NSO Frequently Asked Questions

Please find the below frequently asked questions to help you navigate the process of signing up and preparing for NSO.

Expand FAQ List

  • NSO Sign Up

  • NSO Fees and Payment Information

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

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

  • Preparing for NSO

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

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