All incoming students are required to complete the Start @ State modules. See below for more details:

Atlanta Campus First-Year Students: Students beginning their first year on the Atlanta Campus are required to complete the Start @ State modules. After completing the modules, they will be able to sign up for the required New Student Orientation.

Perimeter College First-Year Students: Students beginning their first year on any of the Perimeter College campuses are required to complete the Start @ State modules. After completing the modules, they will be able to sign up for the required New Student Orientation.

Online-Only First-Year Students: Students beginning their first year online are required to complete the Start @ State modules.

Transfer Students: Students transferring from another institution are required to complete the Start @ State modules.

Transition Students: Students who are accepted to transition from Perimeter College to a bachelor’s degree program at the Atlanta Campus are required to complete the Start @ State modules.

Atlanta Campus International Students: F-1 and J-1 Visa-holders for the Atlanta Campus are required to complete the Start @ State modules.

Perimeter College International Students: F-1 Visa-holders for Perimeter College campuses are required to complete the Start @ State modules.

Postbaccalaureate Students: Postbaccalaureate students are required to complete the Start @ State modules.

Re-Entry Students: Students re-entering Georgia State are required to complete the Start @ State modules.

Dual-Enrollment Students: Dual-Enrollment students are required to complete the Start @ State modules.

Graduate Students: Graduate students are not required to complete the Start @ State modules but may complete them as a helpful introduction to Georgia State.

Don’t see your student type? Email us at orientation@gsu.edu, and we’ll help you to determine if you need to complete the Start @ State modules.

New Student Orientation is Georgia State University’s official undergraduate student orientation program.

At New Student Orientation, incoming first-year students can expect to meet their peers, learn more about the resources Georgia State has to offer and meet with an academic adviser to register for classes.

Currently, all incoming first-year students are required to attend New Student Orientation. See below for more details and exceptions.

Atlanta Campus First-Year Students: Students beginning their first year  on the Atlanta Campus are required to attend a New Student Orientation. Students can register for a New Student Orientation session upon completion of the Start @ State modules.

Perimeter College First-Year Students: Students beginning their first year on any of the Perimeter College campuses are required to attend a New Student Orientation. Students can register for a New Student Orientation session upon completion of the Start @ State modules.

Online-Only First-Year Students: Students beginning their first year online are not currently required to attend a New Student Orientation.

F-1 International Students (Freshmen): F-1 Visa-holders for both the Atlanta Campus and Perimeter College campuses must complete the Start @ State online modules but may NOT register for or attend a New Student Orientation (NSO). Instead, AFTER you finish your I-20 process with International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), you will be invited to attend a mandatory virtual academic advising session where you can register for classes from your home country. [Attending the advising event instead of NSO will satisfy your NF hold and allow you to register for classes.] The week before classes begin, you are required to attend International Student Orientation and Check-In from ISSS.

Transfer Students: Students transferring from another institution are not required to attend a New Student Orientation.

Transition Students: Students who are accepted to transition from Perimeter College to a bachelor’s degree program at the Atlanta Campus are not required to attend a New Student Orientation.

Postbaccalaureate Students: Postbaccalaureate students are not required to attend a New Student Orientation.

Re-Entry Students: Students re-entering Georgia State are not required to attend a New Student Orientation.

Dual-Enrollment Students: Dual-Enrollment students are not required to attend a New Student Orientation.

Graduate Students: Graduate students are not required to attend a New Student Orientation.

Don’t see your student type? Email us at orientation@gsu.edu, and we’ll help you to determine if you need to attend a New Student Orientation.

Incoming students may see two New Student Orientation holds reflected in their PAWS account.

To lift the Online Orientation Hold, students must complete the Start @ State modules. The hold will automatically lift upon completion of the modules.

To lift the New Freshman Hold, students must attend a New Student Orientation session. The hold will not lift when you register for a New Student Orientation but will once you attend the session.

The New Student Orientation fee is not covered by any type of scholarship or loan, and there is no fee waiver. To attend New Student Orientation, all fees must be paid in advance.