Orientation的注册
对于Orientation的注册程序，常见的流程是：
第一步
在交上tuition deposit之后，学校会提醒你进行Orientation的注册，学校首先会给我们一个ID账号，激活之后我们就能建立一个学校的专属邮箱，以后有关于学校的所有信息都可以通过此邮箱来获得（这个邮箱会让你的留学生活更加便捷，赴美之前也要记得时常查看一下，及时了解学校发给你的一些重要信息）；
第二步
进入指定的Orientation注册链接，注册完之后，页面里会显示你的基本信息，并要求进行其他信息的处理，比如购买Orientation期间的Meal Fee，建立自己的Orientation Schedule等；
第三步
提交成功之后，学校会给你发一封邮件，提醒Orientation已经提交成功，到这个时候整个的Orientation注册就全部完成了。
Orientation是什么？
简单来讲，Orientation是美国大学专门为国际学生入学时准备的一项活动，旨在帮助国际学生尽快熟悉并适应新的环境。Orientation和国内的开学典礼有些类似，但实用性要强很多，活动内容也更加丰富多样，时长一般为一到两周。在这项活动中，学校通常会向留学生介绍学校的历史、设施（院系，图书馆，餐厅）、疫苗、住宿、选课、入学测试以及其他一些注意事项。
freshmen（大一新生）需要提前一周左右到学校参加所谓的Student Orientation（新生入学大会）。新生入学大会分两种，ISO和NSO，ISO（International Student Orientation）是专门给留学(课程)生提供的新生培训，通常在NSO（New Student Orientation）之前。在此期间学校会组织留学生了解美国大学的教育系统，包括完成疫苗接种，办理医疗保险，提前适应语言环境等环节。接下来所有新生将一起参加更加正式的NSO。NSO中最重要的活动当然是开学典礼。和国内大学一样，保留节目一定是校长、教务主任、教师代表和学生代表的慷慨陈词。
Orientation在各国的叫法
取名于orientation，澳大利亚，新西兰和一些加拿大的大学会简称o-week； 而又因大一新生通常被叫做freshman，在英国和爱尔兰的大部分大学里会把这周叫做fresher’s week； 美国大学和一部分加拿大大学也会称之为frosh week ( frosh是fresh的俚语)。在瑞典，迎新周叫做nollning (来自nolla, 瑞典语“零”的意思，指的是零学年的学生) 或者inspark (瑞典语“开始校园生活”的意思), 也有一些学校用缩写wow（week of welcome欢迎周）来表达同样的意思。
Orientation的分类
Orientation大体分为两种，分别是由国际学生办公室和所在院系组织的。国际办公室（International Student Office或是Division of Student Affairs）的Orientation更多的是针对国际生的生活，比如会有学长学姐带你走走校园，让你知道图书馆在哪里，健身房在哪里，去哪里能看球赛，去哪里购物，如何参加社团活动，哪个餐厅最受中国学生欢迎，此外，还有各种表格的填写，比如住址、学号、学费、体检、医疗保险，目的就是帮助你尽快的适应校园文化以及美国的生活。
院系组织的orientation相比之下更加具有针对性，也就显得更加重要，通常会介绍到该院系或你所学program的情况，以及拿到学位需要达到的要求，有的时候还会教你选课，如何有规律的进行复习取得不错的成绩，为接下来的学习以及职业发展的计划提供宝贵的建议，同时也会有机会见到该学院的院长、系主任或是将来的导师。
Orientation的形式
正如刚才所提及，大一新生无论在哪个国家都跟“新鲜”，“第一年”，“零学年”有关，那么这部分同学就需要学校组织的迎新周来适应新环境，结交新朋友。orientation具体有些什么样的活动呢？一些学校会以小册子或者网站的方式向前来入学的学生提供一些有用的讯息。开学的时候也会叫老师给同学们做个简单的介绍会讲解orientation, 甚至你也可以在网络上找到学校的指南视频。这些都属于orientation的范畴。更多的时候，国外大学会在开学时组织一些项目，让参加的学生能身临其境地了解学校的各项设施。不论怎样，入学指南对于新生来说都将会是极为重要的一课！
Orientation的理由
因为我们是初到美国，所以，对美国的许多事情都不是很了解，包括对学校的情况，四周的环境，四周的生活设施，住宿情况，上课的地方与吃住的地方，都不是很了解。怎么办呢？总的来讲，我们总不能一一自己去了解，因为时间上可能会来不及。那需要如何办呢？
为了解决你这方面的困难或者是迷茫，美国的高校对于新进入大学的包括美国的学生，都会组织一个Orientation指南活动。因此，如果学校通知你或者是你看到其他的同学在参加这样的指南活动的时候，你一定也要去参加，成为其中的一员。
因为这是一个专门为新进大学的新生们准备的一个服务活动。他们会在这个指南活动里，领你参观学校，告诉你每一个建筑物都是用来做什么的，比如电影院，比如体育室，比如宿舍，比如上课的地方等等，你最好是可以利用一个小本记一下，因为有可能你以后会在某一楼里上课。然后也会领你到ISSO国际学生处进行报到，在那里你要进行一些手续上的办理，然后还会到你所要入住的学生公寓入住登记的地方进行登记，并还要给你仔细讲解一下，你所要申请学生卡的意义，以及作用。还要让你了解申请和领到社会安全号的意义和作用。以及你如何在美国的银行里办理银行帐号，包括程序，甚至也包括一些银行之间的区别。还会向你介绍，哪些设施是学校公共资源。并给你讲解一下，你要如何进行课程的注册，或者是如何与导师见面，进行课程的选择。还要给你发放学生手册，以及给你讲解里面的一些规定。当然，你需要自我遵守的。还要给领你到学费交缴的地方，办理各种各样的费用的缴纳。还要带领你到需要上交体检情况表的一系列地方。
Orientation的作用
① 学校电子系统：国外大学都会给每一个学生专属的邮箱，你将会被要求开通这个邮箱，并学会怎样好好运用这个邮箱。
② 各种表格的填写：住址，学号，医疗保险……你的信息需要根据入学指南中的步骤依次递交。别小看了这些表格，每一张表格都是校方为了更好地服务学生而建立的信息档案，重要性可想而知。(部分国外大学入学指南可在这里提前下载)
