Now that you’ve decided on which institution you will be attending in the fall, what do you do?
Well, there are many things, but first and foremost, look into what kind of orientation program your college offers. Orientation is really important! To “orient” means to familiarize oneself with the campus, the culture of college, and how academics work at your school. For example, is your college on the quarter system? Trimesters? Semesters? This is just one of the things that you’ll want to make sure you know. Usually, at Orientation, you will have the opportunity to tour campus, meet other incoming students, register for your fall classes, and sometimes even stay overnight in the dorms depending on your college’s program. Another thing to look into is the option of attending virtual orientation. This is a great alternative if you will be attending a campus that is far away and would be too costly to visit in person before the fall. Your college admissions center would be able to give you more information about if they offer virtual or alternative orientation options if this is your situation.
If you are nervous about attending orientation, ask other college-going friends what their college orientation sessions were like so you can gain some insight. While it may feel intimidating at first, remember that everyone attending is a first-time student, just like you! You never know, you could meet a friend at orientation that sticks by you for your entire college career! Also, some colleges welcome family and parent attendance at orientation sessions as well, so look into that with your college if that interests you.
Orientation is an event in which you will receive lots of important information, but it also is about having fun and meeting lots of new people. Be sure to bring a positive attitude, a friendly smile, and an open mind!
Now, go forth and orient yourself!
Dara AndersonCollege Advisor Assistant
