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New Student Orientation (NSO) is an interactive experience designed to warmly welcome first-year and transfer students while providing the support needed for a smooth transition to MSU. NSO aims to foster meaningful connections, build a strong sense of belonging, and empower you to take charge of your learning.
University Advising is excited to join our incoming and transfer students on this journey as you transition into the MSU community!
Overview
The NSO experience for all incoming Spartans is designed around five key checkpoints. Rather than a single event, NSO is a journey that unfolds over the course of several months and weeks, culminating in your arrival to campus during Fall Welcome.
Exploratory Preference and Exploring Business Preference students must complete the NSO D2L course between May and June of the summer before your fall start.
Once completed, you will be assigned to an Exploratory Advisor and emailed information about scheduling an advising and enrollment appointment between June and July, the advising and enrollment period.
Though you may be eager to enroll in courses prior to June, we will not begin course selection and enrollment until then or later.
As you prepare for your advising and enrollment appointment ask yourself the following:
- What major(s) or minor(s) of interest are you considering?
- What AP, IB, CLEP, Transfer Credit, Dual Enrollment credit, MTA do you have? Pull all of this information into an easily accessible space.
- What experiences have you enjoyed (in school, with extra-curricular activities, personally) that may help identify your interests, skills and passions?
- What areas, tasks, jobs, do you want to avoid (if possible)?
Specific dates for advising and enrollment will be provided as we approach Fall Semester 2026.
On this journey, you’ll explore pathways through an Interest Area—broad areas of academic interest that help you explore different fields and make informed decisions about your future academic paths and careers.
Every year at the start of the fall semester, new Spartans are invited to their College Colloquium where they will meet other new students in their college, the dean, faculty, academic advisors and upper-class students.
University Advising, housed in the Office of Undergraduate Education, hosts a College Colloquium each fall.
Review helpful information about what the major change process looks like for exploring students and where you can find college-specific resources when the time comes to declare your major.