Welcome to Lake Forest College!
We can't wait to welcome you to campus this fall! Mark your calendars to attend the 2026 New Student Orientation (NSO), the College's required orientation for all new first-year and transfer students.
NSO is a high-energy, values-based multi-day onboarding for incoming students designed to:
- Help you connect with current and incoming Foresters
- Kickstart your academic and co-curricular success through exposure to campus resources and information
- Provide an opportunity for you to begin to form your personal definition of what it means to be part of the Forester community
New Student Orientation is comprised of three tracks, supporting three unique populations:
- First Year Orientation
- Transfer Student Orientation
- Parent and Family Member Orientation
We welcome parents and adult family members of all new students to join Parent and Family Member Orientation, no matter when their student arrives on campus.
Important Dates:
New Student Move-In
Saturday, August 22
Athletes, International Students, and First Connection participants will receive separate arrival information for their specific move-in dates.
New Student Orientation
Saturday, August 22 through Wednesday, August 26
New Student Orientation - Parent and Family Programming
Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23
New Student Orientation Schedule
Saturday, August 22
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Residence Hall Move-In and Check In
Sports and Recreation Center
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Back to School Sidewalk Sale
South Campus Quad
10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Package Pick Up
Mohr Student Center; Mailroom
10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.: One Stop Shop
Mohr Student Center; Skybox and Simpson Balcony
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Forester Fest Picnic
Middle Campus Quad
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Optional: Campus Tours, Shuttles for Lake Bluff Target
Depart Intermittently from Sports and Recreation Center
12 p.m.: Men’s Soccer Scrimmage
Farwell Field
1 – 2 p.m. Commuter Student Check In
Sports and Recreation Center
3 – 4:30 p.m.: Residential Life Community Gathering 1
First Years - Residence Halls, Transfers – Arrive and North Campus: Meet at Deerpath (1st Floor Lounge): Middle and South Campus Halls: Meet at Moore Hall: Multipurpose Room, Commuter Students - MSC Main Floor
5 – 6:30 p.m.: President’s Welcome Dinner
Middle Campus Quad
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.: NSO Large Group 1: Orientation Kickoff & NSO Small Group 1- Welcome to the Forest!
Sports and Recreation Center
7:30 - 9 p.m.: NSO Large Group 2: Playfair!
Sports and Recreation Center
9 - 10:30 p.m.: NSO Evening Event: Break-the-Ice Cream Social & SRC Open Gym
Sports and Recreation Center
Sunday, August 23
7:30 - 9 a.m.: Students - Breakfast
Stuart Commons; Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
9 - 9:45 a.m.: NSO Small Group 2: Heartwood
Various Campus Locations
10 – 11:15 a.m.: NSO Large Group 3: Branching Out - Building A Connected Forester Community
Sports and Recreation Center
11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m: NSO Small Group 3: Curiosity
Various Campus Locations
12 - 1:30 p.m.: Family Farewell Lunch
Stuart Commons; Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
1:30 - 3:40 p.m.: Orientation Sessions - Forester Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
Public Safety, Healthy Habits with Health and Wellness, Title IX
Various Campus Locations; Follow instructions from your Orientation Leader
3:45 – 4:15 p.m.: NSO Small Group 4: Accountability
Breakout within spaces
4:15 - 5:30 p.m.: Free Time
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.: Residential Community Gathering 2
Residence Halls First Year: On your floor, Transfers: Arrive and North Campus: Meet at Deerpath (1st Floor Lounge) Transfers: Middle and South Campus Halls: Meet at Moore Multipurpose Room, Commuters:Meet at Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
6:30 – 8 p.m.: NSO Orientation Group Dinner
Stuart Commons, Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
8 - 9:30 p.m.: NSO Evening Event: Community Connections
South Campus
Monday, August 24
7:30 - 9 a.m.: Breakfast
Stuart Commons; Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
9 - 10 a.m.: NSO Small Group 5: Forester Foundations
Various campus locations
10 - 10:30 a.m.: First Year Studies (FIYS): Lab Group Overview
Various campus locations
