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
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 Balcony
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Forester Fest Picnic
Middle Campus Quad
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Optional Items: Campus Tours, Shuttles for Lake Bluff Target
Sports and Recreation Center
12:00 Noon: Men’s Soccer Scrimmage
South Campus
1 – 2 p.m. Commuter Check In
Sports and Recreation Center
3 – 3:30 p.m. Parent/Family Orientation Welcome
Brown Hall; Tarble Rooms 3 – 4:30 p.m.: Residential Life Community Gatherings 1
First Years - Residence Halls, Transfers – Residence Halls, Commuter Lounge
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Parent and Family Orientation Session 1: Forester First in the Family (English and Spanish)
English; TBD
Spanish; TBD
5 – 6:30 p.m.: President’s Welcome Dinner
Middle Campus Quad
6 - 7:30 p.m.: Parent Welcome Reception
Glen Rowan House
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 p.m.: Parent and Family: Depart
7:30 - 9 p.m.: NSO Large Group 2: Playfair!
Sports and Recreation Center
9 - 10:30 p.m.: Break-the-Ice Cream Social & SRC Open Gym
Sports and Recreation Center
Sunday, August 23
7:30 - 9 a.m.: Breakfast
Stuart Commons; Gus and Margie Hart Dining Hall
8:30- 9:20 a.m.- Parent and Family Orientation Session 2: Academic Success
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
9 - 9:45 a.m.: NSO Small Group 2: Heartwood
Various Campus Locations
9:25 - 10:15 a.m.: Parent and Family Orientation Session 3: Career Advancement Center
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms OR
Accessibility Services
Meyer Ayuditorium, Hotchkiss Hall
9:45 – 10 a.m. Walking Time
Sports & Recreation Center
10 – 11:15 a.m.: NSO Large Group 3: Branching Out - Building A Connected Forester Community
Sports and Recreation Center
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 – 11:30 a.m. NSO: Move to OL Groups
Sports and Recreation Center
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
11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m: NSO Small Group 3: Curiosity
Various Campus Locations
12:30 - 2 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 / Commuter Lounge
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: Academic Planning and Success
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
10:30 - 12 p.m.: First Year Lab Group 2: Writing Assessment
Various campus locations
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Transfer Student Orientation Session 2: Faculty Connection
Brown Hall, Tarble Rooms
11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Drop In Hours Available
ITS, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Immunization Catch Up Clinic
1:30 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
2:30 - 3 p.m.: First Year NSO: CAC Intro
Sports and Recreation Center
2:30 – 3 p.m.: Transfer Student Orientation: Library Overview
Library
3 - 4 p.m.: NSO Large Group 4: Choose Your Own Adventure
College History/Traditions Jeopardy OR Tour of Lake Forest OR Capture the Flag
4 – 6 p.m.: Free Time
Connection Lounges Available
6 - 9 p.m.: NSO Evening Event: Beach Bash
Lake Forest Beach
Please check back in late July for schedule updates, and be sure to keep an eye on your email for further information. For questions, please contact the Gates Center.