Welcome to Oregon State!

Joining Beaver Nation is more than just attending your first class – you're entering a worldwide community and launching a new phase in your life. There’s a lot to know, so we’ve built a step-by-step onboarding sequence that will support you both during your initial orientation and throughout your first year at OSU. This is where your OSU journey begins. 

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Student smiling on library bench

Pre-Onboarding Tasks

  Time needed: 90-120 minutes 

  Details: 

Start Pre-Onboarding Tasks Now

 

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A student working on a laptop looks across the table and smiles.

1. Prepare: Online Modules

   Requirements: Access to Prepare happens 24-48 hours after you have completed your Pre-Onboarding tasks.

  Time needed: 2-4 hours 

  Details: These Canvas online modules will help you prepare for academic advising and learn key OSU processes, tools and resources.

Step 1: Prepare

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OSU student laughing and chatting with peers

2. Activate: Virtual Advising and Registration

   Requirements: Access to Activate happens 24-48 hours after you have completed Prepare.

  Time needed: 1-3 hours 

  Details: During Activate you'll learn about academic requirements and connect with academic advisors who will help you select and register for your first term of courses.

Step 2: Activate

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Two students wearing bright orange sunglasses lean together and smile at OSU's Parker Plaza.

3. Launch: Orientation Program

   Requirements: Access to register for a Launch program happens 24-48 hours after you have completed Prepare.

  Time needed: 10 minutes to register, 6-8 hours to participate.

  Details: Learn more about campus and what it means to be an OSU student! At this immersive (either in-person or virtual) event, you'll meet other new Beavs, ask questions, connect wtih staff from your college, and discover ways to get involved.

Step 3: Launch

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Grinning students hold up banners that say "I am an Oregon State Engineer" during OSU's New Student Walk.

4. Connect: your first term kick-off!

   Requirements: Register for your first term of courses; that's it!

  Time needed: varies; we hope you'll spend as much time as possible exploring OSU during Connect.

  Details: The Connect phase kicks off your first term with a multi-day experience to build relationships, explore traditions, develop academic skills, and find your place in Beaver Nation.

Step 4: Connect

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A student poses with Benny Beaver amidst cheering fans at a football game.

5. Engage: Yearlong Support and Community-Building

   Requirements: register for your first term of courses; that's it!

  Details: Orientation doesn't end after the first week. Throughout your first year, you'll take a Transitions course to build skills for success and meet regularly with your advising team. The Engage phase helps you find your home in the OSU community through ongoing events and opportunities.

Engage

Onboarding at Oregon State is more than just an orientation day.

From the moment you commit, throughout your first year at OSU, we’re here to help you make a successful transition. OSU’s onboarding sequence is designed for all students who are new to OSU, including students transferring from other institutions, students who’ve just finished high school, and students who’ve been away from school.  

Each phase of your onboarding experience helps you learn about and connect with OSU. Explore resources that support your academic, financial, social, and health needs. Engage with our enthusiastic orientation leaders, fellow new Beavs, academic advisors and other members of your success team. Your first step toward something great begins now!

Begin your onboarding sequence