College Orientation: Why Colleges and Universities are now hosting Pre-Orientation Events

In recent times, due to the rise of online learning and remote communication, many colleges are now offering online orientations prior to physical orientation to ensure students and parents are prepared when attending the physical orientation. In this article, we will discuss why students should attend their college orientation, what to expect at orientation, and the benefits of participating in pre-orientation events.

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Why should students attend their College Orientation?

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Attending college orientation is an essential part of the college experience. It provides incoming college students with a smooth transition to college life and helps them connect with the resources they need to succeed. Orientation allows students to become familiar with their new surroundings, meet their peers, and learn about the resources available to them. It also provides students with the opportunity to get their questions answered and connect with the support services they need to thrive academically and socially.

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What should students and parents expect at Orientation?

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Orientation programs vary from college to college, but most include a mix of academic sessions, social events, and campus tours. Academic sessions may include presentations from faculty and staff about degree requirements, advising, and course selection. Students may also have the opportunity to register for classes during orientation.

Social events during orientation may include mixers, icebreakers, and opportunities to meet other incoming students. Campus tours are also typically included in orientation programs to familiarize students with the layout of the campus and the locations of important buildings.

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In addition to the typical orientation events, some colleges and universities now offer pre-orientation events online. These events are designed to give students a head start in their college experience and provide them with additional resources before the official orientation begins. Pre-orientation events may sometimes include presentation by financial aid, billing office, food services, student life, academic advising, health services, and student panels.

Online Orientations prior to parent and student arrival to campus

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Online orientations are becoming increasingly popular among colleges and universities. Many colleges now offer online orientations through the VisitDays platform prior to physical orientation to ensure that students and parents are prepared when attending the physical orientation. These online orientations allow students and their families to learn at their own pace and ask questions before they arrive on campus. They may include videos, interactive sessions, and required forms and links to help students learn about campus resources, academic requirements, and social opportunities.

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Here are some of our universities that are running Online Orientations through VisitDays:

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Austin Peay State University

Some colleges even offer virtual tours of their campus so that students and their families can get a sense of what the physical orientation will be like. Online orientations have become an essential part of the pre-orientation experience, and they allow students to feel more comfortable and prepared before arriving on campus.

Pre-orientation events also provide students with an opportunity to meet other incoming students before orientation begins. This can help students form new friendships and feel more comfortable when they arrive on campus. Additionally, pre-orientation events may provide students with a sense of community and belonging before they even arrive on campus.

College orientation is an essential part of the college experience. It provides incoming college students with a smooth transition to college life and helps them connect with the resources they need to succeed. With VisitDays, many colleges now offer online orientations prior to physical orientation.

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