For winter, check back in November for information regarding orientation.

Orientation has five steps that you need to complete. Steps 1-3 must be completed prior to your Virtual Academic Advising date. Please review the Five Steps of Orientation in your invite emails (sent starting in late April) or included below.

Step 1: Register for orientation

For instructions on how to register for a Virtual Academic Advising date, please see our How to Register page.

Only register for orientation dates that you are available to fully participate in, including your virtual advising date. Your school/college will be unable to work around conflicts and will ask you to reschedule if you are not available.

Step 2: Complete pre-advising activities

After you have successfully completed Step 1 and registered for both Virtual Academic Advising and your On-campus Experience, you must complete the following activities. 

Complete the virtual orientation course by logging in with your U-M credentials. You will receive initial access to the course in your invite email. Then the course will be linked here in May.

  • The course covers information about resources and services that can help you be successful here at Michigan, as well as an overview of campus traditions, processes, and culture, so that you will feel like a Wolverine from day one. This course will also include important information on your specific school or college to prepare you for your academic advising experience.
  • The course takes approximately four hours to complete and can be completed at your own pace.

If you have any questions about navigating through the course, please contact the Office of New Student Programs at 734-764-6413 or email onsp@umich.edu.

Each academic school/college has its own set of additional mandatory pre-advising and advising activities. Check your U-M email regularly. You will receive information directly from the academic advising office at your school/college that will contain specific instructions about what you need to complete to prepare for academic advising and course registration on your Virtual Academic Advising date.

Please complete all pre-advising activities at least one week prior to your Virtual Academic Advising session. It is important to be prepared, so utilize the resources and tutorials to familiarize yourself with Wolverine Access, course guides, and the backpacking system to be ready to register during Virtual Academic Advising.

Finally, please familiarize yourself with the online platform, Zoom, which will be used for your Virtual Academic Advising session. Try logging in with your U-M credentials.

Step 3: Complete online placement exams

Find out which placement exams are required, how to access them, and accommodation information on our Placement Exams page.

Step 4: Participate in Virtual Academic Advising

You must plan to be available between the hours of 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET on the Virtual Academic Advising date that you registered for in Step 1.

Virtual Academic Advising will consist of meeting with academic advising staff, completing any advising activities planned by your academic unit, and registering for classes. Your academic unit will contact you directly with the specific times, schedule, and instructions on how to access these activities online. While the activities will not be from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET, you should not have any other conflicts on this date as your unit will not be able to work around conflicts. Be sure to check your U-M email regularly for this information.

You will have to reschedule for a later date if you are unable to attend. Academic advising is for students and advisors only; we ask that other guests do not participate.

If you have not received an email from your school/college at least two days prior to your advising date, please contact us at onsp@umich.edu.

Step 5: Participate in your one-day On-campus Experience

Attend the On-campus Experience on the date that you registered for in Step 1. This in-person program is designed to aid in your transition to the U-M community. During the day, you will have an opportunity to get acquainted with many of the important resources at U-M and the staff who support them, meet your orientation leaders and engage with other new students, and learn how to navigate our campus. Lunch will be provided.