New students to experience college life

New students planning to attend Indiana State University this fall must first complete a required day and a half of orientation here on ISU’s campus.

Students will begin their new life as college students learning the ins and outs of the university as it pertains to them, with information on services that the university provides and meetings with academic advisers to help students register for fall classes.

Students can register for their orientation by visiting the First Year Programs Web site (www.indstate.edu/fyp/orientation.htm).

According to the Web site, there will be no cost to students at the time they register or attend a session; however, there will be a $70 fee assessed on students’ fall billing statement.

 The Web site explains this charge is assessed to “offset the cost of student programming.”

Prior to attending orientation students are required to take the math placement test online at the University Testing Web site (www.indstate.edu/testing/mathplacement.html).

According to the University Testing Web site, there is no charge for taking this test, which can be completed in about an hour.

Students attending this year’s orientation are also required to stay in one of two residence halls for one night.

 According to the First Year Programs Web site, female students will stay in Burford Hall and male students in Hines Hall, with check-in beginning at 3 p.m. on the first day.

The overnight portion of orientation will allow students to mingle. make new friends and enjoy evening events put on by ISU, said Alexandria Shadwell, a sophomore accounting major who attended orientation last year.

“Last year’s orientation went very well,” said Stephanie Pearcy, assistant director of residential life for staff development.

There were no reported incidences to Residential Life’s knowledge and everything went smoothly, Pearcy said.

Shadwell said students should be ready to make friends.

“That is where I met one of my best friends,” she said.

Students will take a guided tour of campus and familiarize themselves with the buildings where most of their classes will be held.

“Be sure to wear comfy shoes,” Shadwell said. “My group and I were really tired by the end, and we had to be up by like 7 or 7:30 a.m. the next morning so we went straight to sleep after a couple of events.”

Students spend their second day conducting campus business and meeting with student advisers with everything wrapping up by 12:30 p.m. at the closing ceremony.