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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!

REGISTER FOR ORIENTATION

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

decorative image  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.

VIEW THE STUDENT CHECKLIST

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.

VIEW THE PARENT & Supporter CHECKLIST

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.

TRANSFER ARTICULATION SEARCH 

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. 

AP EQUIVALENCY GUIDE 

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.

IB EQUIVALENCY GUIDE 

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!

decorative image  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!

madeline rencher image


Madeline Rencher

Director,
Orientation & Outreach Advising

Academic Advising Center

Have questions about a specific major? Email a major advisor.

FIND YOUR INTENDED MAJOR                    FIND A MAJOR ADVISOR

 

Last Updated: 7/19/24