Frequently Asked Questions
If I've decided to pay by check, where do I send my orientation payment?
Does it matter which orientation session I attend?
What if I'm a High School student who has earned my AA degree & was admitted as a Transfer student?
Will I be able to get a good schedule of classes if I attend a later orientation session?
What if I cannot attend one of the orientation dates?
What if I need to change my orientation date?
What if I need to add a guest(s) after I signed up for orientation?
What happens if I need to remove a guest after I signed up for orientation?
Where is orientation check-in?
I lost/never received my parking permit. How can I get one?
What do we wear during orientation?
What do we need to bring to orientation?
When do I receive my orientation session confirmation?
How do I know if you received my payment or if my fees are paid in full?
Are waivers available for Preview, Transfer Preview, or Family Preview?
The following questions pertain only to Freshmen attending Summer B or Fall
Do I have to stay in Broward Hall?
Where do I check-in if I'm staying an additional night?
Do students in the Honors Program need to attend orientation?
Do students in the AIM Program need to attend orientation?
Do students in the Step-up Program need to attend orientation?
How do I pay? When you register for your orientation session you will have the option to pay with a credit card. If you choose to pay with check or money order, please make sure to print out a copy of the registration form and mail your payment to the address below.
If I've decided to pay by check, where do I send
my orientation payment? Please send your check or money order to:
New Student Programs
PO Box 114075
Gainesville, FL 32611-4075
Please make sure to include your name and UFID on the check or money order.
How long is orientation? The two-day freshmen orientation schedule allows new students numerous opportunities to learn how to be a successful global Gator in and out of the classroom. Plan to begin orientation at 8am on Day One; continue into the evening and nighttime Day One programming; stay in Broward Hall the night of Day One and continue and stay until 5pm on Day 2 for a one-on-one advising appointment, course registration, Gator 1 Central, additional presentations, and Preview course registration confirmation. Do not make plans on day two which will prevent you from staying until 5pm. Please Note, the Preview freshmen schedule changed in 2006; unlike years past there is not the possibility to leave before 5pm on Day Two. Students who do not stay for the duration of the program risk cancellation of their course registration completed at Preview. Please select a session which will allow you to dedicate two days for your orientation experience.
Our two-day family schedule allows for more interaction between freshmen and their family members and guests; and additional information on how family members and guests can support their freshmen in being a successful global Gator in and out of the classroom. Plan to begin orientation at 8am on Day One, continue into the early evening on Day One and stay until 5pm on Day Two for Gator 1 Central; a variety of tours, and additional meetings and presentations. Do not make plans on day two which will prevent you from staying until 5pm. Please note: the schedule changed in 2006. Please select a session which will allow you to dedicate two days for you and your student's orientation experience.
Transfer Preview begins at 8am and will end by 3pm the same day. Transfer students should plan to stay the entire time so that you can learn about how to be a successful global Gator in and out of the classroom and meet with college and department representatives.
Is orientation mandatory? Yes, all new students are required to attend orientation (i.e. Preview or Transfer Preview). During orientation, students will meet with an academic advisor, have the opportunity to register for classes, and learn how to be a successful global Gator in and out of the classroom.
Family Preview is not mandatory for family members or guests, but attending the program is an excellent opportunity for family members/guests to learn more about the University of Florida and get questions answered. Families may not want to bring small children due to the format of the program.
Does it matter which orientation session I attend? Will I be able to get a good schedule of classes if I attend a later session? It does not matter which orientation session a student attends. The University of Florida holds seats in critical courses for each session, so students at each session have an equal opportunity to register for classes.
What if I'm a High School student who has earned my AA degree & was admitted as a Transfer student? Although academically you may be advanced, you will experience the transition to UF like many freshmen. Students that are education majors will attend a transfer preview session. All other majors will need to register for a freshmen (first year) two day session.
What if I cannot attend one of the orientation dates? We provide a variety of sessions to accommodate busy summer schedules. However, in the event of an unavoidable conflict which prevents you from attending orientation, contact New Student Programs at (352) 392-8396.
What if I need to change my orientation date? In the event of a conflict with a session for which you are registered, please call New Student Programs at (352) 392-8396 or email us at pguest@dso.ufl.edu torequest a session change. Please provide the following information; UFID, session(s) into which you want to switch (please list 3 in case one is full), indicate if the same number of guests will attend, and the reason for the change. You will only be allowed to change sessions one time. A $15.00 administrative charge will be assessed for session changes. We will not be able to place you in a session that has closed. Allow two working days for a response to your request.
What if I need to add a guest after I signed up for orientation? As soon as you know you need to add guests for orientation, contact our office at (352) 392-8396 or email us at pguest@dso.ufl.edu no later than five(5) working days prior to your session. Please provide your name, UFID, the name(s) of the guest(s) you would like to add and the new total number of guests. We do sign up guests on site during the sessions, but contacting our office beforehand is much more efficient and makes check-in the morning of the session much easier.
What if I need to remove a guest after I signed up for orientation? As soon as you know you need to remove guests for orientation, contact our office at (352) 392-8396 or email us at pguest@dso.ufl.edu no later than five(5) working days prior to your session. Please provide your name, UFID, the name(s) of the guest(s) you would like to remove and the new total number of guests. If you remove a guest after payment has been received, you will receive a refund once all sessions have been held and accounts reconciled. No refunds will be provided for cancelled guests if notification is received les than five(5) working days prior to your session.
