New Student Orientation for Fall Admits

New Student Orientation (NSO) for students admitted to the fall 2025 term includes an overnight visit to University Park campus in June, July, or August. These NSO programs are available to students based on many factors, including college of enrollment. You will see available program dates in your NSO Tasklist.

Each NSO program will begin in the early evening on your Day 1 and include an overnight stay in an on-campus residence halls for students only. NSO programming on Day 2 will occur between 8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

We encourage families to participate in our in-person New Student Orientation program; each student can bring a maximum of two guests with them to NSO. Students will be able to add their guests to their NSO reservation. Please keep in mind that NSO is not designed for young children.

We look forward to seeing you on campus soon!

Schedule Overview

Schedules are provided for your planning purposes only; all sessions are required for all students and the time is subject to change. Locations are unique to students and will be provided upon check in.

Student Schedule

Day 1: Students: please consider eating dinner before your NSO Check-In

5:00 p.m. Arrive to campus for check-in, drop your belongings in your residence hall
7:15 p.m. Learn about the NSO expectations, curricular and cocurricular involvement opportunities, and begin to meet new people.
10:30 p.m End of formal Day 1 programming

Day 2: Students: please check out of your residence hall, return your overnight bag to the car and have breakfast before the Penn State Support Showcase begins 

9:00 a.m. Penn State Support Showcase
11:00 a.m. College Connection
12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:15 p.m. Learn about health and safety resources, understand personal responsibility as a member of this community, and discuss general transition issues with your orientation leader and other new students
4:30 p.m. End of formal programming

Family Schedule

Family participation in NSO programming is optional but encouraged. There is a limit of two guests per student. Students will be able to add guests to their NSO reservation.

Day 1: Families

5:00 p.m. Arrive to campus for check-in; Meet and Mingle
7:15 p.m. Learn about NSO expectations, opportunities for students inside and outside of the classroom, common challenges students may face in their first year and how Penn State can help.
8:30 p.m. End of formal Day 1 programming for families

Day 2: Families

Meet your student for breakfast and collect their overnight bag before heading to the first session.

9:00 a.m. Penn State Support Showcase
11:00 a.m. College Connection
12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:15 p.m. Learn about campus health and safety resources, hear from current students about their experiences, and learn about what’s next after NSO.
4:30 p.m. End of formal programming

Housing and Dining at NSO

Staying overnight in an on-campus residence hall during NSO is an experience designed to help you make new friends, experience having a roommate, understand what is provided in a residence hall room, and learn how campus dining works. We strongly encourage all students to stay on campus for their NSO visit, but if you decide not to, you will be able to opt out when you make your reservation. If a student opts out of housing, they are responsible for the cost of their meals and securing off-campus accommodation while attending NSO. Students are expected to fully participate in all NSO programming, regardless of if they stay in a residence hall overnight.

You’ll be able to indicate your preference when you make your reservation for NSO, and your reservation confirmation will include more details specific to your decision.

There is a charge for housing and dining during NSO and you’ll see the details when you make your reservation to attend.

What to bring to NSO

Please be sure to bring the following: 

  • A valid driver’s license, passport, state-issued photo or military ID, or Permanent Resident Card
  • A cell phone or other device used to access your Penn State id+ mobile credential
  • Your Penn State Account user ID and password
  • A reusable water bottle (filling stations are available across campus)
  • A change of clothes and toiletries
  • Comfortable walking shoes/sneakers
  • A blanket if you get cold during the night (other linens are provided in the residence halls)
  • An umbrella
  • A sweater or sweatshirt
  • A debit/credit card if you anticipate needing to spend money. All University Park campus operations are cash-less. 

THE CLASS OF 2029 GIVES  

We invite you to start your Penn State experience by helping your fellow students. Please bring a non-perishable food or toiletry item for the Penn State Lion’s Pantry . This can be one of your first acts of service at Penn State. Donations from NSO will help stock the Pantry for students experiencing food insecurity for almost a full year. We will have a location for your donations during NSO Check-In.

Arriving to campus and parking for NSO

Each student is provided with complimentary parking for one car during NSO. Details about NSO specific parking lots and how to claim your complimentary parking will be available soon.

You will be responsible for any parking tickets issued or additional parking expenses incurred if you choose to park in another area of campus. No parking is permitted, at any time, in reserved or ADA accessible parking spaces without the appropriate permit.  

Check-In for NSO

Check-in for NSO will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the HUB-Robeson Center (often referred to as “the HUB”). You should plan to be at NSO Check-In by 5:00 p.m. Upon arrival to campus, you should park your car (see Arriving to and parking On Campus above) and travel by foot to the HUB for NSO Check-In. Be sure to bring your overnight bag and other materials with you to NSO Check-In, as you will not have time to return to your car after you check in. Please use the map overlay features at map.psu.edu to help navigate to the HUB.

NSO Check-In is for students only. While students check in, parents and families attending NSO are invited to a Meet and Mingle reception hosted by the Penn State Parents Program; this reception is in the HUB-Robeson Center.

In order to check in for NSO, you must activate your Penn State mobile id+ Card. Instructions for this can be found on your NSO Tasklist. Please complete this task as soon as possible and no later than one week before the start of your NSO program.