10 - 11 a.m.: Transfer Student Orientation Session 1: Faculty Connection
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.: First Year Lab Group 2: Writing Assessment
Various campus locations
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Transfer Student Orientation Session 2: Academic Planning and Success
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Drop In Hours Available
Library, ITS, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Immunization Catch Up Clinic
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Lunch Break
Stuart Commons; Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
1 - 2:15 p.m.: First Year Lab Group 3: Forester 101
Various Campus Locations; Follow instructions from your Orientation Leader
1 - 2:15 p.m.: Transfer Student Orientation Small Group 1: Forester 101
Various Campus Locations; Follow instructions from your Orientation Leader
2:15 – 3 p.m.: Transfer Student Orientation: Library Overview
Donnelley & Lee Library
2:30 - 3 p.m.: First Year NSO: CAC Intro
Sports and Recreation Center
3 - 4 p.m.: NSO Large Group 4: Choose Your Own Adventure
College History/Traditions Jeopardy (Tarble Rooms) OR Tour of Lake Forest (Meet at Brown Hall) OR Capture the Flag (Meet at SRC)| FY Disburse from SRC, Transfers disburse from Library
4 – 6 p.m.: Free Time
Connection Lounges Available
6 - 9 p.m.: NSO Evening Event: Beach Bash
Lake Forest Beach
NSO Groups meet with OLs to walk to Beach
8 - 11 pm: Evening Connection Options
Boomer's Den, Coffee Lounge in Lower Mohr, Gaming Lounge in Skybox, Quiet Crafting/Reading in CARE
Tuesday, August 25
7:30 - 9 a.m.: Breakfast
Stuart Commons; Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
9 – 9:45 a.m.: Transfer Student Orientation Session 3: Career Advancement Center Intro
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
9 - 10:30 a.m.: FIYS First Class Meeting
FIYS Classroom
9:45 - 10:30 a.m.: Transfer Student Orientation Session 4: Everyday Forester Leadership
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
10:45 – 11:25 a.m.: NSO Large Group 5: You’re a Forester Forever
Sports and Recreation Center, Main Gym
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: NSO Small Group 6: Final Reflections
Various Campus Locations
12:15 – 1:30 p.m.: Lunch
Stuart Commons, Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
1:30 - 3:15 p.m.: Free Time
3:15 – 3:30 pm: NSO Groups meet to walk to Matriculation
3:30 - 4:15 p.m.: Matriculation Ceremony
Sports and Recreation Center
4:15 - 5:30 p.m.: Matriculation Gauntlet, Reception and Community Commitment
Mohr Student Center
6 - 8 p.m.: All Campus Back to School Block Party
Middle Campus Quad and Mohr Student Center
Wednesday, August 26
7:30 - 9 a.m.: Breakfast
Stuart Commons, Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
Chicago Day Trip with your FIYS Class
Chicago Day Trip for Transfer Students
Chicago Day Trip for ISEP Students
Itineraries for Chicago Day will be shared with students at NSO. Incoming Transfer students may register for a Chicago Day trip in August - keep an eye on your email!
Parent and Family Orientation Schedule
Saturday, August 22
3 – 3:30 p.m. Parent/Family Orientation Welcome
Brown Hall; Tarble Rooms
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Parent and Family Orientation Session 1:
Forester First (English-speaking) | Lillard, McCormick Auditorium
Forester First (Spanish-speaking) | Lillard 044
Campus Life Resources | Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
5 – 6:30 p.m.: President’s Welcome Dinner
Middle Campus Quad
6 - 7:30 p.m.: Parents' Welcome Reception
Glen Rowan House
7:30 p.m.: Parents and Family Members Depart
Sunday, August 23
8:30- 9:20 a.m.- Parent and Family Orientation Session 2: Academic Success
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms - Breakfast will be served
9:25 - 10:15 a.m.: Parent and Family Orientation Session 3:
Career Advancement Center
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
OR
Accessibility Services
Hotchkiss Hall, Lower Level
10:25 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.: Parent and Family Orientation Session 4: Health, Safety and Well-Being of Your Forester
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Parent and Family Orientation Session 5: Starting Strong: Strategies for Guiding a Resilient Student
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
12 - 1:30 p.m.: Family Farewell Lunch
Stuart Commons; Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
We can't wait to welcome you to campus! Any additional questions, please contact the Gates Center.