Orientation

Are you ready to S.O.A.R.?

Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (S.O.A.R.) is designed to help you become familiar with Otterbein’s campus and resources prior to your arrival as a student.

Otterbein also offers a special orientation program designed for parents and family members so they can join you as part of your S.O.A.R. experience.

We are excited for you to be a Cardinal! Get ready to S.O.A.R.!

S.O.A.R information

S.O.A.R. is a one-day session designed to prepare you to be a successful student at Otterbein. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to meet with an advisor to review your fall course schedule, learn about Otterbein’s academic expectations from department representatives, learn what it’s like to be a student at Otterbein from those who are living it now, and build relationships with other new and current students.

S.O.A.R. Dates

You can register for one of these four dates:

Thursday, June 6
Friday, June 21
Friday, July 19
Tuesday, Aug. 20 (recommended for students unable to travel to Westerville during June and July)

RSVP for orientation >
Sign up online by May 15.

Complete the online Orientation Registration as soon as you can to increase your chances of attending your first choice of orientation dates. This form requires verification of guest contact information, including email. If you have any questions, please contact the Orientation Team in Student Success and Career Development at 614-823-1624 or orientation@otterbein.edu.

Is there a fee to attend S.O.A.R.?

Attendance at Orientation is offered at no cost to all new students and up to two guests. More than two guests per student may register for a per person rate of $35.

I am a transfer student. Do I really need to attend?

Yes, all incoming students should attend orientation. Transfer students will be placed into an orientation group with other transfer students and will have the opportunity to hear some information specific to the transfer student experience.

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First Flight

After you attend S.O.A.R., we will be anxiously awaiting your arrival back on campus for First Flight, Otterbein’s new student week. First Flight is a week-long series of events — First Year Seminar/Transfer Year Seminar class sessions, department meetings, Convocation, service projects, friendly competition, group activities and more — designed to help you transition to college life. First Flight is required for all new fall term Otterbein students, so be sure to mark your calendars for August 21 – 25. For full details, you can also go to www.otterbein.edu/orientation

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The Common Book

Since 1995, all new, incoming Otterbein students have participated in a shared reading experience through the Common Book program. Over the course of your first year at Otterbein, faculty members will discuss and utilize the Common Book to introduce you to the types of academic discussions and work that you will complete while at Otterbein.

The Common Book is distributed through the Orientation program for free to all students thanks to a gift from Mary B. Thomas and the Thomas Academic Excellence Fund.

To learn more about the Common Book program, including information about the First Year Seminar (FYS) assignment, visit www.otterbein.edu/CommonBook.

Visit the Common Book page for more information >