Admitted Student Checklist

Welcome to Baylor!

Below is a checklist for incoming traditional (on campus) graduate students. This page should help you to settle into Waco, get acclimated to Baylor, and prepare for your first day of class.

If you are a newly admitted student in an online, Army-Baylor, hybrid, or other off-campus program, follow your program-specific steps for orientation and enrollment. 

Access a printable version of this checklist. 

1. Read Your Acceptance Letter(s) Carefully 

Acceptance letters often contain very important information regarding stipend awards, insurance subsidies, and other agreements regarding obligations between you and the university. Read these letters completely and carefully before replying to your Offer of Admission. 

• Find your letter(s) by logging into GoGrad and clicking on View Update under Status Update.

2. Reply to Offer of Admission 

You can find access to this under Forms on your GoGrad status page.

3. Activate your Bear ID, E-mail, and Baylor ID #

After providing your Intent to Enroll, you will get an email from ITS@baylor.edu about activating your Bear ID and email. This may take up to two full business days. Please contact helpdesk@baylor.edu with any Bear ID issues.

• Find explanations and instructions at the ITS Welcome to Baylor page, and step-by-step instructions on activating your Bear ID can be found here.
• Please Note: Logging into BearWeb will now require Duo Authentication. For more information about how to set-up a Duo account, click here.

It is very important that you use your Baylor email address throughout your studies at Baylor. It is the email address that is used by the Cashier's office and all other administrative offices on campus.

4.  Complete the Required Health Form

This form must be completed before registering for classes.

• Please Note: EMBA, online, and Army-Baylor students are not required to complete the health form.
• Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine Requirement: Bacterial meningitis can rapidly lead to death or disfigurement. As of January 1, 2012, all new, entering college students in the state of Texas who are under the age of 22 need to have had an MCV4 bacterial meningitis vaccine within the last 5 years in order to attend class. Click here for more information. 

5. Contact your Graduate Program Director

It is wise to contact your specific GPD (likely the faculty member you communicated with during the admissions process) to get program-specific instructions, especially regarding advising, selecting classes, and program orientation/handbooks.

6. Register for Classes

Before your first semester, please contact your graduate program office directly. You can also find help on the Office of the Registrar's website.

• Your access to register for classes is set up after official notification of your admittance from the Graduate School to the university BearWeb system. There may be a short time lag.
• Please click here for Graduate School requirements that could impact your eligibility to graduate.
• Some departments require graduate students to be advised before they can register for classes online, while others simply recommend that students be advised. For more information regarding your advisement, log on to BearWeb.

7. Submitting Official Transcript(s) and Test Scores

Send all final, official transcript(s) and test scores to Grad_Transcripts@baylor.edu (what does "official" mean?). 

Paper transcripts can be mailed to Baylor University Graduate Admissions, One Bear Place #97264, Waco TX 76798-7264. 

• If you were admitted before receiving your previous degree, you are required to send an official, final transcript showing your conferred degree and date awarded to Graduate Admissions by the first day of class or a hold will be placed on your registration for the following semester and you may be asked to leave the program.
  • Please note that many Registrar Offices do not post degrees on transcripts until 2 weeks after graduation. Before ordering your transcript, please check with your institution's registrar's office to confirm when degrees will be posted.
  • If your transcript does not include degree and date conferred, please also include your diploma or degree certificate.
• If you were admitted with unofficial transcripts and test scores, you are required to send official, final documents to Graduate Admissions by the first day of class or a hold will be placed on your registration for the following semester and you may be asked to leave the program
  • If your transcript does not include degree and date conferred, please also include your diploma or degree certificate.
• International students in F-1 status must also qualify for an I-20 before they are permitted to register. Email our International Student and Scholar Services for information and assistance.

If we already have your official transcripts showing all conferred degrees, thank you! You can proceed to the next step.

8. Complete an I-9 and a W-4 Form (for students receiving a stipend)

The Department of Homeland Security holds Baylor accountable for the proper collection of information and completion of employment forms. Please go to The Office of Student Employment webpage for more information and copies of these forms.

• For information regarding university fees, contact Baylor One Stop at https://onestop.web.baylor.edu/contact-us or by calling (254) 710-2311.
• You can find monthly and biweekly payroll schedules at www.baylor.edu/payroll/.

