New Student Orientation for Fall Admits

New Student Orientation (NSO) for students admitted to the fall 2025 term includes an overnight visit to University Park campus in June, July, or August. These NSO programs are available to students based on many factors, including college of enrollment. You will see available program dates in your NSO Tasklist in early April. To help you plan, we will not offer NSO programs during the following weeks:

  • June 1
  • June 8
  • June 29
  • July 6
  • July 27
  • August 3
  • August 10

Each NSO program will begin in the early evening on your Day 1 and include an overnight stay in an on-campus residence halls for students only. NSO programming on Day 2 will occur between 8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

We encourage families to participate in our in-person New Student Orientation program; each student can bring a maximum of two guests with them to NSO. Students will be able to add their guests to their NSO reservation. Please keep in mind that NSO is not designed for young children.

Additional information about your New Student Orientation including a schedule overview, what to bring, parking on campus, and more will be available in April 2025.

We look forward to seeing you on campus soon!

Schedule Overview

Schedules are provided for your planning purposes only; all sessions are required for all students and the time is subject to change. Locations are unique to students and will be provided upon check in.

Student Schedule

Day 1: Students: please consider eating dinner before your NSO Check-In

5:00 p.m. Arrive to campus for check-in, drop your belongings in your residence hall
7:15 p.m. Learn about the NSO expectations, curricular and cocurricular involvement opportunities, and begin to meet new people.
10:30 p.m End of formal Day 1 programming

Day 2: Students: please check out of your residence hall, return your overnight bag to the car and have breakfast before the Penn State Support Showcase begins 

9:00 a.m. Penn State Support Showcase
11:00 a.m. College Connection
12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:15 p.m. Learn about health and safety resources, understand personal responsibility as a member of this community, and discuss general transition issues with your orientation leader and other new students
4:30 p.m. End of formal programming

Family Schedule

Family participation in NSO programming is optional but encouraged. There is a limit of two guests per student. Students will be able to add guests to their NSO reservation.

Day 1: Families

5:00 p.m. Arrive to campus for check-in; Meet and Mingle
7:15 p.m. Learn about NSO expectations, opportunities for students inside and outside of the classroom, common challenges students may face in their first year and how Penn State can help.
8:30 p.m. End of formal Day 1 programming for families

Day 2: Families

Meet your student for breakfast and collect their overnight bag before heading to the first session.

9:00 a.m. Penn State Support Showcase
11:00 a.m. College Connection
12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:15 p.m. Learn about campus health and safety resources, hear from current students about their experiences, and learn about what’s next after NSO.
4:30 p.m. End of formal programming

Housing and Dining at NSO

Staying overnight in an on-campus residence hall during NSO is an experience designed to help you make new friends, experience having a roommate, understand what is provided in a residence hall room, and learn how campus dining works. We strongly encourage all students to stay on campus for their NSO visit, but if you decide not to, you will be able to opt out when you make your reservation. If a student opts out of housing, they are responsible for the cost of their meals and securing off-campus accommodation while attending NSO. Students are expected to fully participate in all NSO programming, regardless of if they stay in a residence hall overnight.

You’ll be able to indicate your preference when you make your reservation for NSO, and your reservation confirmation will include more details specific to your decision.

There is a charge for housing and dining during NSO and you’ll see the details when you make your reservation to attend.