Starting in June, new students from throughout the country have started gathering in Bloomington for a two-day taste of what their college experience is going to resemble at the annual Freshman Orientation.
“I feel extremely prepared for college after orientation,” Isabel Tavaras, an incoming freshman, said. “A highlight would definitely be meeting with an advisor and registering for classes. I also loved getting my CampusAccess Card.”
Due to the array of summer courses available for students, IU also provides a one-day orientation for students wishing to skip their summer break and start a summer session.
While Freshman Orientation focuses on providing incoming freshmen with the best first year experiences, alternate orientation date options are also available for international students in need of travel accommodations, transfer students and even parents to make the transition to IU as smooth as possible.
Sydney Lyon, a transfer student to IU from Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington, attended her one day orientation prior to starting her summer math class.
“I got to hang out at the Wells Library and see firsthand some of the tools that would be available to me,” Lyon said in an email. “That made me really excited to jump right in.”
Students who have not yet attended their two-day orientation can look forward to an informative and exciting visit to Bloomington in which they will have the opportunity to find out more about their time at IU and start building friendships to last them a lifetime.
Incoming students will expect a registration process during the early morning, followed by information sessions and lunch. After lunch, information sessions continue, along with academic/career planning and advising preparation. Dinner will be served in the evening, then final sessions will conclude to allow students some freedom in the late evening to enjoy activities with other students in and around the residence hall, including the popular Campus Legends Tour, according to the Office of First Year Experience Programs’ website.
Information sessions include an overview of IU advising by area of study, “Professor’s Perspective,” in which an IU faculty discusses expectation in the classroom, and topical session on subject like career services, finances and billing, technology, student services and the CampusAccess Card.
“There was a helpful career and internship workshop they offered,” Lyon said. “They explained some of the features on the site and how to find everything. I’m looking to find an internship at some point in the near future, and now I know where to go to get more information on that.”
Placement exams will occur throughout orientation for foreign language placement and math placement during information sessions, depending on which orientation schedule is followed.
Non-degree seeking exchange student orientation occurs August 19, while all international students are expected to arrive in the United States by August 9 at the latest and by 9 p.m. the day before their orientation.
