First-Year Student Checkpoints and Checklist

Wondering what tasks students need to complete during New Student Orientation (NSO) and their transition to MSU? Here’s a straightforward breakdown of the five key checkpoints in the NSO experience:

  • Checkpoint 1: Getting Started – New undergraduate students must complete a few tasks to kick off the NSO experience. These include submitting the Access & Technology survey, the Immunization Form, the Math Placement Assessment, and (if required by their major) the Language Placement Assessments. It’s best for new students to complete these assessments and surveys before their academic advising and course enrollment, with Fall new students aiming to finish these by June or July and Spring new students by October or November in preparation for their respective advising and enrollment periods.
  • Checkpoint 2: Complete the NSO D2L Experience Course – All new students are required to complete the virtual New Student Orientation course on Desire2Learn (D2L). This interactive module helps students explore MSU and familiarize themselves with essential resources before their first semester. Fall new students can access the NSO D2L course starting in May, while Spring students will gain access in November.
  • Checkpoint 3: Advising and Enrollment – After completing the NSO D2L course, students will be connected with an advisor to schedule an academic advising appointment and discuss course enrollment. Completion of the NSO D2L course is mandatory before meeting with an advisor. After finishing the course, it is essential that students monitor their MSU email (including junk folders) for important messages from their advisor/College regarding the advising and enrollment process. Fall new students will begin their advising and enrollment experiences in mid-June, whereas Spring new students will start this process in January.
  • Checkpoint 4: NSO Engagement Opportunities – NSO offers podcasts and other virtual programming to assist students during the transition to MSU. This content will connect students, families, and supporters with various campus resources. Bi-weekly e-newsletters from NSO will share updates on our ‘Spartan Orientation Station’ podcast series, webinar topics, social media engagement, next steps, and important deadlines as the semester approaches.
  • Checkpoint 5: In-Person NSO Welcome Program – All new students are expected to attend the in-person Orientation program before the official semester begins. The Fall and Spring Welcome programs are specifically designed to help students transition into the MSU community, incorporating various activities and introductions to campus partners. Ongoing e-communication will provide details about MSU billing, residential engagement, and other important resources. NSO Welcome activities will take place between Move-In Day(s) and the start of the semester. Specific dates and times for in-person programming will be shared through the bi-weekly NSO e-newsletters.

NOTE: Transitioning to MSU can involve various departments, so an additional interactive checklist has been created to help students track progress as they prepare for the upcoming semester. We highly recommend reviewing the checklist below to support your journey during the Orientation experience and beyond!

  • New Student Orientation (NSO) - Checkpoints 1-5

  • Preparing for the First Semester - General MSU Checklist

    These general MSU checklist items are applicable to all new students. This curated collection includes essential resources and requests from various campus departments. While this list is not exhaustive, students are encouraged to review the following checkpoints to prepare for the upcoming semester. Any questions about specific items on this list should be directed to the respective office, as they will provide answers to inquiries.
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