Q: Do parents or siblings have to pay to attend Orientation Weekend?
A: Unlike most schools, Simpson does not charge for students and parents to attend Orientation Weekend. We are thrilled that you are coming and welcome you as guests of the university. Simpson will provide complimentary dinner for parents and siblings on Friday evening and breakfast on Saturday morning. For those wishing to eat lunch, meals may be purchased at the door for $5.50 a person.

Q: How do I register for orientation?
A: Visit this link to register for orientation.

Q: Why do I need to register if there is no orientation fee?
A: We need to know how many parents and siblings to expect so we can make proper arrangements.

Q: When should parents/family members leave?
A: Saturday after lunch, we respectfully request that parents and family members say goodbye and depart from campus to begin their journey home. Your son or daughter's journey to Simpson has begun and will continue this weekend with many activities that will help them transition to life at Simpson.

Q: When can I check in to my residence hall?
A: New students can begin the check-in process at 9 a.m. on Friday, August 29. Returning students can check in after 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 31. If your student arrives early for athletics, he/she will receive check-in instructions from the athletic department. If you have questions, contact your admissions counselor at 1-888-9-SIMPSON.

Q: Where should I stay during Orientation Weekend?
A: New students can move in and stay at their on-campus residence beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, August 29. Parents are welcome and encouraged to stay at a local hotel. Click here to view a list of local hotels.

Q: What is a FYE group?
A: An FYE group is a small group of 8 to 10 freshman students led by an upperclassman through the First Year Experience class. You will have several opportunities to interact with your group during Orientation Weekend before classes begin. Your assigned FYE Group will be given to you after the Welcome Dinner on Friday.

Q: What is the FYE class?
A: First Year Experience (FYE) class is a 6-week course required for all new students with less than 24 credits on their transcript. The class utilizes lectures from speakers, teachings from professors, and discussion from student leaders (FYE Leaders). A heavy emphasis is placed on using Strengthsquest development from the Gallup® Organization.

Q: What are the placement exams?
A: Students can take placement exams for English, Math, and Spanish on Saturday. These tests are available for students who want to take a course higher than the course that they placed in. Students do not register for them, but show up at the scheduled times.

Q: Can I wait until Orientation Weekend to register for classes?
A: All new students should be registered for their classes prior to their arrival on campus. If this has not been completed, call your admissions counselor at 1-888-9-SIMPSON.

Q: Can I wait until Orientation Weekend to take care of my financial aid?
A: Simpson University has the payment deadline of August 15th as the last day to pay in order to avoid the late fee of $100. If financial aid is not complete before Orientation Weekend, financial aid specialists will be on hand to assist with the financial aid process. However, we strongly recommend completing this ahead of time in order to avoid the stress of long lines.

Q: What if I have questions not found on this page?
A: Please contact your admissions counselor at 1-888-9-SIMPSON with any and all additional questions that you may have regarding the new student orientation process.