Winter Orientation: Monday, January 7 – Tuesday, January 8, 2013
As a new student at U-M, you are required to attend orientation. International students and all freshmen are required to attend a 2-day Winter Orientation program on Monday, January 7 – Tuesday, January 8, 2013.
How to Sign Up for Orientation
If you are a newly admitted student for the winter term, and have already paid your $200 enrollment deposit, you will receive an email to your University of Michigan email address (youruniqname@umich.edu) in mid-November with instructions for signing up for Winter Orientation. If you have not yet paid your enrollment deposit, your email invitation to attend orientation will be sent to you approximately 1-2 weeks after you have paid your enrollment deposit.
Upon receiving your email invitation, you will be instructed to carefully read through the Online Orientation Information (OOI). This OOI will give you complete details about the orientation programs. To view the Online Orientation Information, please visit http://wolverineaccess.umich.edu. Click on "Undergraduate Orientation". General information is listed below for your reference.
If you are admitted in late December, you may not receive the orientation information. Go to http://wolverineaccess.umich.edu and click on "Undergraduate Orientation" to review the Online Orientation Information and register for orientation.
Winter Orientation Program & Check-In
During Winter Orientation, you will have the chance to learn about the University of Michigan's resources, meet other new students, explore campus on a guided tour, meet with your academic advisor, pick up your MCard, and register for Winter Term classes. New students cannot register for Winter Term classes prior to attending Orientation.
A complete schedule of orientation events will be provided to you when you check-in for orientation. The program will be completed by 5:00 p.m. each day. Students should plan on being available for the entire day on BOTH days of the program.
Check-in for the Winter Orientation will be on Monday, January 7 from 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. at the Angell Hall Posting Wall. However, placement exams in chemistry (freshmen only), French, Russian, Hebrew, Italian, German, and Latin occur prior to check-in. If you are required to take one of these placement exams, your arrival time will be prior to the check-in time. Carefully read the Online Orientation Information (OOI) to determine if you need to take a language placement exam prior to orientation check-in.
Check-in for the Winter Orientation will be on the ground floor of Angell Hall, at the "Posting Wall". Angell Hall is located at 425 S. State St. between S. University Ave. and E. William St. Follow the signs to the "Posting Wall" for check-in. You should check-in between 12:15 - 12:45 p.m.
To get to the check-in location, enter Angell Hall through the main entrance off of State St. (the building with the columns). Go through the lobby and up a short flight of stairs. Proceed through the glass doors directly in front of you. Take the stairs down to the lower level, up the ramp and through the doors. Proceed down the long hallway (next to the window overlooking the computer center). Travel up one short flight of stairs. The "Posting Wall" area and check-in tables will be on your right.
A campus map is available online at: campusinfo.umich.edu/article/central-campus-map
The program will last until approximately 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 7 and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8. Attendance at all sessions of orientation is mandatory. Classes begin on Wednesday, January 9.
Placement exams in chemistry (freshmen only), mathematics, languages, and a directed self-placement essay (freshmen only) are administered prior to or during orientation. All tests are for placement in University of Michigan courses only. Placement exams are mandatory if:
The University of Michigan provides two types of placement exams for all incoming students: online and proctored (in-person) exams. The Math Test, Directed Self Placement Essay (freshmen only), and the Spanish test are offered online, and students MUST complete these exams before attending orientation. The chemistry and other language tests are proctored on campus during orientation. Complete exam details are provided in the Online Orientation Information (OOI). To view the Online Orientation Information, please visit http://wolverineaccess.umich.edu. Click on "Undergraduate Orientation".
The proctored (in-person) placement exams in Chemistry, French, Hebrew, Italian, Russian, Latin, and German will be administered on Monday, January 7 in the morning before the orientation check-in. You must determine in advance if you need to take these exams, as the placement exam start times determine your arrival time on campus.
