Pre-Orientation Programs

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Jump-start your time at Colgate with an experience you'll never forget!

Participate in a Pre-Orientation program

Make friends, share valuable experiences, and get acquainted with the Colgate community prior to Orientation. Pre-orientation programs are offered in the weeks leading up to your first semester, providing you the chance to connect with classmates and create memories that can help shape your transition to college and beyond.

Our pre-orientation programs provide opportunities to:

  • get connected with one or more campus organizations
  • gain valuable leadership skills
  • get to know upper-level student leaders
  • meet peers with similar interests
  • get involved early on campus
  • have fun!

With a variety of optional programs open to all incoming first year and transfer students as well as required programs for international students and Alumni Memorial Scholars, there is something for you - whether you're looking to explore something new or dive deeper into something in which you're already interested.

Read on for optional programs, and scroll to the end of the page for information about required programs.

Optional Pre-Orientation Programs

Incoming students have the option to attend a pre-orientation program before their arrival to campus. 2025 registration will open May 1 and close June 4 and will be honored on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Community Outreach

August 19 - August 24, 2025

Students doing community service at Rogers Nature Center

Make friends through community outreach and service, and learn about the local community in which you will live for the next four years. You will travel off campus in small groups with upper-level student leaders and mentors, immersing yourself in community settings. Serve with and learn from residents and nonprofit agencies in the local and regional area.

Through service and reflection on its definition, purpose, and efficacy, this experience invites you to begin your time at Colgate acting on and thinking about engaged citizenship and the public good. Learn how to connect individual acts of service to long-term social change; join a group of students on a service journey and see what answers you find!

First@Colgate and QuestBridge Scholars

August 19 - August 24, 2025

Students posing for a silly photo on the Hamilton Green.

Build community and familiarize yourself with campus resources that will help you thrive at Colgate. This program provides QuestBridge Scholars and first-generation students early access to opportunities to network with faculty and staff, get acquainted with key University offices, hear from upper-level students, and bond with fellow first-year students. Join this pre-orientation program and make the most of your Colgate experience right out of the ’gate!

Watch & learn about First@Colgate Pre-Orientation

Sustainability of the North Country

August 19 - August 24, 2025

Students sitting on a trampoline

This immersive experience blends community engagement with outdoor adventure. Starting on campus and traveling into the Adirondack Park, we will cook elaborate meals with sustainable foods, volunteer with local nonprofits, and canoe in the North Country’s expansive lakes. At the end of each day, unwind in cozy cabins at the goat farm. This Office of Sustainability and Upstate Institute trip offers a little bit of everything, from chances to build friendships and connect to the region, to lighting the spark to carry sustainability into your Colgate journey.

All are welcome, whether you consider yourself a novice in sustainability or a long-time sustainability champion. After returning to campus, you will start on a more sustainable path with a crew of like-minded friends as you embark on your first year at Colgate.

Wilderness Adventure

Session 1: August 9 - August 14, 2025

Session 2: August 19 - August 24, 2025

Students pose in the forest during a hike

For over 30 years, around 25% of first year students have started their Colgate careers with a Wilderness Adventure. Alongside 7-9 other incoming first years and two experienced Outdoor Education student leaders, you will experience upstate New York and the Adirondack Park by backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, day hiking, or a combo of these activities. Whether you’re an experienced outdoors person or you have never been camping before, we have a trip that is right for you (besides a range of activities, trips also come in a variety of difficulty levels). Along the way, you’ll make new friends and create unforgettable memories to set you up for the rest of your time at Colgate.

No previous outdoor experience is needed for any of our trips - just a willingness to have fun, learn, and meet new people. We will take care of the rest!

Wilderness Adventure

Required Programs

The following groups have pre-orientation programs tailored specifically for them. Students in these groups are required to attend these programs and therefore won't participate in any other program that coincides with the dates listed for their program but can expect similar meaningful experiences and more. If you're in one of these groups, you will receive more information through your Colgate email in May.

Join the international orientation team for a week filled with sun, fun activities, and community building as we immerse you in American culture and prepare you for your journey ahead. This orientation is tailored for students who will be attending Colgate University under F-1 visa status. Dual citizens, students on non-F visas, and folks who grew up in international locations are also welcome to attend International Student Orientation.

All international students are required to maintain valid F-1 status in order to attend Colgate University. During International Student Orientation, we will be completing the initial immigration registration as well as discussing topics specific to the international student experience.

Contact

Office of International Student Services, oiss@colgate.edu, +1-315-228-6131

For over 100 years, Colgate students and graduates have explored the world through scholarship, research, and discovery. All Alumni Memorial Scholars (AMS) begin their Colgate experience participating in a pre-orientation program. Fostering community and a shared commitment for the pursuit of knowledge, the AMS pre-orientation program is designed to introduce participants to the active scholarship and types of scholarly support found across Colgate’s campus. Learn about the unique resources and opportunities available to the AMS community while getting to know your fellow scholars.

Contact

Office of Global and Local Initiatives, ams@colgate.edu.