Learn about New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation helps you make a successful transition to Missouri State, your new campus home. At New Student Orientation, you will:

Expectations

New students with fewer than 24 transferable credit hours earned after their high school graduation are required to attend SOAR before registering for classes. (Credit earned while attending high school will not apply to this 24 hour requirement.) Exceptions exist for non-traditional students.
Students must attend all scheduled SOAR activities to register for classes.
Students attending a two-day New Student Orientation session are REQUIRED to stay on campus the first night of their New Student Orientation session.
Students are expected to complete New Student Orientation registration and other college preparation tasks, not family members.

Family members’ attendance at New Student Orientation is optional, but encouraged.
Families should support New Student Orientation staff by discouraging students from missing required New Student Orientation activities.
Family members are not permitted to attend academic advising and registration activities with their student during New Student Orientation. Relationships between academic advisors and students are essential to their success, and we begin the development of this relationship at New Student Orientation. Family members will learn more about the General Education program, receive information from their student’s advisor, and share their thoughts with their students during the Intro to your College and the Be Advised session before students register for classes.

Select the groups below to learn more about attending New Student Orientation.

Attendance at a New Student Orientation session is required of all new students who have fewer than 24 credit hours earned after their high school graduation.

Hours earned prior to high school graduation, such as dual enrollment courses, do not count toward this requirement.
Students with more than 24 hours earned after high school graduation do not attend New Student Orientation; instead, these students must complete an online transfer orientation and schedule an appointment with an advisor to enroll in classes.

See our Admitted Transfer Student To-Do List for a list of steps to take upon entering Missouri State.
Students who are 22 years of age or older, are married and/or have children, have not been in school for an extended period of time, or are primarily taking evening courses may take part in alternative orientation and registration opportunities offered by the Office of Adult Student Services.
Family members are not required to attend New Student Orientation, but are encouraged to do so. Programs designed for family members of new students are offered at New Student Orientation.