Chemistry Placement Exam (FRESHMEN ONLY)
The chemistry exam will be administered on Monday, January 7 at 9:00 a.m. at Angell Hall, Aud. A.
Who needs to take the chemistry exam?
The Chemistry exam will be held in Angell Hall Auditorium A on Monday, January 7 BEFORE the official orientation check-in. Those taking the chemistry exam should plan to arrive before 9:00 a.m. and go directly to Angell Hall, Aud. A for the chemistry exam. Do not be late. Late arrivals will not be allowed to take the test. To get to Angell Hall, Aud. A, enter Angell Hall through the main entrance off of State St. (the building with the columns). Go through the lobby and up a short flight of stairs. Proceed through the glass doors directly in front of you. Take the stairs down to the lower level, up the ramp and through the doors. Go half way down the hall, and make a right to the auditoriums. Auditorium A will be on your left.
Language Placement Exams
Language exams in French, Hebrew, Italian, Russian, German and Latin will be offered prior to the orientation check-in on Monday, January 7 at 10:00 a.m. at the locations listed below.
Before 10:00 a.m., go directly to the language exam location listed below. After your exam, you will have a brief break for lunch, and then you will check-in to the orientation program between 12:15 - 12:45 p.m. at the Angell Hall Posting Wall.
Language exams begin at 10:00 a.m. exactly. Do not be late! Late arrivals will not be allowed to take these exams and will have to make alternate arrangements to do so following the completion of their orientation program. Please be sure to allow yourself enough time to travel in inclement weather.
Who needs to take a language placement exam?
ALL STUDENTS in the following schools/units must take the exam, if you have any previous experience with these languages, regardless of previous credit received:
Students in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance are required to take the exam if you are studying one of these areas:
Students in the following schools/units are strongly encouraged, but not required, to take these exams if you have any previous experience with these languages:
Students in the following schools/units do not need to take the language placement exams:
Language Placement Exam Locations
Language Placement Exams are offered before the official orientation check-in. Language exams begin at 10:00 a.m. SHARP! DO NOT BE LATE! Go directly to the locations listed below to take your exam. For a downloadable campus map, visit campusinfo.umich.edu/article/central-campus-map
What to Bring
You will receive a student handbook and packet of campus-related information at orientation. You will also receive information specific to your academic school or college when you meet with your academic advisor at orientation. You should bring the following:
There is a $103 required orientation fee which must be paid separately from tuition. This fee will be billed to your student account in January. Students will be asked to sign a waiver upon arrival acknowledging that the fee will be billed to their student account. Please do not send this fee in advance.
We cannot provide accommodations during your orientation program. If you need overnight accommodations before or after your orientation program, you will need to make your own arrangements at an area hotel.
As a convenience, we have made special arrangements with the Kensington Court Hotel for a discounted rate of $78 (+tax). Rooms must be reserved no later than one week in advance of your planned arrival. To make reservations, call (800) 344-7829 and provide the group code "ONSP: Transfer Parent Orientation." There are a limited number of discounted rooms, and they are available on a first-come, first-served basis
You are welcome to choose any of the hotels in Ann Arbor. Most hotels are within a few miles of Central Campus. Visit www.visitannarbor.org for further information about area hotels.
Students who have residence hall contracts may move into their assigned residence hall as early as 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 6. If you are attending the January orientation program, you must move into your residence hall on Sunday so that you are available for the entire day on Monday and Tuesday for the orientation program. All orientation sessions are required.
Participants with Disabilities
ONSP will coordinate any arrangements you may need while on campus for orientation. Services provided include special testing and testing assistance, transportation, and tours around campus. Mark the appropriate box when registering for orientation, and a member of our staff will contact you prior to your program to discuss your needs. You should also contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, to make plans and arrangements for your school-year needs.
Preparing for Winter Orientation
Orientation will be a busy – and possibly overwhelming – day. In order to make the most out of your orientation experience, you should do the following things before coming to orientation: