FALL START STUDENTS

WELCOME TO UGA!

New Student Orientation is committed to help prepare our newest students for success in their first year at UGA. Before you arrive, get to know your Orientation Leaders (OLs), learn about orientation requirements, and review important information to prepare for your transition to the University of Georgia.

Welcome to the Bulldog Nation, and as always, Go Dawgs!

orientation format

All incoming fall start first-year and transfer students are required to complete the online UGA 101 modules, attend an in-person orientation session, and meet with an academic advisor during the in-person orientation session. 

The orientation session will allow students the chance to connect with other incoming students, receive a more in-depth introduction to the University of Georgia, and participate in small groups led by current UGA students. Registration for in-person orientation sessions will be accessible on the student’s application status page in early May.   

UGA 101 Modules will be accessible via eLearning Commons (eLC). Students can log in to eLC directly using their MyID credentials. Students must complete their UGA 101 Modules prior to attending their in-person orientation session. 

Academic advising appointments will be held during the in-person orientation session. Students will be assigned an appointment time after checking in for their in-person orientation session.

First-year students will participate in a 2-day, in-person orientation session.

There will be a 1-day Last Chance in-person orientation session prior to the beginning of fall-term classes that both transfer and first-year students can attend.

Transfer students will participate in a 2-day, in-person orientation session.

There will be a 1-day Last Chance in-person orientation session prior to the beginning of fall-term classes that both transfer and first-year students can attend.  

  • Students will receive an email to their UGA email account with confirmed session dates and important deadlines.
  • Students will receive an email to the UGA email account with orientation requirements within two business days of paying the commitment deposit.
  • In-person orientation session registration and online UGA 101 module access will begin in early May. Students will receive an email to their UGA email account indicating when registration and access to UGA 101 will become available.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Incoming students will meet with their academic advisor during their in-person orientation session. Students are required to complete their UGA 101 Modules prior to attending their in-person orientation session. Students will receive an email with their academic advising appointment information during their orientation session via their UGA email address. 

First-year students will receive their advising appointment information by 10am on Day 2 of orientation session and meet with their academic advisor in the afternoon of Day 2. 

Transfer students will receive their academic advising appointment information by 5pm on Day 1 of orientation and will meet with their academic advisor in the morning or early afternoon of Day 2.

TIPS

Here are some tips from UGA’s academic advisors to prepare you for your first advising appointment:

Want to change your major? Students wanting to change their major prior to their academic advising appointment can do so in Athena.

Complete the Academic Advising: Step One information form. Forms for First Year Students and Transfer Students are both available. This form is required for all students, and will assist academic advisors in developing recommendations for incoming students based on students’ academic history.

Explore the UGA Bulletin for information about UGA’s vast array of over 170 academic programs.

Explore the semester Course Schedule before meeting with your advisor and create a tentative list of course options. However, recognize that the course schedule is subject to change, and you will need to be flexible as you and your advisor work together to create a schedule that reflects current course availability.

Academic advisors meet with students only, so make sure your supporters understand that you are expected to take control of your academic planning and goal setting during the advising appointment. Supporters should make alternative plans during your advising appointment, but feel free to discuss your plans before and after your advising appointment.

The Office for Student Success and Achievement (OSSA) offers UNIV Courses  to all students who want to refresh study skills, get an introduction to UGA, learn how to write a research paper, or many other topics. Students should also explore the UGA Writing Center.

UGA 101 MODULES

The UGA 101 Modules are a required part of the onboarding experience for all incoming students. These modules follow a phased structure aligned with key points of transition beginning before your Orientation session and continuing throughout your first year at UGA.

The modules are a series of short, interactive learning experiences that introduce you to essential academic, social, and logistical information. Each phase is intentionally timed to support you when you need it most, helping you feel confident and prepared as you move through your transition into UGA.

Each module is designed with intentional, active learning components to support your success. While you can move through at your own pace, fully engaging with the content will give you the strongest foundation for your transition to UGA.

Yes! Not only will you receive timely updates throughout your first year, you’ll have continued access to the full set of modules throughout your first year, allowing you to revisit key topics and refresh your understanding as new questions or needs arise.

TESTING

It is recommended that you complete any necessary placement exams before your advising appointment. If you have questions about which placement exams you should take, please review the information on the Accessibility and Testing website. Further questions can be directed to uga.access@uga.edu. 

Depending on the exam, placement exams are either administered remotely or must be taken in-person. All exams have a 1-hour time limit but often do not require the whole hour. You can register for placement exams on the Accessibility and Testing website. Please choose the UGA Students, Faculty, and Staff option under Register for an Exam and sign in with your UGA MyID. 

Placement exams cost $30 each. If you have a demonstrated financial need, please consider applying for Accessibility and Testing’s Need-based Financial Assistance Grant funded by the Parent’s Leadership Council. 

Please note that other elements of orientation (i.e., Resource Fair, Housing Check-In, Orientation Check-In) will also be occurring in the placement exam time window, so consider registering for the earliest testing appointment available.

It depends. If you want to attempt to register for all of your classes after meeting with your advisor at orientation, you should consider taking a placement exam. Scores will post in your Athena account in time to meet with your advisor during your appointment.

While recommended by the departments offering them, if you choose not to take placement exams prior to orientation while you await results from AP or IB exams , placement exams are administered year round, and can be taken at a later time prior to registering for the academic course.

English, Spanish, French, and Hebrew are given remotely through ELC, UGA’s learning management system. To take these exams, you must register one week prior to the test date through the Accessibility and Testing website and provide Accessibility and Testing with your UGA MyID so that we can get you added to our ELC course before test day.

Math, Italian, and German placement exams are paper exams that are administered in-person. You can take these exams between 8:30 am and 10:30am (latest test start time is 10:30am) during Day 1 of orientation in the Miller Learning Center. The room will be listed in the “Schedule” tab of the “Welcome to UGA” app. You can also take paper placement exams at Accessibility and Testing’s office in Clark Howell Hall, right next to the Tate Student Center, on UGA’s Athens campus. They are open every Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.  For both the MLC and Clark Howell Hall options, please register ahead of time through the Accessibility and Testing website.

Math, Italian, and German placement exams are paper exams that are administered in-person. You can take these exams at Accessibility and Testing’s office in Clark Howell Hall, right next to the Tate Student Center, on UGA’s Athens campus. They are open every Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. During orientation, their office will open at 7:30am to allow placement exams to be taken before orientation begins. Please register ahead of time through the Accessibility and Testing website.

GUESTS

New Student Orientation aims to help our parents, families, and supporters to be a great resource for our new students by providing them with UGA updates, information on campus resources, and advice from campus experts and other Bulldog parents and families. Guests are not required to attend orientation, but are encouraged to attend our intentional sessions that are tailored to their unique needs as they guide and support their incoming students.

Registration is required for all guests, and more information can be found on the Family Information tab and student’s application status page.