Getting the Most out of College Orientation

Resources

You have researched colleges, toured schools, taken ACT or SAT exams, worked diligently on your applications, held your breath as you hit “Submit” then anxiously awaited acceptance notifications. You finally selected the school where you plan to spend the next four years living, studying, making friends and becoming an adult. 

Congratulations!

The next stop on your way to being a fully matriculating student is Orientation. Whether you are an incoming freshman or a transfer student, New Student Orientation is an important step to learning practical things about your chosen university and about what student services are available to you. 

Many colleges and universities host a 1-2 day in-person orientation for incoming students and parents. Some orientations include an overnight stay in a dorm for students. While this can seem overwhelming, especially if attending requires significant travel, accommodations and pre-planning, attendance at these orientations is highly recommended. 

For students, attending orientation makes the transition from high school student to independent college student easier. For parents, orientation will answer many questions about your student’s life on campus like meal plans, campus safety, medical accessibility, transportation, when and how to make tuition payments and more. 

Defending Education wants to help make this transition easy and enjoyable for students and parents. We have put together some tips to help make your orientation as beneficial as possible. 

Orientation often includes different breakout sessions for students and parents. This provides a great opportunity for students to engage with other incoming students and for parents to meet other parents. 

Remember, orientation is the university’s opportunity to officially welcome you. It is YOUR opportunity to get valuable information about student life on your campus and is a great introduction to your next exciting journey. 

ORIENTATION 101

Things to Consider BEFORE Orientation

  • Register! Be sure to register for orientation well in advance. Dates fill up quickly. Register and then set your travel plans.
  • Overnight If your college or university offers an overnight stay in a dorm for the student, take it! This is a great opportunity to check out the dorms and meet fellow students. The school will have lots of activities planned so participating and meeting people is fun and easy. 
  • Questions Think of questions you might have about being a student living and studying at your school. Most of these questions will be answered by your Orientation Counselor, but be sure to ask if something is not addressed. Questions you may ask include:
    • What are my meal plan options?
    • How do students get around campus?
    • What should I bring for my dorm room?
  • Positive Mindset Come with an open mind and level of excitement. Orientation is about YOU and your next chapter. 

What to Expect AT Orientation

  • Orientation dynamics. You’re going to meet a lot of new people at orientation!
    • Size Most orientation sessions are small and geared toward easy interaction. Remember, everyone is new! Orientation is a great place to collect contact information for other students. Making these connections really helps the first few weeks of school. Orientation group members often meet for lunch, attend events together and help each other navigate the first few weeks on a new campus.
    • Orientation Counselors. Orientation Counselors are great sources of information and are incredibly enthusiastic about your school! Think of your counselor as your guide. Get to know your counselor and stay connected. Most will create a group chat for your orientation group. Hold on to your counselor’s contact information as well. They can be a great resource in August!
  • Topics covered. Orientation is all about getting familiar with life at school. Aspects include:
    • “School specific” sessions and class schedule Most orientations include breakouts for different schools within the university and a session focused on registering for classes. This is a great opportunity to meet professors and your advisor. This is an ideal time to ask questions about the sequence of classes, how credits you are coming in with will be applied, and any other questions specific to you. Take advantage of this opportunity to craft the schedule that works for you!
    • Non-academic logistics Orientation will likely cover important practical topics like using your meal card, how and where to access medical services, campus security, how to get to and from the airport, how to address roommate issues, available tutoring services, mental health services, how to navigate the school’s website and the timeline for adding/dropping classes. Ask questions and stay engaged. 
    • Dining Orientation will give you an opportunity to try on campus dining options and to learn where you can use your dining dollars off campus.
    • Transportation At orientation, you will learn how and where to get a parking pass, where freshmen can park, and how the campus transit works.
    • Student tickets At orientation, you will learn how students obtain tickets for big schoolwide events, like athletic competitions. Larger  schools often have a lottery or waiting list based on the number of credits you have.  
    • Extracurricular activities At orientation you will learn about clubs, Greek Life, intramural sports, Club sports and more. While visiting your chosen school within the university, you will also learn about major or school specific clubs and activities.