connect to the Simmons network. Simmons College provides antivirus software to you for free, through the Disinfect & Protect web site.

Learn about what Technology to Purchase

Special pricing is available to Simmons students online through our Dell, Apple, and eAcademy stores. Learn more about the discounts available by visiting the Technology Purchasing website. If you are going to purchase a computer before you come to school, we recommend you buy a desktop or laptop meeting the Simmons minimum specifications.

As a student, you will need to be able to open and work on files created using Microsoft Office software. Technology suggests you purchase the Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word) through the Simmons e-academy online store, where you will find a terrific discount on Office and other Microsoft products, as well as statistical software.

Other useful items to purchase include:

  • USB flash drive to use to carry files around (or use remote.simmons.edu to access your file server space).
  • Inkjet printer (and toner)
  • Surge protector
  • Living on campus? You should also purchase an Ethernet cable, coaxial cable (for cable television), telephone, and paper for the residence campus computer lab printer.

Take the Online Chemistry Placement Test

Are you planning to take a chemistry course as part of your major, or to fulfill a science requirement? If so, you need to take the chemistry placement exam. Because the chemistry placement examination is more a test of aptitude than achievement, a previous course in high school chemistry is not required in order to perform well. You should complete the exam before registering for classes. You can access the placement exam through Simmons eLearning. Log on using your assigned username and password, and then select "Center for Academic Achievement" to take the test. More information on the Online Chemistry Placement Test can be found here.

Take an online placement exam for French or Spanish

Are you planning to study a language that you have previously studied? If so, you should take a language placement exam to ensure you are in the correct level. Placement exams for French and Spanish are offered via the web throughout the summer. These exams are for PLACEMENT ONLY. If you feel you would be able to passs out or exempt yourself from the language requirement, you must take a proctored exam on campus during a Summer Preview Day or Fall Orientation.

To take the language placement exam for French or Spanish, go to the following web page. You will need the password that was provided in your advising e-mail from advising@simmons.edu.

Placement exams for all other languages taught at Simmons will be offered at the Summer Preview Days and Fall Orientation.

More information on the Language Requirement can be found at the Center for Academic Achievement's website.

Complete your Housing Application

Are you living on campus this Fall? If so, make sure to complete the Undergraduate Housing Application. Housing assignments will be emailed to your Simmons account throughout the summer, beginning in mid July. More information about the housing options and residence life can be found on the Residence Life Website.

Please note that the Office of Residence Life will not be able to consider your residence application until your housing deposit has been received by the Admission Office.

Order a Fall 2009 Semester T-pass

One semester's worth of monthly MBTA passes may be ordered through the Office of Student Leadership and Activities at MCB-W002. Through this program, students receive four monthly passes at an 11% discount from the normal MBTA cost. You can download an order form or order directly online. For more information on the program, see the Student Semester T-pass website.

Arrange for Fall 2009 Parking (Commuter Students Only)

Commuter student parking is available at the main academic campus garage, accessible from Avenue Louis Pasteur. Parking options include a flexible ParkingCash daily rate program and a semester permit program. Please note: resident students are not eligible for parking.

Applications for Fall 2009 parking passes will be available over the summer. To read more about the parking program, see the student parking webpage.