Boone Campus Orientation

• Programming differs for First-year and Transfer students. Students will only be eligible to register for a session date indicated by their student type.
• Athletes, Honors College and Watauga Residential College students may only choose from dates marked for their specific group.

Parents and family members: If attending, register for the same session date as your student. A registration link will be in your student’s confirmation email after they register

First-year Students

Get an early start on your Mountaineer experience! These sessions give you an extra day before your formal orientation to explore campus, meet fellow students and enjoy an overnight stay in a residence hall.

• Open to both First-year and Transfer students.
• Athletes, Honors College and Watauga Residential College students must select from dates designated for their group.
• Parents and families: May attend the formal orientation session on Day 2. A registration link will be included in the student’s confirmation email after they register.

The two-day overnight orientation sessions are subject to limited availability and have an additional cost to cover lodging and meals. See our cost page for more details.

We hold one in-person orientation session per campus in January for students who are starting at App State for the spring semester. Both transfer students and first-year students are eligible to attend this session. 

• Hickory: Thursday, January 8
• Boone: Friday, January 9
• Self-Paced Orientation: Complete by January 6 

The following schedules provide a glance at what a typical orientation session looks like. Exact schedules will be provided to attendees on the day of their orientation.

• Tentative Fall and Summer First-Year Student Orientation Schedule (Google doc)
• Tentative Fall and Summer Transfer Student Orientation Schedule (Google doc)
• Tentative Spring (January) Orientation Schedule (Google doc)

Orientation check-in starts at the Schaefer Center at 8:15 a.m. with our formal Welcome starting at 9:00 a.m. New Mountaineers and Families will receive a printed schedule at check-in. The day will wrap up around 4:30 p.m.

Knowing Where to Go

You’ll be assigned to a small orientation group led by a SOUL (Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader) who will guide you through the day. You’ll get a printed schedule at check-in.

Lunch is provided for registered attendees, and you’ll eat at one of our All Access Campus Dining locations.

What to Bring

• Check the weather — Boone can be unpredictable.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes; you’ll be moving between buildings.

Lodging

On-campus housing is only provided for students registered for an overnight orientation session (limited availability). Parents and families arrange their own lodging.

Check-In and Parking for Students - Arrival Times

• Bridge to App: 10 a.m.
• Honors and Watauga: 11 a.m.
• All others: 2–4 p.m.

Park in Rivers Street Parking Deck and take the shuttle to residence halls (Cone & White). Parking passes provided at check-in.

Day 1: Welcome Activities and Overnight Stay

• Check into a residence hall* and join activities like cardio dance, yard games, campus tours, schedule walk-throughs, late-night cookies, and more.
  *Due to other campus programs, this will not correspond with your academic-year residence hall.
• Dinner provided.
• Lights out at 10:30 p.m. Students in the Overnight Session must stay in the residence hall overnight.

Day 2: New Student Orientation

• Check out of the residence hall by 8:30 a.m.
• Breakfast in Central Dining, then meet parents/families for check-in at Plemmons Student Union.
• Orientation runs 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and covers campus resources, policies and academic planning.

What to Bring

• Twin XL bedding or sleeping bag, pillow, towel, toiletries, shower shoes
• Comfortable walking shoes & clothes, rain gear, water bottle
• Light packing recommended for the one-night stay

Room Assignments

• Students stay in 1–2 adjacent residence halls with RAs on duty.
• Two students per room, assigned by gender.
• Roommate requests accepted via digital form sent before the event (not guaranteed).

Meals Provided

• Dinner (Day 1)
• Breakfast & lunch (Day 2) at All Access dining halls
• Markets on campus accept debit/credit/Apple Pay; vending machines accept cash

Parents and Families

• Encouraged to attend Parent and Family Orientation on Day 2 (register separately).
• Responsible for their own lodging.
• Park in Rivers Street Parking Deck.

Parking is available for orientation attendees in the Rivers St. Parking Deck. Your parking fee is included in your orientation cost. Students attending two-day overnight sessions will be provided shuttles to and from the residence halls. 

You will receive a detailed email with parking information before your orientation session date.

For questions relating to Accessible Parking throughout campus, please refer to our interactive campus map.

Looking to stay in Boone during orientation? Check out these deals from some of our lodging partners.