Bearcats
Orientation

Access the Bearcat Portal to register for your Orientation. The Bearcat Portal is your personalized enrollment hub where you can track and complete important tasks, such as applying for housing and viewing financial aid. We encourage you to register for your on-campus, in-person Orientation as soon as possible, to reserve your preferred date and time.

When you register for Orientation, you will also need to complete a few tasks that will help get you in the right classes in your first semester. Tasks vary depending on your student record, but examples include:

• Completing your Pre-Enrollment Questionnaire
• Completing your Placement Self-Assessment 
• Reviewing additional Placement Testing

Once you’ve registered for Orientation, make sure you check the Bearcat Portal frequently prior to your in-person Orientation date for additional important tasks, such as uploading a photo for your student ID and confirming your financial aid.

All Orientation activities are covered by the New Student Fee which is applied directly to your first semester bill. In addition to Orientation, the New Student Fee covers various first-year programming initiatives, including central advising support and services plus transfer and test credit evaluation and processing.

We offer a supplemental Pre-Orientation session for students who may not be able to make their in-person Orientation until later in the summer, for example out-of-state and most international students.

Pre-Orientation sessions are held virtually in late spring and early summer and cover important pre-enrollment information otherwise only provided in your in-person Orientation session. Attending a Pre-Orientation session will ensure you get all the information you need to make informed decisions about your enrollment without having to wait. Please note, however, that Pre-Orientation does not replace your in-person Orientation.

Check your Tasks list in your Bearcat Portal to see if you are eligible for a Pre-Orientation session. 

Orientations usually run from late May to mid-July. The following schedule is an example of what in-person orientation typically looks like. You will be able to access your actual schedule in the Bearcats Bound Orientation app closer to your Orientation date.

Parking and lunch are complimentary during in-person Orientation. You will receive more information about check-in, parking, and other day-of logistics closer to your in-person Orientation date, so make sure you check your UC email.

Families and guests are welcome to attend your in-person Orientation at no extra charge. In fact, we have special sessions just for families that cover various aspects of you going to college, such as safety, health, financing college, residence hall living, and an introduction to our UC Parent & Family Programs. During these sessions you may be attending student-specific programming, so although the in-person Orientation is a family event, there will be times during the day when you will be attending separate activities. Make sure you include any guests or family members when you register for your in-person orientation.

The Bearcats Bound Orientation app is your go-to guide for BBO and a companion to getting acclimated to campus. We encourage you to download and explore the app before attending in-person Orientation. Printed programs will be provided when you check in, however, the BBO app will contain any last-minute program updates, such as parking and check-in.

If you have changed your major before attending your in-person Orientation date, you should reach out to your Student Orientation Assistant (SOA) once you have been notified that the change process has been completed. Your SOA will check if you should keep your in-person Orientation date or change it, depending on your new major.

If you have changed your major after attending an in-person Orientation session, please contact your academic advisor for your new major for next steps.

If you, a family member, or a guest need accommodations for a disability during in-person Orientation, please contact us at orientation@uc.edu as soon as possible prior to coming to campus.

If you need an interpreter, please let us know at least 48 hours in advance to ensure we can accommodate your request.

Sensory Overload: Some activities during in-person Orientation may be intense for people with sensory sensitivity (e.g., loud noises). If you or a guest need a quiet place to retreat for a moment, our Student Orientation Leaders can assist.

We look forward to welcoming our international first-year Bearcats at BBO. Visit Admissions' website to ensure you complete all pre-arrival tasks before attending an in-person Orientation. To accommodate your travel arrangements, we reserve in-person Orientation dates for international students closer to the start of the fall semester. If you are in the U.S. and wish to attend an in-person Orientation earlier in the summer, please contact your Student Orientation Assistant, but note that you must still complete all pre-arrival tasks before attending.