Student Orientation and Registration
SOAR Info for Students Entering the Fall Semester - One Day Program
Am I required to attend SOAR?
Students with fewer than 24 transferable credit hours earned AFTER their high-school graduation are required to attend SOAR. You must participate in the entire SOAR program before you can register for classes; students may be dismissed from the program without registering for classes if they have missed activities and are unprepared to register for classes.
Students with 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. Please visit www.missouristate.edu/admissions/infoadmtran.htm or call (417) 836-4315 for more information.
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 as an alternative to attending SOAR. Please call (417) 836-6929 or toll-free at (877) 678-2005 for more information.
On what dates are SOAR being offered? How do I register for a session?
Two one-day SOAR sessions will be held for students admitted for the Fall 2009 semester. They are scheduled for Wednesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 20. Please register for one of these sessions on the Register for SOAR page. You will need your M-Number (your Missouri State Student ID number) provided to you in materials from the Missouri State Office of Admissions.
We encourage you to attend a two-day SOAR session scheduled in June and July, but if you can’t make one of those, you can attend a one-day session in August. Because of their abbreviated length, our August sessions cannot provide as much information as our two-day sessions. Class availability may be more restricted in August, as well. Information about the two-day SOAR programs can be viewed here.
What placement tests are offered at SOAR, and do I need to take them?
Math Placement
You can be placed into an appropriate math course based on either your ACT or SAT math subscore or your performance on our mathematics placement exam. If you have transfer credit for an equivalent to MTH 103 or higher, you will not need to take the placement exam; your placement in a math course will begin with the next highest appropriate course. If you do not have either transfer credit or ACT or SAT math scores, you must either take the math placement exam or begin your math sequence at Missouri State with MTH 101.
If the math placement exam is necessary for you or if would like to place into a higher math course than your ACT or SAT math subscore allows, we invite you to take the mathematics placement exam at 8:30 a.m. on the first day of your SOAR 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.
For more information about the math placement exam, please visit the math placement exam page.
Foreign Language Placement
Students with foreign language experience (typically one or more years of high school study or its equivalent) in French, German, or Spanish, but who have not earned college credit in these languages, must take a placement exam before enrolling in language courses. The foreign language placement test is offered online and should be taken before you attend SOAR. 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 Modern and Classical Languages department head to receive credit. (Credit is not automatically granted.) Please contact the Modern and Classical Languages department head if you are interested in placement and credit in languages not covered by the exam; you may also contact the department head if you are a heritage learner or someone who has placed very high on the placement exam and would like to inquire about courses beyond the 202 level.
If you earned college credit and it transfers to Missouri State as a Spanish (SPN), French (FRN), or German (GRM) 101, 102, or 201 course, you DO NOT need to take the foreign language placement exam. Any subsequent language course you wish to take will begin at the next highest course level.
For more information about the foreign language placement exam, please visit the foreign language placement exam page.
Where can I park during SOAR?
Parking will be available for SOAR attendees in Lot 9 behind Woods House. This lot is directly north of Woods House, which is marked with a 133 inside a black circle on the campus map. SOAR leaders will greet you at the entrance of Lot 9, provide you a parking pass for the session, and direct you to SOAR check-in. For driving directions, visit our Driving Directions and Parking 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 9:15 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. in Plaster Student Union (marked with a 144 inside a black circle on the campus map). The SOAR program will begin promptly at 10:15 a.m.
Click here to see a campus map in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the map.
What does SOAR cost?
- $30 per student to cover advising and registration materials, plus one lunch and one dinner
- $15 program fee for the first family member and $10 for each additional member to cover materials and other administrative costs
The above fees can paid upon the completion of your SOAR session. Missouri State accepts cash, check or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express).
How early can I move into my residence hall? Can I stay overnight on campus?
You can move in to your residence hall on Friday, August 21 at 8:00 a.m. If you would like to move in earlier, please contact Residence Life and Services at (417) 836-5536 to move in on Thursday, August 20 for an additional fee of $18.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide on-campus accommodations for you and your family members during our one-day SOAR sessions. If you and your family want to stay off-campus, contact the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (800-678-8767) for a list of lodging facilities. We cannot make recommendations about off-campus lodging.
What if I require special accommodations due to a disability?
Please call (417) 836-7641 or (888) 352-6781 at least five business days in advance of your SOAR session, and we will be happy to assist you with accommodations.
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.