10 Tips to Maximize College Orientation

BY PAMELA CURRIER

Do you remember how nervous you were on your first day of school? Things don’t really change all that much, and now you are heading to college. You may be older now, but admit it, you are just as nervous now as you were all those years ago. But, there is one major difference. You have an idea of what to expect, and if you take part in the college orientation, you won’t have nearly as much to be nervous about as you did on that first day of school. Let’s take a look at 10 ways that you can get the most out of your college orientation and be prepared to start one of the most exciting experiences of your life.

1. Bring Your ID and Laptop – There are a few things that you should bring with you to orientation, including your ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.). Don’t forget your laptop. You will need it in order to select up to 10 classes prior to registration day.
2. Don’t Bring Friends – This is your chance to meet new people and learn about the campus. If you bring along your friends, you are likely to ignore new people, and you might also miss out on a lot because you are too busy socializing.
3. Make New Friends – On the subject of friends, this is the time to make lifelong friends. Don’t sit alone at orientation. Find a group and sit with them, and start talking. You may even decide to get together after orientation to talk or hang out.
4. Don’t Miss Anything – Never skip any of the orientation sessions, because you may miss something that you really need to know about. Stick to the orientation schedule, attend all appointments, go to information sessions, and take part in orientation activities.
5. Walk Around Campus – When you have a few spare moments, use them wisely. Take a walk around the campus, and make note of the areas that you want to know more about, quiet places to study, and any other points of interest.
6. Join Clubs – Now is a great time to sign up for clubs, teams, and other activities. “Don’t worry if you don’t have any experience. Just sign up for the things you are interested in, and once you get involved, you will start to gain experience,” says Dr. James Taft.
7. No Cellphones! – You don’t need to be tied to your cell phone constantly, and this is one time when you should just turn it off completely. You can answer texts and emails later. Right now, you need to concentrate on learning about your new campus, what your classes will be, etc.
8. Visit Your Dorm – If your dorm arrangements have already been made, this is your chance to check out the dorm. Take a look at your room, find out where the kitchen is, where the laundry facilities are located, etc. The last thing you want is to wake up in the middle of the night and not know where the bathroom is.
9. Ask Questions – It is a good idea to have a list of questions prepared ahead of time, and not the most obvious questions. Read up on the school, find things in the brochures that you are curious about, and ask questions if the brochures don’t have the answers you are looking for.
10. Take Photos – While you are touring around the campus, take photos of everything, from buildings to advisors to new friends you have met. This way, you will be able to easily remember what things look like once you are living and studying on campus, and things will be easier to find.

Pamela Currier helps recent grads land the jobs of their dreams, she is a career coach and educator.