③ 学习指南：每个学校都有一些不同的学术及文化氛围，怎样快速适应国外大学的教学方法？怎样有效地和专业老师沟通？怎样进行论文写作？怎样和其他国家的同学一起完成小组作业？这些都能在每个专业楼的大厅找到。
④ 生活指南：无论衣食住行，身居国外的你都将开始一段全新的体验。也许你会感到陌生，不适应。没关系！国外大学的学生会以及国际学生办公室都会帮你解决这些问题，你需要了解学生会或者学生办公室什么时候安排这样的讲座，然后准时参加那个讲座既可。之后你就可以知道如何找到适合你的宿舍及入住方式，如何找到超市，如何乘坐公车等。
⑤ 活动指南：校园活动当然是必不可少的内容，每年学校会组织什么有趣而又有特色的活动，你能怎样参与其中。多留心在校园里发放的各种小宣传单，也可以在学生会的公告中看到，或者国外大学的官网也会有相关信息。
小编精心整理,希望对即将开学的小伙伴们有所帮助！
分享一篇国外关于Orientation的文章：
Colleges instituted orientation for incoming students to ease the transition into college. Freshman orientation is a way for students to meet other students, become familiar with campus services, and register for fall classes. Every student attending college in the fall should add orientation to their to-do list this summer.
While orientation has been traditionally for students, in the last 10 years, colleges have recognized the fact that parents need help dealing with the transition. To the traditional student orientation, they have added parent orientation. If you have a teen heading to college in the fall, parents should consider attending if it's offered by the college.
Student Orientation
High school graduation has passed and it's time to look toward the future. The summer before college is not only a time to enjoy your family and friends, but a time to move toward your life in college. Student orientation will be your first real college experience. Even if you've visited the campus in the past, it will be the first time you go there as an official student. For many schools, like Texas A&M's Fish Camp, orientation is mandatory. But even if it's not, you should make plans to attend.
How should you prepare?
You can certainly attend orientation expecting to learn what you need to know there, but it's helpful to do some research beforehand. Read all the information the college sends you, read their online publications and information, especially the details of freshman orientation. You should bring any documentation or paperwork you will need such as vaccination records.
Many colleges also have you register for classes while at orientation. Look at the course catalog as it pertains to your major and get an idea of which classes you need to take and which you will choose as electives. Advisors will be available to help but if you aren’t going into the process blindly, it will make registration easier.
What will you do at orientation?
The most important task you want to complete at orientation is to get acquainted with college life. You will attend “getting to know you” sessions, informational sessions, and advising sessions. You will learn about school policies, general rules, the honor code and more. You will be given a wealth of information in a short period of time. During the evening, most colleges offer fun activities like parties, sports competitions and games.