9. Affording Graduate Education with Financial Aid 

If you want to pursue financial aid to help with your costs, visit with Student Financial Services for more information regarding financial aid programs and the application process.

• Pay attention to priority dates that you need to meet.
• International students are not eligible for U.S. Government (federal) funding.
• To ensure timely processing of your FAFSA, Baylor needs either your Social Security Number or individual Taxpayer Identification number. If you did not provide this information in your application, please login to BearWeb and click Student Academic Services > Student Records > Update Missing SSN (this option will only appear in BearWeb if you have not already provided this information).
• If you have further questions after reviewing this information please contact the Financial Aid Office by phone at 1-800-BAYLOR-U, option 8, 2, then 3 for a counselor or 254-710-2611 or contact the Student Financial Aid office online.

10. Enjoy Free Membership to Graduate Student Association! 

GSA believes an excellent graduate experience takes a holistic, integrative approach to graduate education that invites engagement in compelling scholarship and research, facilitates enriching careers, nourishes personal well-being, and cultivates a culture of belonging and collegiality. 

We are a community that strives to enrich the quality of academic and social life for students of each graduate program of Baylor University as well as advocate the rights of these students and voice their concerns.

11. Look for Housing

There are numerous housing options available in Waco. Some students choose to live in Baylor owned graduate apartments within walking or biking distance of campus, while others choose to rent or purchase away from campus. Waco has options to suit a variety of needs, budgets, and personal preferences.

• The following links may assist you with housing options:
  • Graduate Student Housing Community
  • Off campus housing

The earlier you arrange your housing, the more options you will find available. As the fall semester approaches, housing options become more limited since many undergraduate and graduate students are searching for accommodations.

12. Process Your Student Health Insurance

Baylor University requires Health Insurance for graduate students enrolled in 3 or more credit hours, including all online graduate students, or those enrolled in at least one hour of a full-time equivalency course. To assist students to meet this requirement, Academic HealthPlans has been selected to administer the Student Health Insurance Plan underwritten by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

• Students are automatically enrolled and charges will appear on your first tuition bill unless you obtain a waiver before the close of the open enrollment period. See the AHP website for dates. 
• Students who have comparable health insurance coverage can waive out of this plan. See our Health Insurance Benefits page. 
• Students may use the Open Enrollment period to add spouses and children to their plan. See our Health Insurance Benefits page. 
• Graduate Students who meet the criteria for Graduate Assistants will receive the Graduate School insurance subsidy. If you qualify for the subsidy, this is stated in your admission letter. The subsidy will be applied to your Baylor student account and will not appear in your AHP registration.
• For university-wide insurance information please visit the Baylor Health Services Insurance page.

13. Optional Parking Permits

Parking on campus requires a parking permit. If needed, there are several parking permit options available for purchase. Access your Parking Account  to purchase a parking permit for campus parking lots or garages. Cars without a permit will be ticketed and/or towed. 

14. Learning Accommodations and Accessibility

Baylor is committed to assuring equal access in all aspects of the college experience. If you have accessibility issues, reach out to the Baylor Office of Access and Learning Accommodation. 

15. Read and Comply with the Graduate School Policy on Professional Conduct

Contact Dr. Sara Dolan with any questions.

16. Review Our Living in Waco Page

Moving to a new city and university can be overwhelming. But we want you to know that Waco is as much a part of Baylor as Baylor is a part of Waco. We love, honor, and value our rich history while we also celebrate the flourishing present. Founded in 1849 by the Huaco Indians, Waco offers major attractions, historic homes, recreational venues, museums, and arts organizations.

This guide offers an inside look into the culture, dining, churches, coffee shops, arts, activities, and resources for families available to the Baylor and Waco community. 

Some other links you might also be interested in:

• Baylor University Job Postings
• Enjoy family hours at the McLane Student Life Center, including an indoor pool with lazy river and vortex pool
• Visit the Mayborn Museum with children
• Baylor Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic for children and teens

17. Plan to attend New Graduate Student Orientation

All incoming students will receive an invitation in early June for either the in-person or the online introduction to Baylor and graduate education. You can find more information regarding schedules and content on the NGSO webpage.

International students, CLICK HERE for additional information.