Summer 2023 Orientation

Orientation FAQs

Who is the Summer 2023 New Student Orientation experience for? 

Our Summer New Student Orientation (NSO) experience is designed to welcome all new students beginning in the Fall 2023 semester. First-Year, Transfer, and International students will participate in an orientation experience and will have the opportunity to engage with various campus resources that focus on helping them transition to MSU.

Do I need to sign up for the Summer 2023 New Student Orientation (NSO) experience?

No – once you have submitted your Advanced Enrollment Deposit (AED) to MSU, you will automatically be registered to participate in our Orientation experience and programming.

What should I do if I have a question about orientation experience?

If you have questions about orientation experience, please check out our Orientation Registration FAQ page or the five checkpoints for more information. If you did not find the answer you were looking for or if you have further questions, please contact us.

How do I know if I am exempt from participating in the NSO experience?

We have listed the exemption criteria on our website. If you still have questions, please contact us.

Where can I find information about the New Student Orientation experience?

Information regarding Summer 2023 NSO will be communicated with students, families, and supporters through bi-weekly e-newsletters starting in late April 2023. These e-newsletters will continue throughout the Summer and will contain important information about the five checkpoints, next steps, and deadlines. Visit the First-Year, Transfer, or International tabs at the top of our page to find general information about the NSO experience. Please be sure that you’re checking your email often this summer. Check out our NSO Communications page to catch up on past e-newsletters.

What will my Summer New Student Orientation experience be like?

The Summer 2023 New Student Orientation experience consists of five checkpoints that will occur beginning in May, 2023 and conclude when classes begin on Monday, August 28, 2023. Checkpoints 1-4 of NSO will occur virtually and will be completed throughout May, June, and July. Checkpoint 5 consists of an in-person ‘Fall Welcome’ program, which will occur between move-in day(s) and before the semester begins.

All new students will engage with a virtual D2L experience course titled “Summer 2023 New Student Orientation”, which can be found by logging in with your MSU credentials at https://d2l.msu.edu. The course will be available and open for all new students on May 5, 2023 with an extended deadline of June 14, 2023. Students must complete the D2L course by the deadline or risk their admission being revoked.

The NSO D2L will include various interactive modules to help students identify important resources and departments at MSU. Once the “Summer 2023 New Student Orientation” experience course has been completed, students will be referred to connect with an academic advisor by appointment between June and July for advising and enrollment. In the NSO D2L, you will also review information about your College/major that will prepare you for your academic advising appointment. Your academic advising appointment will take place by appointment between June 5 and July 21, 2023. Your advisor will send you more information about your academic advising appointment via your MSU email prior to June as long as you have completed your NSO D2L experience.

Additionally, NSO will be offering a variety of other virtual engagement opportunities throughout June and July in the form of virtual podcasts and student-run help sessions.

Are there any opportunities for me to connect with other new students during my New Student Orientation experience? 

As part of your in-person NSO Checkpoint 5 experience, you will have many opportunities to engage in small and large group activities, which focus on connecting you with other new Spartans and will help you to begin building your social network at MSU.

How can I best prepare for my New Student Orientation experience?  

Students can begin preparing for their NSO experience by completing their Checkpoint 1 items. Check out our First-Year, Transfer, and International student checklists for more information regarding ‘pre-Orientation’ next steps. There are a handful of items we recommend students complete prior to their NSO D2L experience to best prepare for the Orientation experience. Make sure you are completing the required items on the checklist and reviewing the suggested items for additional opportunities.

How can my families and supporters get more information about the NSO experience?

Primary family members that you listed on your MSU application will also receive bi-weekly e-newsletters from the NSO office starting in late April. We encourage you to share important information regarding New Student Orientation with anyone you prefer. Families and supporters can also engage with the Spartan Family Connections department to identify important resources as they join the MSU community.