Former returning students must submit an application form to the Admissions Office. The readmission deadlines to return to the same major are:
Summer Quarter: April 1st
Fall Quarter: July 1st
Winter Quarter: October 1st
Spring Quarter: February 1st

Former returning students can choose to apply to a different major and compete for a slot in the new major, but they must submit their application during the published application deadlines for new students listed on the application form. They must also meet the same readmission requirements as a dismissed student if they left not in good standing (this is also true for students who apply to a different major within the College of Engineering).

Former returning students in good standing
(all their grade point averages are above a 2.0 the last quarter they attended Cal Poly, and they do not have any registration holds due to academic probation or administrative probation - call the Engineering Advising Center if you are unsure of your status) will be accepted back to their former majors.

Former returning students not in good standing
(they have one or more grade point averages below a 2.0 the last quarter they attended Cal Poly, and/or they have one or more registration holds due to academic probation or administrative probation) must meet the terms of their dismissal letter prior to returning to College of Engineering. Students that were not formally dismissed must meet the same criteria as a dismissed student. Students that leave one engineering major as a student not in good standing and then reapply as a "new transfer" student into another engineering major must meet the same criteria as a dismissed student. The minimum readmission criteria stated in the current dismissal letter states:

• At least one calendar year must elpase after you leave Cal Poly.

• You must complete at another institution, at least 33 quarter units or 22 semester units of major /support course work (refer to your major curriculum sheet). All lower-division math, physics, chemistry, and engineering courses must be completed prior to returning to Cal Poly (if you e-mail a complete list of courses and their equivalents using www.assist.org  to eadvise@calpoly.edu, you will be notified if they are acceptable).  If you currently only have upper-division coursework outstanding with no lower-division coursework (or very little) outstanding, you may not have the option of returning to Cal Poly. In that case, you should plan on graduating from another university.  The College of Engineering does not accept back upper-division major coursework from dismissed students.

• A minimum of a 3.0 grade point average is required in the above course work. All grades must be a "C" or higher the first time the course is taken.

• No exceptions will be made regarding these minimum criteria.

Former returning students not in good standing who meet the readmission requirements are placed under contract upon returning to the College of Engineering. The contract must be signed, dated, and returned prior to registration. The contract will require a specific grade point average and will require very specific progress requirements (15 degree applicable units per quarter would be a common requirement) in order to ensure a timely graduation. The contract will remain in place each quarter for progress purposes. The contract may list additional requirements.