Orientation will help you achieve success at VCU. It is your time to connect with other new students, experience campus, and learn more about your academic college/school and the resources available to you. For transfer students, it’s important to know how things run here at VCU and to understand the VCU processes and policies that may differ from your previous school.

 Yes - all new students are required to complete all aspects of Orientation. Your attendance at Orientation and completion of the Ram Ready modules is recorded.

 You can log back into your Orientation account up to one week prior to your scheduled session to change your Orientation date or add a guest. If it is within one week of your Orientation session, please call our office (804.828.3700) or email us with your full name and V-number and we will assist you.

These modules are designed to supplement your Orientation session and support your successful transition to VCU. They will provide foundational knowledge that we will build upon at your Orientation session and will also prepare you for the course registration process. You should complete the modules BEFORE participating in Orientation.

Typically, students will begin registering for courses and schedule their advising appointments before attending Orientation. Academic advising is not formally part of the Orientation schedule. Refer to your accepted student checklist for more information on when course registrations opens and how to make your academic advising appointment.

If you would like to change your major prior to the start of Orientation, you can request a change of major by emailing admproc@vcu.edu at least two weeks in advance of your Orientation date to ensure you are in the correct session. If changing your major results in a change of your college/school, you may need to select a new Orientation session. If your new major is within the same college or school (e.g. within the College of Humanities and Sciences, etc.) then this will not impact your Orientation session. 

If you need special accommodations during Orientation due to a permanent or temporary disability, please indicate this when filling out your Orientation registration questionnaire. A staff member from our team will reach out to you if we need additional information about your request. You may also email us at newrams@vcu.edu - please be sure to include your full name and V number. 

Military Student Services will present a required Military Benefits Briefing session during all live Orientation sessions to help you learn about how to utilize your military benefits. We also work with Military Student Services to provide additional content in the Ram Ready Orientation Modules to give you more information about utilizing your military benefits and how to connect to other service members and their families.

Yes - in order to receive an on-campus housing assignment, students must be registered for Orientation. This means that you must be registered for an Orientation session before Residential Life and Housing will assign you to a space. For more details on when housing assignments begin and how applications are processed, visit the Housing application website.

Yes - most students get their VCUCard at Orientation. Students will receive information on how to submit their photo online before attending Orientation and will then be able to pick it up at in-person Orientation sessions. You can visit the VCUCard website to learn more about photo requirements. 

You can defer your application by submitting a reactivation application to the requested deferred term along with speaking with your Application Processor.

You should complete the VCU Enrollment Cancellation Request Form.