Go To Orientation
New student orientation is important because it efficiently exposes you to a broad range of student services and resources.
Strategies for Success
Plan for Orientation
Be prepared for a long day because there’s a lot to see and learn. Bring a pen and something to write on, a little cash (lunch is included in orientation, but you may want to check out one of the coffee shops near campus), and an open mind. You're going to be exposed to a lot of information. Just be ready to absorb it and write down things that seem important.
Participate in All That Orientation Has to Offer
You will be given a considerable amount of information at orientation. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with everything that you’re going to see and hear. In all the activity, you might even be tempted to skip one part of the day. DON’T! Each piece of orientation is designed to give you access to aspects of the university that, once classes begin, will become critical to your success.
Academic advising is prominently featured at orientation. You will receive information about graduation requirements, have the chance to talk with an adviser, and register for your classes. These are some of the most important things that happen at orientation.
Take notes, and ask your tour guide questions. They've been trained to answer questions about the campus and student services.
Look at the schedule of the break-out sessions, and pay close attention to what sessions are available. If you find that there are two sessions offered at the same time that you think you should attend, go to one and find a friend or family member who is willing to attend the other session and take notes for you. When you’re considering which sessions to attend, think about which ones are likely to have the greatest long-term impact on your success at PSU.
During lunch, eat the free food provided, and then check out the campus resource fair. You’ll notice a ring of 
tables around the edges of the PSU ballroom each with displays and campus representatives at them. The tables are staffed by representatives from the campus resources, programs, and organizations that are the most dedicated to helping students. Take advantage of their availability to ask them questions. Some specific programs and services to watch for are mentoring programs, student housing, student government, and the campus recreation center.
Two other things for you to try to get done during orientation day are getting your PSU ID card and signing up for an ODIN account. If you don’t know what these are, ask. Find one of the orientation leaders and see if there are specific times set aside for this.
Like we said earlier, there is no way that you can remember everything that you encounter throughout the day. So ask questions and take notes, and you’ll make the most of this opportunity.
Follow-up with the Info You Receive
After orientation is over your real work begins. You'll have accumulated stacks of papers, brochures, and business cards, not to mention your own notes. Don’t make the mistake of just setting all this stuff on the corner of your desk and forgetting about it. Sort through it and see if there’s any information that you need to follow up on. Take a closer look at the materials you picked up. There may be things you can use right away, like discounts on books and school supplies, information about deadlines for class registration or financial aid, or information about how to set up your first one-on-one meeting with an advisor.
It is a good idea to make a trip to campus a few days after orientation to follow-up while these items are still fresh in your mind. If you didn’t get a chance to set up your ODIN account or get your student ID at orientation, this second visit is a great time to do it.
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