NEW STUDENT
GUIDE

Start here

1. Open your Dashboard

Sign in to the account you used to apply and open the Welcome step to begin Student Onboarding.

2. Pay your deposit

First Year: Your $500 deposit is due within 30 days of your acceptance. If you’re accepted after August 1, 2027, pay your deposit immediately.

Second Year: Pay your $500 deposit by August 1, 2027, or immediately if accepted after that date. Your First Year tuition must be paid in full before you can pay your Second Year deposit.

For both years, your deposit counts toward tuition and is non-refundable and non-transferable.

If you cannot meet your deposit deadline, contact your Admissions Advisor to discuss your next steps.

3. If you’re an international student

Start preparing your international documents early. Review the guidance for new and returning students.

Have your plans changed?

If you’re no longer able to attend, please email your Admissions Advisor so we can update your application and make space for another student.

Tuition and finances

Review tuition and payment options

You can pay tuition in full or use a payment plan. See tuition and payment details for deadlines, plans, discounts, scholarships, refund policies, and payment requirements for registration.

Make a payment

If you need a payment plan, select one in the Dashboard pre-registration assignment after paying your deposit. Make tuition payments through My Finance in your Dashboard.

For questions about tuition or payments, email finance@bssm.net.

Support from family and friends

Share the Contribution Link from My Finance in your Dashboard so family and friends can contribute to your tuition. Tuition payments are not tax-deductible or eligible for tax benefits.

Plan your full budget

Budget for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and other living expenses in addition to tuition. See Plan your move for housing and local resources.

Mission trips

Mission trips are required for First and Second Year and cost $100–$4,000 in addition to tuition. Applications open in late September.

Prepare for school

Follow your Dashboard tasks

Complete Student Onboarding and the pre-registration assignments in your Dashboard. Check your Dashboard and your email inbox regularly for additional tasks or instructions.

Read before school begins

First Year: Read When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson before the first day of school.

Second Year: Read John G. Lake: His Life, His Sermons, His Boldness of Faith before school begins. Bring your book report on the first day, along with a Bible and a pen. Keep your copy of God’s Generals for use during Second Year.

Buy the books online or at a local bookstore.

Plan your weekly schedule

Your schedule includes main sessions, classes, Revival Groups, Small Groups, and Activation, as well as reading and homework outside of class. Students also attend two church services each Sunday. Allow time for these commitments when planning your week.

International students

Start with your documents

Contact your Admissions Advisor to confirm which immigration documents and steps apply to your situation before making travel plans.

Returning for Second Year

If you did not receive your Second Year I-20 before graduation, contact your Admissions Advisor or email contact@bssm.net. Confirm your returning-student document and travel instructions with the team before following the new-student process.

Prepare for life in Redding

Review healthcare and insurance options and plan your coverage.

See Plan your move for housing, banking, transportation, driving information, and family resources.

Plan your move

Find housing

BSSM does not provide or manage student housing. Explore private rentals or shared housing that fit your budget and transportation needs.

Set up utilities

Ask your landlord or housemates which utilities are included and which you need to arrange in your name.

Ask your utility provider about the deposit, start date, required documents, and how to submit them.

Plan your transportation

Plan how you’ll get to College View, Twin View, and other school activities. If you’ll use public transportation, check RABA bus routes and schedules when choosing where to live.

If you plan to bring, buy, or borrow a car, review the driving and vehicle registration guidance.

Banking

If you need a U.S. bank account, arrange an appointment and ask about monthly fees and the opening deposit. Check whether you’ll need:

• A passport or other government-issued identification, plus a second form of ID.
• Your local address and a mailing address for your bank card.
• Your I-20 and other immigration documents, if you’re an international student.
• A tax identification number, if applicable, and money for the opening deposit.

Ask whether you’ll need a U.S. phone number for online banking or security codes. Requirements vary by bank and account.

Bank options include Tri Counties Bank, U.S. Bank, Bank of America, and Chase.

Moving with your family

If you’re bringing children, explore the family resources as you plan housing, transportation, and school arrangements.

Registration and arrival

Registration

First and Second Year students must attend registration in person in Redding. Complete your Dashboard assignments and meet the Finance Packet’s registration requirements before Registration Day.

Location: Sanctuary, College View campus (address below)

If you need to arrive after Registration Day, contact your Admissions Advisor or email contact@bssm.net before making your travel plans.

Where we meet

College View
933 College View Drive
Redding, CA 96003

Twin View
936 Twin View Boulevard
Redding, CA 96003

Most school activities take place at College View, but activities such as Activations may take place at Twin View from time to time. Second Year Advanced Ministry Training (AMT) classes also meet at Twin View. Keep both campuses in mind when planning transportation.

Retreat

First and Second Year students attend a retreat for three days and two nights during Retreat Week. Retreat is included in your tuition.

Your Revival Group will share your retreat dates, location, and what to bring at the beginning of the school year. Allow for retreat when planning your work schedule.

International documents

This process is for new international students preparing to attend BSSM in M-1 student status. If you already hold another U.S. immigration status, are transferring schools, or are returning to BSSM, contact our team before following these steps.

