Who attends orientation?

First-year & Transfer Undergraduates
Orientation is required for all new degree-seeking undergraduate (first-year and transfer) students in order to receive academic advising and clearance for registration.

Family Members of New Students
Family orientation programs are held concurrently with all student orientation sessions. We encourage family members to participate in orientation so they can best support their student in reaching college goals, gain important information about the University's policies and resources, conduct business, and gain answers to questions.

Non-Traditional Undergraduates
If you are planning to take all evening courses, you are a state employee, an adult learner, or full-time employee; you may call the Office of New Student & Family Programs to obtain information about possible evening orientation sessions. An evening orientation session is usually held just before the start of each semester. Students will not qualify for course registration until they have completed an orientation session.

How do you register for orientation?

Orientation registration occurs online through the New Student & Family Programs website. The website allows for student/family registration with online payment or by printing out a registration form that can be mailed to our office with payment (check or money order). We encourage online payment because a space in an orientation session will not be held and your reservation not saved until payment has been received. Space for each orientation session is limited and available on a first-reserve basis. All orientation fees are nonrefundable.

When is Orientation?

Summer Semester

First-Year/Lower-Division Transfer Students
Orientation sessions take place in May. First-year/lower-division (less than 60 credit hours) transfer students attend a two-night/two-day session. To see available dates, log into the orientation registration system via this website after you have been accepted to Florida State University.

Upper-Division Transfer Students
Orientation sessions take place in March and May. Upper-division (more than 60 credit hours) transfer students attend a single day session. To see available dates, log into the orientation registration system via this website after you have been accepted to Florida State University.

Fall Semester

First-Year/Lower-Division Transfer Students
Orientation sessions take place in June. First-year/lower-division (less than 60 credit hours) transfer students attend a two-night/two-day session. To see available dates, log into the orientation registration system via this website after you have been accepted to Florida State University.

Upper-Division Transfer Students
Orientation sessions take place in March, July, and August. Upper-division (more than 60 credit hours) transfer students attend a single day session. To see available dates, log into the orientation registration system via this website after you have been accepted to Florida State University.

Spring Semester

First-Year/Lower-Division Transfer Students
An orientation session takes place in January, just before the start of the semester. First-year/lower-division (less than 60 credit hours) transfer students attend a day and a half session. To see the specific session date, log into the orientation registration system via this website after you have been accepted to Florida State University.

Upper-Division Transfer Students
Orientation sessions take place in October, November, and January. Upper-division (more than 60 credit hours) transfer students attend a single day session. To see available dates, log into the orientation registration system via this website after you have been accepted to Florida State University.

Will I get anything in the mail?

We mail students orientation information shortly after they have been admitted by the Office of Admissions. Upon your admission, you will have access to orientation registration through our website. After you have paid your orientation registration, you will receive a confirmation brochure in the mail further explaining details about your session. Confirmation brochures usually arrive in two or three weeks after you have paid for orientation. Make sure your permanent mailing address is current with the University.

I’ve registered for orientation, now what?

After you have paid for your orientation registration, you will receive a confirmation brochure in the mail further explaining details about your session. This confirmation includes your date(s), an overview of your session including exact times, and other important pre-orientation information, such as:

Health History/Immunization Form & Health Insurance Verification

All new students must present proof of immunizations and health insurance before they will be cleared to register for classes. These requirements are strictly enforced by the University. The Health History/Immunization Form can be downloaded from the Thagard Student Health Center’s website (http://www.tshc.fsu.edu) and faxed to 850/644.8958. Proof of health insurance (or a health insurance purchase) is completed online using the insurance button on the health center’s website. If you have questions about either of these requirements, please call 850/644.6573.

Parking & Transportation

Your confirmation brochure will include a parking permit to be used during your orientation session and directions to campus. During the academic year, all students pay a transportation fee as part of their tuition/fees which provides access to campus and city bus service and a student parking decal. Decals (or an orientation parking permit) are required when parking in non-metered spaces. Decals for the academic year may be obtained by a student via the Parking & Transportation website (http://www.parking.fsu.edu) after he/she has registered for classes. Please familiarize yourself with campus parking rules to avoid citations.

Changing Your Major

If you are a first-time/lower-division transfer student, you can request to change the major you declared on your admissions application. You can do so through the Change Form on the Office of Admissions website (http://www.admissions.fsu.edu). All other transfer students may request to change the major declared at the time of application, if you meet the admissions requirements of the new major, by emailing the Office of Admissions. Written comments should include your full name, last four digits of your social security number, and the name of the new major you are requesting.

Final Transcripts & Transfer Credit

Send an official copy of all transcripts, CLEP, IB and AP test results to the Office of Admissions and consider bringing an extra copy of each (just in case) with you to orientation. If you took college coursework in high school, you must request that the college send an official transcript to Florida State University’s Office of Admissions. The same goes for any transfer coursework you are trying to declare from other colleges and universities.

Getting Your FSUcard

The FSUcard may be obtained anytime after you have been accepted, including during orientation. The $10 fee for your initial FSUcard will be assessed with your first semester’s tuition. The FSUcard and its many uses will be discussed at orientation

What accomodations are available for people with disabilities?

If you need assistance during orientation because of a temporary or permanent disability, contact New Student & Family Programs. If you need permanent or temporary learning or physical accommodations as a student at Florida State University, please contact the Student Disability Resource Center, located at 97 South Woodward Avenue, 108 Student Services Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167. Contact numbers are 850/644-9566 (Voice) or 850/644-8504 (TDD).