» Admissions » First Year Experience » SOAR
SOAR 2021 will take place in June and/or July. Specific dates will be announced soon!
The summer-long online orientation consists of
The on-campus orientation consists of
You will receive information by email in June about receiving your class schedule and meeting one-on-one with your advisor via Zoom to ask questions and make any necessary changes. If you attend the on-campus orientation, you will also receive a copy of your class schedule and meet with your advisor.
Please navigate to the Orientation System in CatPAWS and select “Online Orientation” in the “Dates” section. This will ensure you receive information and details about the summer-long online orientation!
You will be placed into groups with other students based on similar majors and interests. SOAR leaders are current Northwest students who know the ins and outs of Northwest life. Your SOAR leader will guide you through the summer-long online orientation, as well as through your on-campus orientation experience if you choose to attend!
If possible, your family is encouraged to attend the on-campus orientation with you. Family members also have their own orientation at SOAR to help them become familiar with Northwest’s programs, services and resources. We will also provide opportunities for family members to participate in the summer-long online orientation experience, too!
If you have not already submitted them, please bring your completed health history forms. We will provide you with everything else you need for your SOAR day at check-in!
SOAR and several other programs are covered by your new student fee. There is no charge to you or your family to attend.
If you are driving from a long distance, there are several hotels in Maryville that can accommodate you and your family. We encourage you to make reservations early when you receive your SOAR date to ensure that you get a room.
If you need to change your major, please navigate to the Orientation System in CatPAWS, select “Click here to view or update your registration,” and go to the “Academic Information” page to change your major.
If you haven’t decided on a major, that’s ok too! In fact, some students will tell you that coming to college without a declared major is a positive experience. To help get you on the right track, you are able to choose a meta major from one of four interest areas:If one of the first three areas listed above don’t fit your interests, you should choose University Studies to allow yourself more time to explore and decide on a major. All students must earn 42 hours of general education credits, so you have some time to make a final decision. It may be helpful to view the list of majors that fall into each meta major listed above- you can find a list online and choose meta major map.
Review your Task List in the Orientation System in CatPAWS to determine outstanding items.
Save the dates for Advantage 2021: August 14-17, 2021. Advantage is your chance to settle in and explore Northwest.
