PREPARE FOR
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
COLLEGE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER—BEGIN PREPARING FOR NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION NOW!
All admitted students are required to complete new student orientation.
New Student Orientation is a mandatory program and must be completed before new students can register for classes. Registration for Summer/Fall 2024 New Student Orientation (NSO) is open!
As you wait for your scheduled New Student Orientation date, take steps to prepare. The more you know about college requirements, about majors that are available, about ways you can earn college credits now, the easier your transition to college will be. Use these resources to help you plan and prepare for New Student Orientation. Note: new students do not need to schedule an advising appointment. Your academic advising will be included on the date you attend New Student Orientation.
Optional Info Sessions
We encourage all students to learn more about major exploration, prehealth/prelaw paths, or their intended major/college before orientation! Many programs offer optional Info Sessions for newly admitted students to attend.
Major Exploration
Are you unsure about what major to choose? Our Major Exploration Session is designed for you! Learn about resources for exploring majors, find answers to your questions, and meet students on a similar path!
MAJOR EXPLORATION SESSIONS
PreMed/PreLaw
PreProfessional Advising helps students prepare for professional schools. Newly admitted premed and prelaw students can sign up for a virtual (zoom) info session before attending New Student Orientation.
PREMED/PRELAW SESSIONS
College & Major-Specific
Many colleges at the university (business, engineering, nursing, etc) offer info sessions and events for prospective students to attend. These can be a great way to learn about these colleges and the programs they offer!
COLLEGE EVENTS
Steps to Prepare for New Student Orientation
STEP 1 : KNOW YOUR NEXT STEPS
We get it. Starting off your college experience can seem like a confusing and intimidating process. This checklist outlines what you need to know and do as a new U student.
Parents/supporters, we know it can be hard to send your child off to college. The Parent & Family Checklist will show you how you can get your student on the right track.
New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation is required of all new students entering the university, and
students must complete NSO orientation to register for classes. Only students who
have confirmed their enrollment and deposited can register for NSO.
REGISTER FOR NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
Exploring Majors + New Student Orientation
The earlier orientation date you are able to attend, the earlier you will be able
to register for classes. Especially, if you are exploring majors, attending new student
orientation earlier means you will have more exploratory classes to choose from!
Should you give a major for orientation?
When you register for new student orientation, you will be asked to choose a major
(for example, prebusiness) or undeclared. If you have a major or college you are considering,
you can select this pre-major. This is not final, and you are able to change your
mind. Also, this does not confine you to only taking classes from this major; this
just means you will be able to speak with an academic advisor for this area during
new student orientation.
Why choose a premajor?
Select a specific college or major if you are considering to pursue this area. The
major and college that you share will determine the advisor you will speak with during
orientation. This can be a great time to learn more about a specific major or academic
college.
What if I'm deciding between majors?
If you are choosing between two colleges or two majors, select one of these areas
to learn more about during new student orientation. If you are choosing between two
majors in the same college, select one of these majors as you will be meeting with
this college during new student orientation.
Why choose undeclared?
If you are uncertain about which majors are offered, which topics you are interested
in, or how your interests align with potential majors, select undeclared. You will
then speak with a major exploration advisor and make a first semester course plan
that allows you to explore your interests and majors available.
STEP 2 : EXPLORE MAJORS AVAILABLE
Exploring majors early helps you find one that sticks and gives you the opportunity to create a meaningful degree.
5 Myths about Majors
What to Know about Exploration
Begin Searching Majors
MAJOR SEARCH | SEE WHAT's AVAILABLE MAJOR MAPS | Explore Your Interests
STEP 3: UNDERSTAND PREVIOUSLY EARNED CREDITS
You may have already earned begin earning college credits through International Baccalaureate exams, Advanced Placement exams, and concurrent enrollment credits. Learn more below!
Transfer students include anyone who has earned college credits after graduating from high school and is transferring from another college or university. Transfer students will need to send official transcripts from all credit-granting institutions. Wondering how your credits may be applied at the U? Search for your college and classes in the below transfer articulation search. If you do not find a course within the search, this means the course has not yet been evaluated by our university and will be evaluated once your official transcripts have been received.
Students enrolled at the University of Utah who achieved scores of 5, 4, or 3 in an Advanced Placement (AP) examination in high school may be awarded credit. Please review the AP Equivalency Guide for more information on college credit that may be awarded.
Planning to pursue a professional prehealth path (premed, predental, etc.)? Make sure to review information from our PreProfessional Advising Office about how these previous credits are reviewed by professional programs.
All AP scores must be sent from the College Board directly to the University of Utah.
The Office of Admissions will evaluate all previously earned college credits for their potential to meet general education requirements. Review the general education courses offered at the University of Utah, and when possible, select comparable concurrent enrollment courses offered through your high school.
For credits to be evaluated, students must request an official college transcript be sent directly to the University of Utah.
TRANSFER ARTICULATION SEARCH UTAH Concurrent enrollment uNIVERSITY OF UTAH GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES
Students enrolled at the University of Utah who have achieved a minimum score of 5
on higher level International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations may be awarded credit.
Please the the IB Equivalency Guide for more information on college credit that may
be awarded.
Planning to pursue a professional prehealth path (premed, predental, etc.)? Make sure to review information from our PreProfessional Advising Office about how these previous credits are reviewed by professional programs.
International Baccalaureate scores must be sent from IBIS directly to the University of Utah.
Students who have earned college credits may be coming to the U with an associate's degree, a general education certificate, or with individual courses which may fulfill general education requirements.
LEARN MORE HAVE QUESTIONS? REACH OUT! uNIVERSITY OF UTAH GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT CREDITS? ContaCT US!
Step 4: find your community
Students who begin their college experience connected to a community tend to have higher GPAs in their first year, report higher satisfaction with their first year of college, and express a stronger sense of belonging with the University. Learn more about learning communities available!
LEAP LEARNING COMMUNITY
LEAP academic learning communities are an excellent fit for students looking to explore topics they’re interested in, to join a community that will help to make the big U feel smaller, and to discuss socially relevant issues that align with your interests. For this program, there is no need to apply. Students can register for a LEAP course during New Student Orientation.
learn more
CRIMSON MENTORS
Transfer students make up nearly 40 percent of undergraduates, and often their needs differ from first-year students. Crimson Mentors is designed to pair new transfer students to current transfer student mentors. The mentors are available to advise mentees about campus life, as well as provide social, academic, and professional programs and workshops for their mentees.
learn more
DIVERSITY SCHOLARS
Diversity Scholars offers first-year students of color at the U with a community of like-minded peers on campus. Consider joining this community if you would like support from advisors and peer mentors, access to free tutoring and workshops, and opportunities for social justice discussions. Application required.
LEARN MORE
FIRST GEN SCHOLARS
First-Gen Scholars is a multi-year, cohort program for first-generation students seeking a community at the University of Utah. Incoming first-year students are paired with established First-Gen Scholar student mentors to help them get on the inside track and quickly learn the tricks of navigating the University system. Application required.
learn more
EXPLORE LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND THEMED HOUSING AVAILABLE
Have Questions? Reach out!
Have questions about a specific major? Email a major advisor.