Orientation

Now that you’re a Mountaineer, you’ve been assigned an App State email account. Find your username in your MyMountaineer Portal as well as steps for how to set up your account. You will log in with your App State username and password to register for orientation. Once you log in, select an orientation date and register for that session. Students registering for Fall orientation should make sure to have two or three date options available in case your first choice is full. The earlier you register, the more likely you will get your first choice date.

Parents and families are invited to attend a specialized one-day Parent and Family Orientation program that is tailored specifically for parents and families of new students. This program takes place at the same time as your student’s on-campus orientation. Registration for Parent & Family Orientation will be available after your student has registered New Student Orientation.

Registering for Orientation Based on Your Student Type or Population

The registration system will take into account your student type and only present orientation dates that are available to you.

Incoming transfer students have the option to attend a Transfer Pre-Orientation Program (T-POP) session prior to New Student Orientation. Get a head start on advising and class registration and meet other new transfer students during this fun (and free!) program.

Changing Your Orientation Date

• Fall Orientation: You can change your orientation date yourself by going through the registration process again in your MyMountaineer portal. The orientation dates that are available to you based on student type and space availability will be listed to choose from.
• Spring Orientation: Due to the smaller cohort of mountaineers that begin enrollment during the Spring semester, we only hold one in-person Orientation session. Please try your best to make accommodations to attend this session to get the full experience.

Our registration system only allows changes to be made within 48 hours of your registered Orientation date. If you need to make a change within the 48 hour window, please email orientation@appstate.edu.

Paying for Orientation

The charge for our New Student Orientation is estimated to be $225.* The cost covers all orientation expenses including your AppCard, Common Reading book, online Advising Planner, food and more. *Online students will have a modified orientation fee.

You will not be billed for New Student Orientation until after you attend. These charges will be billed directly to your student account as part of your first semester tuition and fees. These fees are non-refundable after you have attended orientation.

Follow the instructions from the AppCard Office for submitting your AppCard photo. Make sure to use your App State email to submit your photo. The AppCard Office cannot accept photos sent from personal email accounts.

Picking Up Your AppCard

You will be able to pick up your AppCard during orientation. The opportunity to pick up your AppCard will be part of your orientation schedule.

Online and Hickory campus students, or any student that would like their AppCard mailed, can pay a small fee to have their card shipped to them.

As a new student, we know you're ready to start planning your academic journey at App State! To prepare for class registration and your advising appointment, make sure to complete your Advising Steps.

Advising steps should be completed prior to orientation.

During orientation, you will have the opportunity to meet other students, learn about campus resources, and begin planning out your academic experience at App State. You will also have time to learn more about your intended major or begin the process of exploring majors.

Orientation Schedule

Orientation check-in starts at the Shaefer Center at 8:30 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.

Lunch is provided. You will be able to experience eating at our Campus Dining locations while you attend Orientaion. Each Mountaineer is provided with a meal voucher card upon Orientation check-in.

You are required to stay for the entire orientation. Orientation is an essential enrollment checklist item. Students must actively engage and be present throughout the duration of the entire New Mountaineer Orientation Program. Students are required to check-out at the end of the day.

Knowing Where to Go

New Mountaineers will be assigned to small orientation groups. Each small group will be assigned a SOUL (Student Orientation Undergraduate Leaders), who will help guide the orientation experience for new Mountianeets. Mountaineers will be provided with a printed copy of the daily schedule at check-in.

What to Bring

Boone weather can be unpredictable. Please check the weather before attending and plan accordingly.

Orientation also requires a lot of walking between buildings, so please make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes.

Parking Information

Parking is available for orientation attendees in the Rivers St. Parking Deck. Your parking fee is covered by your orientation cost. 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 found at: https://maps.appstate.edu.

Lodging Information

Overnight accommodations are not provided on campus UNLESS you register for an overnight orientation session. Overnight orientation sessions are available on a limited basis and allow students to stay in a residence hall on campus as part of their orientation experience. Parents and family members are responsible for finding their own overnight accommodations, as on-campus housing is strictly for incoming students.

Welcome to App is an extension of your New Student Orientation and gives you the opportunity to get more comfortable on campus, make new friends, have fun and start weaving yourself into the fabric of student life at App State.