1. Pay your deposit

Complete the deposit step in Start here before continuing with your documents. Review Tuition and finances for tuition options, including the plans available to M-1 students.

2. Upload your passport and proof of funds

Complete the passport and proof-of-funds assignments in your Dashboard. Your financial documents must be reviewed and approved before BSSM can issue your I-20.

Use the required funding amount shown in your Dashboard. Your documents may include:

• Personal bank statements or current account balances.
• Signed and dated support letters stating the amount of support, accompanied by the donor’s financial documentation.
• Scholarship letters stating the amount awarded.

Provide documents in English and amounts in U.S. dollars, or include a summary translating the information and converting the amounts. Contact our team if you need help understanding what to submit.

3. Complete your I-20 information

Complete the I-20 information assignment in your Dashboard. Include any spouse or dependent children who will accompany you so the team can review their document needs.

BSSM will upload your issued I-20 to your account. Check your name, date of birth, program dates, and student category. Ask the team to correct any errors before continuing. Sign your I-20 as instructed and keep it with your travel documents.

4. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee

After receiving your I-20, use its SEVIS ID to pay the I-901 fee. Save your receipt. Check the current fee and payment instructions on the official payment website.

Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee

5. Apply for your visa

Complete the DS-160 and follow your U.S. embassy or consulate’s instructions for an appointment, fees, and supporting documents. Prepare your passport, signed I-20, SEVIS receipt, DS-160 confirmation, and financial evidence.

Read the official student visa application instructions

Canadian citizens: Contact our team for the visa-exempt entry process before arranging travel. You still need the applicable student documents and SEVIS payment.

6. Check your documents before travel

If a visa is issued, check that the information and category match your I-20. Contact the issuing embassy or consulate if there is an error.

For new students, entry is permitted no earlier than 30 days before the program start date on the I-20. Use that date when planning your arrival.

7. Keep your documents with you

Carry your passport, signed I-20, visa if required, SEVIS payment receipt, and proof of funds in your hand luggage. Follow the current entry instructions and answer the border officer’s questions about your studies.

Review U.S. entry information for students

8. Prepare for BSSM registration

Update your Dashboard with your current U.S. address. Bring your passport, I-20, visa if applicable, SEVIS receipt, and current proof of funds to registration. Review your Dashboard assignments for any additional documents requested by the school.

Questions about your documents?

Contact your Admissions Advisor or email contact@bssm.net. Submit passport and financial documents through your assigned Dashboard tasks.

Find housing in Redding

BSSM does not provide or manage student housing. You’ll need to arrange your own accommodation before arriving.

Explore private rentals

Consider a room in a shared home, an apartment, or a house. Choose a location and household that work for your budget, transportation, and school commitments.

Read the Redding Housing Help Guide for rental costs, housing groups, and questions to ask before renting.

Before you commit

• Confirm the rent, deposit, lease dates, and what is included.
• Ask which utilities you need to arrange and pay for separately.
• Plan how you will get to school and other activities.

Driving and vehicle registration

If you plan to bring, buy, or borrow a car while at BSSM, check your driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance, and smog requirements before driving.

Driver’s license

Nonresident drivers over 18 may use a valid driver’s license from their home state or country. Carry your license whenever you drive. An International Driving Permit does not replace your home-country license.

If you become a California resident and plan to drive, DMV requires a California license within 10 days. Being a student does not automatically determine your residency status. Ask DMV which requirements apply to you, including if you plan to drive for work.

Review California driver’s license requirements.

Vehicle registration

A vehicle based in California or used here more than in any other individual state during its registration period generally needs California registration, even if its owner lives elsewhere.

When California registration is required, submit your application and fees within 20 days of the date registration becomes due. Check with DMV before bringing your vehicle so you know when your deadline begins and whether an exception applies.

If the vehicle belongs to a parent or someone in another state, ask DMV whether interstate registration is appropriate. This allows California registration while keeping valid out-of-state registration; it is not required for every student.

Review out-of-state vehicle registration requirements and interstate registration.

Automobile insurance

Arrange insurance that meets California’s requirements and keep proof in your vehicle. Tell your insurer that you’ll be living and driving in California during school. If you borrow a car, confirm that you are covered before driving it.

Check California’s insurance requirements.

Smog inspection

Your vehicle may need a California smog inspection before registration can be completed. Requirements depend on the vehicle and the registration transaction. Check DMV’s guidance before booking an inspection; fees vary by station.

Check smog requirements and find an inspection station.

Bringing a vehicle from Canada or Mexico

Before traveling, check with U.S. Customs and Border Protection about bringing your vehicle into the U.S. for your stay. Confirm the required documents and any time limits, then ask California DMV about registration. Also confirm that your insurance covers your stay in California.

Review U.S. vehicle-entry guidance.

Questions about your situation?

Contact California DMV at 1-800-777-0133 for licensing and registration questions, or the CHP Redding office at (530) 225-0500 for local driving and registration guidance.