Are you a new first-year student starting Autumn semester, a transfer student or a new first-year student starting in Spring or Summer? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Ohio State’s orientation.
Don’t see the answer you need? Reach out to orientation@osu.edu.
All new Ohio State students (new first-year students starting Autumn semester, off-term first-year students and transfer students) are required to participate in an orientation program. Your orientation program has been carefully designed to set you up for success as a Buckeye, so we expect you to participate in all orientation activities, too.
If you miss any scheduled sessions, you may be required to participate in another program.
For students attending a 2-day orientation program (new first-year students starting Autumn semester), we welcome and encourage guests to attend with their Buckeye.
For students participating in an online orientation program (all transfer students and first-year students starting in Spring or Summer semester), they will need to log-in using their Ohio State credentials. A recording of that presentation will be shared with students whose supporters can’t watch live with them!
In-person orientation for new first-year students starting Autumn semester: one-time $50 new student enrollment fee, along with any overnight housing and meal fees for you and your guests, will be charged to your autumn semester Statement of Account.
Meal and Housing Breakdown:
The only costs that will be expected at the time of orientation are parking fees, which can be up to $17 per vehicle per day.
Transfer students and new first-year students starting in Spring or Summer: A $25 new student enrollment fee will be charged to your Statement of Account for your first term of enrollment and will be due one week before the first day of classes.
Once orientation registration opens (late March for Summer and Autumn admits, late September for Spring admits), it usually takes 7-10 days for students who have paid their acceptance fee to receive information about orientation registration.
There are two likely possibilities as to why the item is still showing up on your To-Do list:
New first-year students starting Autumn semester will schedule classes on their second day, after their academic overview.
Transfer and Spring and Summer first-year students will be contacted by an academic advisor to schedule a separate advising appointment, which typically takes place during the week of your scheduled orientation program. During your advising appointment, students will register for courses for their first term.
Send an email from your Ohio State email address to orientation@osu.edu for next steps because not all majors meet during every orientation program.
New international students studying under an F1 or J1 visa only will have their orientation through the Office of International Affairs (OIA). The OIA New Student Check-In and Orientation site has the steps that you will need to take before arriving on campus.
Students on one of Ohio State’s regional campuses should contact their regional campus orientation office: Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark or ATI Wooster.
Contact orientation@osu.edu for next steps.
When you check in on your first day of orientation for new first-year students starting Autumn semester, you will get a schedule of events for your particular dates for orientation with times and locations. You can also find a general schedule for Ohio State's two-day orientation program on the orientation website.
Check-in for new first-year students starting Autumn semester begins at 8:00 a.m. on Day One, and programming usually wraps up by 3:00 p.m. on Day Two. We encourage you to book any return flights for after 5:30 p.m. on Day Two.
If you are attending the two-day in-person orientation for new first-year students starting Autumn semester, information about accommodations, parking and directions is available on the Orientation website.
To add or remove a student’s guest for the orientation for new first-year students starting Autumn semester, please send an email to orientation@osu.edu with the following information:
If you’re a new first-year student starting Autumn semester spending the night in a residence hall, please bring a pillow with you and toiletries (soap, toothpaste, etc.) as they will not be provided.
New first-year students starting Autumn semester who would like to change their housing arrangements for orientation can go back into the Housing Portal where they can make those changes.
Change of plans last minute? Just let our staff know when you check in that you'd prefer a dorm room or staying elsewhere if that wasn't already selected. Whatever your plans look like, you'll be able to confirm - or change - everything with the Housing team during check-in.
At check-in for new first-year students starting Autumn semester, you will receive a validation sticker for a discounted rate in campus parking garages (approximately $14.25/day; does not allow in-and-out privileges).