The college's goal is for you to immerse yourself in college life so that when you arrive on campus in the fall you can hit the ground running. Orientation gives you the opportunity to make friends, get acquainted with roommates, purchase textbooks, and become comfortable with navigating the campus.
What else does orientation offer you?
Colleges provide incoming freshmen with information about the different clubs and organization available on campus. It's a great opportunity to investigate and learn about each one and determine what you would like to be involved in. Whether you want to be part of a service organization, play intramural sports, be active politically, write for the campus paper, work at the campus radio station or volunteer, this is the time to get information on each.
If the college has Greek life, orientation will probably have some informal rush activities and you will be able to speak with representatives from the sorority and/or fraternity. This is a good way to decide if Greek life is right for you and which groups you feel comfortable with.
Sign up for email of any club/organization you're remotely interested in, ask for contact information from representatives, ask about the organization's social media presence as well.
Doing this helps you stay in the loop and make a decision once your arrive on campus.
Is it easy to make friends?
If it's an option, stay overnight in the dorms instead of staying overnight with your parents. This is the best way to immerse yourself in campus life and get to know other students. You may not make lifelong friends at orientation, but you should still socialize with as many people as possible. Remember that everyone is in the same boat--they are just as new as you are and probably just as nervous. Try starting a conversation in the dining hall with someone you have never met. Participate in all the social activities provided by the orientation leaders. This will help you get to know one another. Once you are out socializing, talk to lots of people instead of just clinging to one person.
Parent Orientation
Parents may experience this education phase as a relief, a cause for worry, or both; and many would like a little guidance. College orientation for parents can provide some of that guidance, as well as equipping parents with a more accurate mental picture of what their child’s new life will be like.
Why does orientation matter?
College orientation offers students and parents a glimpse of the school that will play a defining role in the whole family’s life for the next four years, and in that sense, it should be just as important to parents as students. Becoming familiar with the physical campus and the school culture will make it easier for parents to understand their children's lives and have informed conversations with them in the coming years. Learning about rules, campus safety and the academic calendar will also be of practical value to many parents for obvious reasons. Meeting other parents will also provide a feeling of community, as well as the potential for long-lasting friendships.
How should you prepare?
Try to think of yourself as both a parent and a student during your orientation. Bring paper and pencil or an iPad to take notes with, make sure to ask questions and introduce yourself to parents and school officials. Especially at a large institution, it can be helpful to get to know a couple of contacts personally or at least to know who to talk to if you have a question about financial aid or your child’s academic record. In addition to taking care of the practical details, you will also benefit more from the experience if you allow yourself to enjoy it.
Is orientation helpful?
In recent years, more and more colleges and universities have offered orientation events specifically geared toward parents during the days, weeks, or months before school starts. The Boston Globe reports that most parents found the events to be more than worthwhile. With events ranging from “Meet the Dean” to model classes and seminars on “Letting Go,” parent orientations offer an in-depth understanding of today's college experience. Colleges also offer sessions on student health, campus safety and security, financial aid and Q&A sessions.
One parent offers this critique of the orientation she attended:
"Do I think that this parent orientation was helpful? Most definitely. I have two other children in college but have never been faced with all that preparing my son for NGCSU has entailed so I am very glad I took the time to attend the parent intro. I will leave Saturday feeling more informed and much better about leaving my “baby” here on August 9th. I can’t say enough about the school itself or any of the staff I’ve dealt with. Everyone here has been more than helpful and very understanding about the fact that this is all new for me…and for my son. If you have the chance to attend such an orientation, I would highly recommend doing so."
What should you do if parent orientation isn't offered?
While parent orientations have become the standard at large colleges and universities, some smaller schools still do not offer these events. If this is the case, you should check with both the school and your child about whether it is appropriate for you to attend student orientation events. Spending time on campus, meeting a few other students and parents, and helping your student to settle into his or her dorm are generally very positive experiences — but it is also important to recognize the boundaries around your student’s new life outside your home. Remember: If the school doesn’t offer a seminar on “Letting Go,” you still have to let go.
It's clear that orientation is the first college activity that students (and parents) should make a priority to attend. Parents, remember to maintain your boundaries and ask questions to ease your mind. Students, don’t forget to embrace this new experience by taking advantage of every aspect of the event. (Written by Suzanne Shaffer)
