Orientation Week: What to Expect and How to Prepare
You don't have to figure this out alone, the team at Studentbuddy is here to support you every step of the way.
Orientation can feel overwhelming with back-to-back sessions, but it's designed to front-load the information and connections you'll need for a smooth first semester, treating it as optional or skippable often means playing catch-up later.
Typical orientation components
- Immigration and SEVIS check-in for international students specifically.
- Academic advising and course registration support.
- Campus tours and logistics (dining, health services, libraries).
- Social events specifically for meeting other new and international students.
Sessions to prioritize if you can't attend everything
If orientation includes overlapping or optional sessions, prioritize immigration check-in (often mandatory with a deadline), academic advising, and any international-student-specific social events, which are valuable for building an early friend group.
Use orientation to ask questions directly
Orientation staff and advisors are specifically available and prepared for common new-student questions , it's an efficient time to get logistics clarified in person rather than waiting and troubleshooting alone later.
Get a full orientation week preparation guide.
Talk to a Study Abroad Advisor →FAQs
Is orientation mandatory for international students?
The immigration check-in portion often is, given SEVIS reporting requirements, check your specific school's policy on which sessions are mandatory.
How long does orientation typically last?
This varies by school, ranging from a few days to a full week or more, especially for international-student-specific programming.
Can I skip orientation if I've already visited campus before?
Generally not recommended, orientation covers logistics and requirements beyond a campus visit, including mandatory immigration steps.
Is orientation a good place to make friends?
Yes, it's specifically designed with this in mind, and many students form their first campus friendships during orientation week events.
