Orientation
Your Oglethorpe journey begins at Orientation!
Important Dates
- Making a Petrel (MAP) Days: June 6, June 27, July 25
- New Student Orientation and Welcome Weekend: August 22 – 24
- First day of class: August 25
Making a Petrel (MAP) Days
Register for your preferred date:
Student and Parent/Guest programming may differ at certain points of the day. While student participation is required, parent/guest participation is highly encouraged (not required). Please check back regularly for updates.
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Student Schedule
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Parent Schedule
9:30 a.m. Check-in and light breakfast | Conant Performing Arts Center
10 a.m. Welcome by Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Meredith Raimondo, Icebreakers led by OU Orientation Leader Mentors (OLM) | Conant Performing Arts Center
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Choose your own Petrel Path (rotating sessions) | Cousins Center
10:30 a.m. Petrel Pathway Session 1
11:00 a.m. Petrel Pathway Session 2
11:30 a.m. Petrel Pathway Session 3
- College 101: Stormy Petrel Edition
- Residence Life: Living in the Nest
- Student Engagement: Activities in the Nest
- Protect your Petrel Peace: Transitioning to College, Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Petrel Perseverance: Becoming a Successful Student
- First to Fly: First-Generation Petrels
- Thinking Outside the Petrel’s Nest: Global Education
12:00 p.m.: Lunch | Turner Lynch Campus Center
The Campus Store will be open during this time. IT, Admissions, Accessibility Services and Residence Life will be available at lunch to answer questions, and troubleshoot other concerns.
2:00 p.m.: Group A: Academic Schedules | Lupton Auditorium
Group B: OLM Small Groups | Various Common Spaces
2:00 p.m.: Group A: OLM Small Groups | Various Common Spaces
Group B: Academic Schedules |Lupton Auditorium
3:00 p.m.: Closing Reception & Activities | TLCC Atrium & Patio
The Campus Store will be open during this time.
Residence Hall Show Room Tours will start at 3:15 p.m.
9:30 a.m. Check-in and light breakfast | Conant Performing Arts Center
10 a.m. Welcome by Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Meredith Raimondo, Icebreakers led by OU Orientation Leader Mentors (OLM) | Conant Performing Arts Center
10:30 a.m.: The Academic Experience |Conant Performing Arts Center
Featuring current Faculty members, the Office of Student Success, and the Career Development Office
12:15 p.m.: Lunch |Turner Lynch Campus Center
Campus Store will be open during this time & IT, Admissions, Accessibility Services and Residence Life will be available at lunch to answer questions, and troubleshoot other concerns.
1:15 p.m.: Billing, & Financial Aid| Conant Performing Arts Center
2:00 p.m.: The Transition to College | Conant Performing Arts Center
3:00 p.m.: Closing Reception & Activities | TLCC Game Room & Patio
The Campus Store will be open during this time.
Residence Hall Show Room Tours will start at 3:15 p.m.
New Student Orientation
All first-year and transfer students should plan to attend Orientation on August 22-23, 2025.
Schedule:
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. New Student Move-In
Your residence hall
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Lunch
Petrel’s Nest Dining Hall
12:15 – 2:15 p.m. Community Resource Fair
Turner Lynch Campus Center (TLCC)
2 – 2:45 p.m. Family Goodbye Time
Various
2:45 – 4 p.m. Welcome
Conant Performing Arts Center
4 – 5 p.m. OLM Small Group
Various Locations
5 – 6:30 p.m. Dinner
Petrel’s Nest Dining Hall
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Commuter Social Hour
Cousins Atrium
7:30 – 10 p.m. Welcome Movie Night
Meet your OLM on the Academic Quad
8 – 9:45 a.m. Breakfast
Petrel’s Nest Dining Hall
9:45 – 11 a.m. Petrel Pandemonium
Schmidt Recreation Center
*Dress casual and wear soft soled shoes
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Informed Decisions: Bobby Gordon
Conant Performing Arts Center
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch
Petrel’s Nest Dining Hall
1:30 – 2 p.m. SGA Dessert Reception
Conant Lobby
2 – 3 p.m. Reframing the Sexual Assault Conversation: Tim Mousseau
Conant Performing Arts Center
3 – 5 p.m. OLM Small Group
Various classrooms
5 – 7 p.m. Dinner
Petrel’s Nest Dining Hall
7 – 10 p.m. Glow Party
Academic Quad
8 – 10 a.m. Breakfast
Petrel’s Nest Dining Hall
9:15 – 9:45 a.m. Mindfulness Walk
TLCC Patio
10 – 11 a.m. First Year Seminar Sessions
Various Classrooms
11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Fearless First Year Talk
Conant Performing Arts
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
Petrel’s Nest Dining Hall
1:45 – 2 p.m. The O Book: Oglethorpe Traditions
Conant Performing Arts Center
2 – 2:30 p.m. Safety at Oglethorpe
Conant Performing Arts Center
3 – 4 p.m. OLM Small Group
Various classrooms
6 – 7:30 p.m. President’s Dessert Reception
Lupton Auditorium