Student Orientation and Registration
2008 SOAR Session Information
This page contains information on our two-day SOAR sessions in June and July. For information about our one-day programs in August, visit the One-Day Fall SOAR page.
New students and their families often have lots of questions about SOAR. Please take a moment to review the following frequently asked questions (or FAQs); if your concerns are not adequately dealt with, please contact us so we may answer them for you.
Am I required to attend SOAR?
Yes. As a first-time freshman or transfer student with fewer than 24 transferable credit hours earned AFTER your high-school graduation, you are required to attend SOAR. You must participate in the entire SOAR program before you can register for classes.
Students transferring 24 or more credit hours earned AFTER their high school graduation are considered transfer students. Transfer students are required to participate in an online orientation separate from SOAR. For more information, visit www.missouristate.edu/admissions/infoadmtran.htm or call (417) 836-4315.
Non-traditional students (students age 22 or older, evening students, married students, and students with children) may register through and attend orientation programs offered by the Office of Adult Student Services. For more information, call (417) 836-6929 or toll-free at (877) 678-2005.
When is SOAR? How do I make a session reservation?
You are invited to SOAR sessions scheduled throughout the summer based on when you were admitted to Missouri State. To view session dates and reserve a space, you must register on the SOAR web site.
We strongly encourage you to attend one of the two-day SOAR sessions scheduled in June and July, but if you can’t make one of those, you can sign up for a one-day session in August. The one-day SOAR session is an abbreviated version of our two-day program. Please be aware that the one-day programs do not provide as much information as our two-day sessions and that class availability may be more restricted in August. If you will be attending a one-day session, please visit the One-Day Fall SOAR page for information relevant to these sessions.
How do I make changes to or update information about my SOAR session reservation?
It’s easy. Go to the online SOAR reservation system and follow the same steps you used to register for your SOAR session the first time. Change only the information you need to. Keep in mind that if you change your original SOAR session date and it later fills up, you cannot change your session back. Also, the major you specify when you register will determine your academic advisement, so if you’re bouncing back and forth between a few choices, make sure your information is accurate at least five business days before your SOAR session.
What placement tests are offered at SOAR, and do I need to take them?
Placement exams help determine your level of skill in an area of study and your potential to succeed in a specific course. The two exams offered during SOAR are the mathematics placement exam and the foreign language placement exam. We'll furnish the materials for testing and advisement.
Math Placement
The mathematics placement exam is offered to students who have not received transferrable credit in mathematics (Math 103 or higher). If your ACT math sub-score (NOT the composite score) is 21 or lower, you MUST take the math placement exam during your scheduled SOAR session. The exam will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the first day of your session. Please be in the Plaster Student Union lobby at this time, and a SOAR leader will take you to the exam site. Students arriving after the exam’s start will need to take the math placement exam during a later SOAR session or by scheduling an appointment to take the exam with the Mathematics Department.
If you have an ACT math sub-score of 22 or above, the math placement exam is optional; you may choose to be placed in a math course based on either this sub-score or your performance on the placement exam. To determine which courses you are eligible for based on your sub-score, visit our math placement information page. If you are considering majoring in any area requiring advanced mathematics skills, such as science, engineering, mathematics, or a health-related field, you may want to take the math placement exam to place into a higher course than placement based on your ACT math sub-score will allow.
Foreign Language Placement
If you’ve had two or more years of high-school language classes or have participated in a dual-enrollment program, you have to take a placement exam before you can sign up for college-level French, German, or Spanish classes. Before attending SOAR, you must take the foreign language placement test, which can be found online. You will receive your placement scores as soon as you finish the exam, and a copy will be added to your student records.
If you place into a 102-level class or higher, you can receive credit for the classes you placed out of if you complete that class with at least a B and apply to the department to receive credit. (Credit is not automatically granted.) For advanced credit in other languages, contact the Modern and Classical Languages department head.
Where can I park during SOAR?
Lots of parking spaces will be available for SOAR attendees in Lot 9 behind Woods House. This lot is directly north of Woods House, which is marked with an 133 inside a black circle on this campus map. When you confirm your SOAR reservation online, remember to print a parking permit for Lot 9. (You can print extra copies by going back to the SOAR online reservation system.) Please put the parking permit in the front window of your vehicle. For driving directions to Lot 9, visit our directions page.
Click here to see a campus map in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the map.
When and where do I check in?
Check-in on your scheduled SOAR date will be between 8:45a.m. and 9:50 a.m. in Plaster Student Union (marked with an 144 inside a black circle on this campus map), unless you’re staying in Hutchens House. If you are, begin check-in at Hutchens House (marked with an 127 inside a black circle on this campus map). The SOAR program will begin promptly at 10 a.m.
Click here to see a campus map in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the map.
How much is SOAR?
- $60 per student to cover advising and registration materials, plus one lunch and one dinner
- $20 per person per night to stay in Hutchens House
- $15 program fee for the first family member and $10 for each additional member to cover materials, refreshments and dinner
- $60 per student for the required minimum payment, which is applied to course fees to hold your classes
All of the above fees must be paid at the end of your SOAR session, or your registration will be cancelled. Missouri State accepts cash, check or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express).
Where can I stay overnight?
Feel free to stay with us in Hutchens House. The cost is $20 per person per night. You can make reservations when you reserve your SOAR session, but reservations aren’t necessary. Hutchens House has one- and two-bedroom suites available, with one bathroom per suite. Towels, soap and linens are provided, so just make sure you bring your own toothpaste and shampoo. You and your family will stay in separate areas of the residence hall. Family members may be asked to share a suite with other SOAR participants. Hutchens House does not have radios or televisions in individual rooms, and smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the building.
If you’d like to stay the night on campus prior to the beginning of your SOAR session, you can check into Hutchens House beginning at 5 p.m. Staying off campus is fine, too. If you want to do so, contact the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (800-678-8767) for a list of area hotels. Sorry, but we can't make recommendations about Springfield hotels.
What if I require special accommodations due to a disability?
No problem. The people in the Orientation Office would be happy to help you. Just call (417) 836-7641 or (888) 352-6781 at least five business days in advance of your SOAR session.
Are there programs for adult and non-traditional students?
If you are 22 years of age or older, if you will be taking evening classes, if you have not been in school for an extended period of time, if you are married and/or have children, or if you have other special needs, we’d like you to contact the Office of Adult Student Services at (417) 836-6929 or toll free at (877) 678-2005. This office offers many services that may be helpful to you, including special orientation and registration opportunities.
What if I have additional questions?
Please contact the SOAR Office. You may call us at (417) 836-7641 or (888) 352-6781 or send an e-mail to SOAR@missouristate.edu.