Where is check-in for orientation? Check-in for Orientation will take place in the J. Wayne Reitz Union on the 2nd floor from 8 am until 8:55 am. The program will start promptly at 9 am so please be on time. Make sure to plan ahead for parking and possible traffic during your travel. If you arrive after the program has started, you may be required to re-schedule your session and come back another day.
Where is parking during orientation? A parking permit for your Orientation session will be mailed in your confirmation packet. This permit is valid only for Parking Lot Five(5). Limited parking in available in the Welcome Center garage for a fee (paid at this garage). For maps of where you will be parking and risk not being ticketed, please consult our travel page. Please plan on packing comfortable walking shoes as parking spaces are limited and will not be right next to the building.
I lost/never received my parking permit. How can I get one? Email us at pguest@dso.ufl.edu at least one working day prior to your session and we can provide you with a replacement. Please include your UFID in the email. You can also pick up a permit the day of your session, but you will need to park in parking lot V(five) first and quickly return to place the permit on your dash.
What do we wear during orientation? Dress is casual during orientation. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes and shoes because you will be doing a considerable amount of walking during the program. While Gainesville temperatures range from the low-to-mid 90's in the summer, the student union is well air conditioned and can be quite chilly so be prepared. Since afternoon summer showers are frequent, bring an umbrella to stay dry as you travel around campus!
What do we need to bring to orientation? Bring money for meals not included in your fees, any academic paperwork (test scores, transcripts, etc.) that may be helpful in selecting classes, an umbrella, your Gatorlink ID and password, your UFID #, immunization paperwork (if not already submitted), and $15 and a valid form of identification to get the Gator 1 ID Card.
Freshmen should plan on packing an alarm clock and comfortable clothes for their stay. Some students opt to bring their own blanket or pillow with them, however, blankets, pillows and towel will be provided. It is also a good idea to pack comfortable shoes, an umbrella (summer weather can be unpredictable), and bring some extra money for food and snacks not included in your orientation fee.
When do I receive my orientation session confirmation? Once we receive payment in full of your orientation fees, you will be sent confirmation materials. We can't send a confirmation until your orientation fee balance is $0. Allow for ten working days from which we receive payment in full to receive your confirmation. If you do not receive your confirmation five working days prior to your session or lost your confirmation, email us at pguest@dso.ufl.edu. Include your name and UFID.
How do I know if you received my payment or if my fees are paid in full? Click on the Sign-up Status link and log back into the registration website to see if your payment has been processed. If it has been more than 15 working days since you mailed your check and it has not been processed, please check with your bank to see if the check has cleared. If the check has cleared and we have not processed it, email us a pguest@dso.ufl.edu. Include your name, UFID, check number and name on the check or money order.
Are waivers available for Preview, Transfer Preview, or Family Preview? A limited number of waivers are available for students who demonstrate financial need. The waiver covers the fees for the student and the first family member, if one is attending Family Preview. You must have a FAFSA(Free Application for Student Aid) on file for the academic year, be Pell Grant eligible, and have an EFC of $500 or less. If you would like to inquire about receiving a need-based waiver for orientation fees, please email us at pguest@dso.ufl.edu with your name and UFID for a response. The last day to apply for a waiver is June 30st. Do not wait for a response to register for a session. Once we determine your eligibility we will notify you via phone or email (depending on how you contacted us), whether or not you have been awarded a waiver. Eligibility is checked twice a month so allow for 10 working days maximum for a response.
The following questions pertain only to Freshmen attending Summer B or Fall
Do I have to stay in Broward Hall? Regardless of whether or not you plan to live on-campus during the academic year, to assist and prepare you for a successful academic and social transition, freshmen are required to stay in Broward Hall during orientation (maximum two nights). Students will be assigned a roommate, different than the roommate assigned for first year housing. Students traveling long distances without family may opt to stay in Broward Hall the night prior to the start of Preview for a nominal fee.
Due to limited space, family members and guests of freshmen are unable to stay in Broward Hall. The Reitz Union Hotel on campus offers convenient and affordable accommodations. Space is limited, so please call early for a reservation at (352) 392-2151. A listing of additional accommodations in Gainesville can be found at www.visitgainesville.net.
Where do I check-in if I'm staying an additional night? Freshmen checking into Broward Hall the night prior to the start of Preview will be able to check in after 5:00 p.m. Check-in for overnight housing is at the main area desk in the lobby of Broward Hall which is located off of Inner Drive. Click here for a campus map of the area.
Do students in the Honors Program need to attend orientation? Yes. Students in the Honors Program can sign up for any Preview session appropriate for the term they are admitted. During their Preview session, Honors students will meet with advisors from the Honors Program.
Do students in the AIM Program need to attend orientation? Yes. Students in the AIM Program can sign up for any Preview session available to summer B admits. During their session, AIM students will meet with advisors who work with the AIM program.
Do students in the Step-up Program need to attend orientation? Yes. Students in the Step-up Program need to be registered for the June 28-29 session. If you have already registered for Preview and recently found out you are accepted to the Step-up Program, email Preview at pguest@dso.ufl.edu to request a session change. If you are unsure about acceptance to the Step-up Program, consider registering for the June 4-5 session. During this Preview session, Step-up students will meet with representatives from the Step-up Program.