START orientation- what to bring, what to do
Posted July 2nd, 2015 by sternerrAs you pack your bags and think ahead to your START session here are some things to remember to bring with you and to do during your time on campus.
Top things to pack
1.) Tablet, notebook, pen, paper, etc.- you’ll be given a lot of information at START and taking some notes is the best way to remember it and look back throughout the summer as you have questions.
2.) Comfortable shoes- START programs feature quite a bit of walking between sessions so be prepared with comfortable shoes
3.) Rain jacket/warm layers- this is Oregon and there is always a chance of a shower, even if the forecast indicates otherwise
4.) A copy of your START confirmation and START parking pass- which you can print from the same website where you registered for START.
5.) An alarm clock, watch, or cell phone- for students staying overnight in the halls, Day 2 starts bright and early and you’ll need a way to get up and moving
6.) Water bottle, light, airy clothes, hats, etc.- this summer has already been unseasonably hot, so be sure to bring gear to stay as cool as possible.
Top things to do
1.) Talk with other students at START- this will be your first opportunity to start making friends and developing a social network here at OSU. Take advantage of it!
2.) Talk with and start getting to know an academic advisor in your academic college (Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, Agricultural Sciences, etc.). These individuals will be instrumental in helping you meet your graduation requirements and explore careers so getting to know them early is essential.
3.) If you are living on-campus, you will have a chance to tour your residence hall and see a sample room- this will be very helpful as you start deciding what to pack and what not to pack for your move-in day in September.
4.) Join a campus tour and spend some time walking around campus and orienting yourself. Finding places like the Student Health Center, Valley Library, Financial Aid and Registrar’s Offices (in Kerr Administration Building) will make your initial days back on campus in fall far easier.
5.) Ask questions and take notes- this is a completely new experience for most of you and we expect you to have lots of questions. Why not get them answered before classes start? It will make the rest of your summer far more enjoyable!
6.) For students attending our first-year sessions, attend Dixon Rec Night which is hosted at our recreation center on campus. This is a great chance to check out our gym, different sports clubs, organizations, and food vendors that work with campus. This is a night of fun where you can participate in games and activities and take some time to get to know your fellow START participants.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:30 am
To Whom It May Concern,
Our Daughter, is registered for START. We would like to stay with her on campus in campus housing. However, we don’t believe we are currently registered for staying overnight on campus. We are not sure how to do this. Please kindly advise us. Thank you.
September 10th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Unfortunately housing for families is not available during the START sessions on September 18th and 19th because new students are moving in and we don’t have rooms to accommodate parents and other family members who would like to stay. Please visit the Corvallis tourism site http://visitcorvallis.com/ for information on lodging options.
October 18th, 2012 at 10:28 am
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up plus the rest of the website is very good.
June 16th, 2014 at 4:55 pm
I have signed up to attend start with my child. What is the schedule like for parents? I can’t seem to locate that in any of the information.
I also will only be attending one day, Sunday. What will I miss on Monday.
Thanks
June 16th, 2014 at 5:03 pm
There’s a brief schedule outline available here: http://oregonstate.edu/newstudents/start/first-year-program. On the first day parents/family are together with students for the welcome, academic college presentations, housing tours and dinner/late night stuff (if parents want to attend these- they certainly don’t have to do so). During small group time for students on Day 1 parents/family have lunch and also attend a panel of OSU representatives from areas such as public safety, housing and dining, student health services, counseling and psychological services, etc. The second day of START features fewer formal presentations for parents and family, although there are some on financial concerns and academic support services.