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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

New Student Orientation

Cornell Bear with students

Fall 2023 New Student Orientation

New Student Move-in
Monday, August 14 & Tuesday, August 15
Follow this link to Housing and Residence Life for more information on move-in.

New Student Orientation
Wednesday, August 16 - Sunday, August 20
Students can begin registering for their Orientation program in June! 

Family Orientation
Monday, August 14 & Tuesday, August 15
Many sessions will be offered across both days. Families will be able to begin registering for individual sessions and review a full schedule in June. 

For more information and resources, connect with the Office of Parent and Family Programs. 

Welcome to Cornell University! 

The Tatkon Center for New Students hosts New Student Orientation for incoming students to help build connection and understanding of the campus community and its resources. Our professional and student staff will help students begin to build their toolkit to aid in their success in and out of the classroom. New Student Orientation is required of all new undergraduate students starting with your New Student To Do List which becomes available on March 31.  

Current students play a major role in planning your orientation experience. Hundreds of students serve as Orientation Leaders (OLs) whose role is to serve as your GPS as you make your way to campus. You will meet your OL at New Student Orientation and will engage with them in a variety of ways, most notably, in small groups. These sessions bring you and a small group of other new students together to engage in conversations about being a Cornellian.  

In addition to your OL, there are several other avenues of support to connect and engage with! 

  • Your resident advisor (RA) in your residence hall 
  • Your college may offer the chance to connect with a faculty advisor, advising staff, and peer mentors/ambassadors. 
  • Tatkon Peer Leaders 
  • Faculty fellows and faculty-in-residence who engage with students and develop programs where they live. 

We are so excited to welcome you to campus in just a few short months. In the meantime, please be on the lookout for summer newsletters from the Tatkon Center for New Students in your Cornell email! Reach out if you have any questions, and welcome to the Big Red Family!