Student Orientation and Registration
SOAR Info for Students Entering in Spring Semester
Am I required to attend SOAR?
Yes, you are required to attend SOAR if you have earned fewer than 24 transferable credit hours AFTER your high-school graduation. You must participate in the entire SOAR program before you can register for classes; students may be dismissed without registering for classes if they have missed portions of the program and are unprepared to register for classes.
Students with 24 or more credit hours earned AFTER their high school graduation are considered transfer students and are NOT required to attend SOAR. A to-do list of steps necessary for a smooth and successful transition to Missouri State can be found at http://www.missouristate.edu/admissions/transfertodo.htm. For more information about entering as a transfer student, please contact the Assistant Director of Admissions -- Transfer Coordinator by email at admissions@missouristate.edu or by phone at (417) 836-5517or toll-free at (800) 492-7900.
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.
What happens at SOAR? What should I expect to do?
During SOAR, you will be able to:
- learn information about the university and campus life
- take necessary placement exams
- speak with an academic advisor about your first semester of classes
- register for classes with the help of a trained SOAR leader
- obtain your ZipCard (your Missouri State identification card)
- purchase your textbooks and parking permit (if you wish)
- meet faculty, staff, and fellow students
On what dates are SOAR being offered? How do I register for a session?
Two SOAR sessions will be held for students admitted for the Spring 2010 semester. They are scheduled for Thursday, January 7 and Friday, January 8. 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) which was provided to you in your admission materials.
What placement tests are offered at SOAR, and should I take them?
Math Placement
You should take the mathematics placement exam if:
- you have not received transferable credit in a math course equivalent to MTH 103 or higher.
- your ACT math subscore is 21 or lower or your SAT quantitative subscore is 510 or lower.
While optional, you should strongly consider taking the mathematics placement exam if your ACT math subscore is 22 or higher or your SAT quantitative subscore is 520 or higher, or if you are considering majoring in any area requiring advanced mathematics skills, such as science, engineering, mathematics, or a health-related field. You may choose to be placed in the highest math course either your ACT or SAT subscore or your performance on the placement exam allows.
You should not take the mathematics placement exam if you have received transferable credit in a math course equivalent to MTH 103 or higher. Your placement in future math courses will begin with the next highest appropriate course.
The exam will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the first day of your session. Please be present 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. Please see our math placement exam page for more information.
Foreign Language Placement
While this exam is optional, you should take the foreign language placement exam if you have had two or more years of high-school language classes or have participated in a dual-enrollment program.
You should not take the foreign language placement exam if you have transfer credit for Spanish (SPN), French (FRN), or German (GRM) courses at a level of 101, 102, and 201. Your placement in future language courses will begin with the next highest appropriate course.
The foreign language placement test should be completed online prior to attending your SOAR session. 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. Please see our foreign language placement exam page for more information.
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. Click here to see a campus map in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the map.
SOAR leaders will be present near the entrance of Lot 9 to provide you with a parking pass and direct you to SOAR check-in. You may be ticketed if you park in other areas besides Lot 9; please ask a SOAR leader if you think you may be parked in the wrong location.
For driving directions, visit our Driving Directions and Parking page.
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
These fees may be paid at the end 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 Saturday, January 9 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 Friday, January 8 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 at (800) 678-8767 for a list of area hotels. We cannot make recommendations about Springfield hotels.
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.