Fall New Student Orientation Must-Knows Skip to main content

Fall New Student Orientation Must-Knows

Welcome to BYU!

Fall New Student Orientation (NSO) is a three-day experience (August 28, August 29, and September 2) designed to help you get familiar with campus, meet new friends, and feel confident about starting your BYU journey.

Below is Everything you Need to Know Before You Arrive

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Who Should Attend?

  • All new BYU students! Whether you're a freshman, transfer student, or part of the FlexGE program, NSO is for you. 
  • Parents welcome! There's a special Parent Orientation on Thursday, August 28th to help your family feel confident about your transition. Parents can learn more HERE.  

What to Expect

  • Three days of fun, connection, and BYU spirit! 
  • Each new student is registered for a UNIV 101 class. You’ll take part in NSO with the people in your UNIV 101 class, so you’ll make friends with people you will see all semester. 
  • Free lunch provided every day—we’ve got you covered! There are options for those that are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and nut free. For any severe or additional allergies please see NSO event staff. 
  • See the entire schedule HERE. Highlights include the Cougar Rally, You are the Y night, Friday night Finale, and Back to School Bash. Come to as much of NSO as you can to learn more about BYU, get free swag, and feel confident in starting your BYU journey.  

What to Wear

  • Comfort is key—you’ll be walking a lot, so wear comfy shoes and casual clothes. 
  • Weather: Be ready for warm days and cool evenings. 
  • You’ll receive a BYU NSO T-shirt at the You are the Y night so wear something you can easily throw your new shirt over! 

What to Do Over the Weekend

  • Hike the Y – A must-do BYU tradition! It’s a steep 2-mile round trip hike to the iconic “Y” on the mountain. Although it has over 1,000 feet in elevation change it is worth the views. We recommend doing it at sunset when the weather and view is the best but don’t forget to bring a flashlight for the hike back down. 
  • Tube the Provo River – Cool off and enjoy the mountain views. With a 20-minute drive this is a fun activity to do before it gets too cold. You can rent tubes at BYU Outdoors Unlimited for only $12. Just a safety reminder that you must wear your lifejacket through the entire duration of the float.  
  • Visit Temples – Both the Provo City Center & Orem Temples are nearby. Schedule an appointment or even go walk around the grounds of these beautiful buildings.  
  • Provo Farmers Market – Every Saturday from 9 am – 2pm the Provo Farmers Market takes place at Pioneer Park. It includes local food, crafts, and music every weekend. 
  • BYU Museum of Art (MOA) – Take time on BYU campus at the Museum of Art which consists of free exhibits and beautiful galleries.  
  • Bean Life Science Museum – Explore nature and wildlife exhibits at the Bean Life Science Museum on BYU campus for free. 
  • Rock Canyon – Rock Canyon Park and Trailhead are great for hiking, rock climbing, hammocking and sunset views. 
  • Bridal Veil Falls – Go enjoy a scenic waterfall just a 15-minute drive away up Provo Canyon. 

Get Ready for an Incredible Start

We can't wait to meet you and help you start your BYU adventure with confidence and excitement. If you have any additional questions, please email us at fye@byu.edu or call us at (810)422-8176. See you soon!