NSO Frequently Asked Questions

NSO Sign Up

• Are all incoming students required to complete orientation?

  All new students admitted to Texas State, as well as all students readmitted after one long (fall or spring) semester or more, are required to complete New Student Orientation. Students who do not complete NSO will not be allowed to register for classes.

• When can I sign up for an orientation session?

  The sign up process for New Student Orientation opened on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 for students admitted for the Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 semesters.

• How can I sign up for an orientation session?

  You may view online information about NSO and sign up through the TXST Admissions portal

• Is there an orientation program for parents and families?

  Yes – families and guests are encouraged to attend orientation alongside their student; however, it is not required. Please visit our Family and Guest NSO webpage to learn more about our in-person orientation, options for overnight accommodations, and the guest fee associated with attendance

• Can families and guests sign up for overnight on-campus housing accommodations during NSO?

  Yes - on-campus housing accommodations are available for an additional fee for families and guests participating in a two-day orientation session. Please visit our Family and Guest NSO webpage to sign up for on-campus accommodations.

  For hotel accommodations and information on the city of San Marcos, please visit the San Marcos Convention and Visitor Bureau website. 

• How do I request special accommodations for my NSO experience?

  If you require accommodations due a disability in order to participate, please complete the “Request Accommodations” form at least 72 hours in advance of your NSO date:
  https://nsfe.txst.edu/new-student-orientation.html

NSO Fees and Payment Information

• Are students charged a fee for New Student Orientation?

  Yes - a New Student Orientation fee is charged for each student depending on the type of NSO session in which they participate.

  The orientation fee is due at the time of signing up for NSO.  Students who do not complete payment will be provided a seven-day window of time to provide payment for the student NSO fee.  Students who do not provide payment within the seven-day window will be dropped from the New Student Orientation (NSO) session they were signed up to attend. To continue with enrollment at Texas State, students must then log in to the TXST Admissions Status Portal to sign up for NSO again and pay the fee.

• Are orientation fees refundable?

  All orientation fees for both students and family and guests are non-refundable, as financial expenditures are accrued during the process of planning for and facilitating the orientation experience.

• Do you offer a fee waiver for orientation?

  TXST does not offer fee waivers for orientation, however, students may be eligible for a fee deferment. A fee deferment will add the orientation fee to a student’s tuition and fee bill instead of requiring students to pay before registering for orientation. This allows students to pay for orientation once they receive their financial aid package by the tuition and fee bill deadline.

  If students are eligible for a fee deferment, the orientation registration system will automatically defer payment to the student’s first semester of enrollment.

  Payment is due by the tuition and fee bill deadline. Any student who attends orientation will be required to pay the orientation fee. Financial aid can only be used to pay certain charges and may not cover the orientation fee. Additionally, the orientation fee payment is still required if the student does not enroll in the University after attending orientation. If payment is not made, a financial delinquency hold will be placed on the student’s account.

• Do I have to pay my tuition bill at my orientation session?

  No, you do not need to pay your tuition during orientation. You can visit TXST One Stop to review important billing and payment dates.

• Why are participants charged a fee to attend New Student Orientation?

  New Student Orientation fees support program-related expenses such as meals, student overnight accommodations, facility rentals, student staffing costs, and other program-related materials and supplies.

Preparing for NSO

• How long does Orientation last?

  One-day sessions are expected to generally run from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

  Two-day sessions for students will generally run from 8:00am to 10:00pm on Day One. Students will spend the night in an on-campus residence hall, and Day Two will generally end by 5:00pm.

  Two-day sessions for families and guests will generally end by 6:00pm on Day One, with an 8:00am - 5:00pm timeframe on Day Two.

  End times are approximate. Individuals' actual end times will vary on their specific experience and orientation needs.

• Will students spend the night on campus at NSO?

  During a two-day NSO session, students are required to spend the night in an on-campus residence hall, and overnight accommodations are provided.  Students are instructed to bring bedding, pillows, toiletries, etc. to plan for this experience.

  On-campus accommodations will not be provided to students attending a one-day session.

• Will students and families remain together throughout the NSO experience?

  Students and families and guests will attend portions of the NSO program together, while other sessions will be specific to family members and some will be designated for students only.

  NSO is designed to address the needs of family members and students, and the best content delivery methods for that content sometimes vary. We value the positive impact of family in the onboarding process and have designed an experience that will provide family members with thorough information and plenty of time with their students, but also time for students to explore college independence and gain a sense of confidence about starting at Texas State.

• Will I speak with campus representatives about my specific questions at NSO?

  Yes, department representatives will present information at NSO in a variety of formats and there will be opportunities for students and families to ask questions. We encourage everyone to seek out the information they need while they are on campus at NSO.

• Will students and guests be walking much during NSO?

  Yes. NSO requires participants to walk during portions of the program. Due to the TXST campus' hills, stairs, and warm climate, we encourage everyone to dress for warm weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Don’t forget your umbrella/rain coat - the orientation program will continue rain or shine. 

  During a two-day experience, students and guests are largely indoors during Day One. However, there is more walking outside typically on Day Two.

• Can I request to stay with a specific roommate at NSO?

  If a student wishes to be assigned to a residence hall room at NSO with another specific student attending the same NSO session, the students should check-in at the same time.  However, this is not guaranteed and may not be possible for a variety of reasons.

• If I attend New Student Orientation can I also attend Cat Camp?

  Students are encouraged to participate in Cat Camp. Cat Camp is Texas State's optional extended orientation camp designed to assist students with their transition into the Texas State University community.  Please note this is not a substitute or replacement for New Student Orientation.

  Students attending NSO sessions on July 10-11 or July 17-18 may transition from NSO directly into TXST’s Cat Camp once their NSO experience has concluded. All other students may register to attend either Cat Camp session.  Please note students must register separately to participate in Cat Camp. 

If you did not find the answer to your question, please send an email to nso@txstate.edu and include your student ID number.