First-Year Students

Students who are accepted and have paid their admissions deposit will be mailed Orientation reservation information during the month of May. All programs occur during July.

Your academic major determines the specific dates available to you.
View Summer 2009 Major-Specific
Orientation Dates

Making a Reservation
To complete the Orientation Session Reservation process you must:

1. Determine which orientation date works best for you. The sessions available for your major are listed on your Preference Registration Form. There is no advantage to attending one session over another. Each session has limited enrollment and reservations are made on a firstcome, first-served basis.

2. Know which member(s) of your family (if any) plan to attend Orientation with you and whether they plan to stay in a campus residence hall. You will be asked to input this information when you make your reservation.

3. Logon to myRedDragon and click on the menu link "New Student Orientation Sign Up" on the Admissions Online tab.

4. The dates available for your major will appear and you will be prompted to complete the required fields to make your reservation for yourself and any guests attending with you.

5. Once you have completed the required fields you will be prompted to input your credit card payment information. Your payment total will depend upon the number and options of your guests combined with you fee of $140.

6. Once you sign up, print out the Orientation Sign Up Sheet, this serves as your confirmation for the session you will be attending.

7. Complete and return your Preference Registration Form, which is used to register for fall semester classes. Please fill out the form as completely as possible, sign it and return it in the envelope enclosed with your mailing. Instructions on completing the form can be found on page seven of your Orientation program booklet.

Please complete the above steps by June 5, 2009. If you need to change your session date after you have signed up online, please call our office at (607)753-4727 to see if there is still space available in the session you are interested in attending.

Fees
The program fee is $140 and covers the cost of activities, materials, faculty advisement, housing, your SUNY Cortland Identification Card, meals and refreshments.

What to expect during Orientation
All incoming first year students attend one of our programs. Our program is built on providing you with strategies to be successful by helping you make a smooth transition. Through the Orientation program you will:

• Learn about campus resources
• Learn about your academic major
• Get a preview of campus life
• Spend the night in one of our campus residence halls
• Learn about academic and campus policies
• Meet with a faculty advisor
• Set your class schedule
• Learn strategies for a great first semester
• Meet other new students
• Have fun!

What to bring with you

• The Orientation Information Booklet you receive in the mail
• Your Orientation session confirmation
• Alarm clock
• Toiletries
• Fan or umbrella (depending on weather)
• Comfortable clothes and shoes
• Any documentation about college or AP credits you expect to transfer to Cortland
• Your questions and concerns
• Energy and a positive attitude

Frequently asked questions

Directions to SUNY Cortland

Sample Orientation Schedule

Take Flight - Academic Information