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*Pre-enrollment for first-time freshmen ONLY.
Student Permission to Release Education Record Form
This form will release the following information:
(Each option must be approved by the student)
Parental Access to Student Education Records Form
Parents of a dependent student may have access to grades and other confidential academic information under guidelines provided in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Access to this information is limited to parents who claim the student as an exemption on their federal income tax return.
Medical Records Release Form (pdf)
Instructions for completing the Medical Authorization Form (pdf)
You may fax, mail, or personally deliver your completed form to OU Health Services.
Students may authorize another person to pay on their account by completing the following steps:
Click the "Financial" tab
Choose “Add authorized users” from the “Actions” menu on the right
Enter the appropriate email address
Check the “I agree” box
Click “Continue”
Two emails will be sent to the person you have authorized to pay on your account. One with a username, the second with the password. This will happen within seconds. If the authorized user cannot find the email, have them look in their “Junk Mail” folder. They can then log in at Bill Pay.
Click on the PDF below for more detailed instructions.
You can add/update your emergency contacts in one.ou.edu.
New Sooner Orientation (NSO) is a required part of every first-year student’s successful transition to OU. Students will have the opportunity to meet with an academic advisor, enroll in their first semester of courses at OU, and learn more about campus resources and guidelines. Options for NSO are provided both in-person and virtually. Be sure to review your requirements prior to NSO to make for the best possible NSO!
Head to your OU Bound portal and click the link there to take you to our New Sooner Orientation registration page.
Fall freshman admits: Registration for NSO goes live on February 2 for our fall admits. Students must sign up for NSO by June 15.
Spring admits: Registration for spring NSO goes live each October for our spring admits. Students must sign up for NSO by December 1.
No. Please check your OU Bound portal, click on the NSO tab, and scroll down. There, you will be able to see the dates/times still available and if something opens up!
Major change requests can be submitted in a student’s OU Bound portal. As OU is a direct admission institution, meaning the major you applied to OU is the major you were admitted for, our admissions team will review the request and provide a decision back to you within 1-2 business days.
Major change requests must be submitted on or before May 1 for freshmen entering Fall 2025. For transfer students, you are able to submit major change requests after May 1.
You will be able to cancel, reschedule or update your NSO date via your confirmation email or OU Bound portal up to 3 business days prior to your scheduled NSO Day. After that, no changes can be made to your NSO reservation without emailing newsooner@ou.edu. We do ask for a week’s notice. When cancellations happen last minute, we are unable to open those spots for other students. Help out a fellow OU Family member by rescheduling or canceling in advance.
As a reminder, all incoming first-year students must be admitted as full-time students at the University of Oklahoma to be eligible for on-campus housing. To retain your housing assignment, you must be enrolled or registered for New Sooner Orientation and subsequently enrolled for fall 2026. Failure to enroll and maintain enrollment for the 2026-2027 academic year will result in the cancellation of your housing application. If your application is terminated due to non-enrollment, you can request reinstatement upon enrollment. However, please note that your original room assignment may not be available, due to limited inventory.
Please email newsooner@ou.edu and we will work toward a solution.
You can find the summer term change request form in your OU Bound portal. You will hear a decision back in 2 to 3 business days. The deadline to request a summer term is June 1. For questions, please email admissions@ou.edu.
If you are a direct from high school, first time freshman student entering OU in Summer, please reach out to your degree granting college or the Center for Major and Career Exploration to book an advising appointment for Summer courses.
NOTE: As a first time freshmen, you will still be required to attend New Sooner Orientation and book a day to attend NSO in June or July.
If you are a transfer student entering OU in summer, please email newsooner@ou.edu for next steps to be advised for your Summer courses.
If you are admitted to Pathways to Price, Summer Bridge, or Start Sooner you will need to be term changed from Fall to Summer, have an advising appointment schedule for your summer classes, and sign up for New Sooner Orientation. Please follow up directly with your program's coordinator or director for more information.
F-1 visa students must complete the Mandatory Internet Orientation (MIO) for international students on Canvas before arriving to campus for move-in. MIO covers information about your visa status in the US, OU resources, and transportation from the airport to campus. You will receive an email from OU’s International Student Services (to your OU email address) in July with instructions to access MIO.
Additionally, NISO Connection is a required in-person orientation designed to help you succeed in your transition to life at the University of Oklahoma. This will take place in early August once you arrive to campus and move in for the fall semester.
You can access details about MIO and NISO Connection and get more information on the OU ISS website.
During your New Sooner Orientation, campus tours are not a part of the schedule. If you would like to register for a campus tour, before or after your NSO day, please visit tour.ou.edu. If you are unable to attend a scheduled campus tour, feel free to explore campus on your own. You can stop by the Office of Admissions and Recruitment to pick up a self-guided tour brochure or view this webpage on your mobile device.
Once you have 24 or more semester hours earned after graduating from high school, you aren't required to live on campus. Off-campus housing options can be found here.
Please note all of your next steps and requirements before NSO are in your OU Bound portal.
Transfers
Keep your NSO date scheduled! Send your final high school transcript as soon as possible.
We will cancel your registration and you will be asked to reschedule your assessments and NSO Day.
You will need to reassess again if you wish to be placed in a higher or different math course. Additionally, you will need to take the practice modules for the math placement test before you can take it again. For more information on assessments, visit the Academic Success Center website.
If you took concurrent or other courses for college credit while in high school, your assessment requirements may be adjusted. Please submit the official transcript by requesting that the institution where you took the course send an official electronic transcript to oardocuments@ou.edu on your behalf or you can drop off a sealed official copy to:
Office of Admissions & Recruitment
550 Parrington Oval
Norman, OK 73019
If you have specific questions about transferring credit to OU, please call 405-325-0514 or email te@ou.edu. Once your transcript has been received, revision of your assessment needs may be completed.
Please check your OU email. Confirmation for your assessments is provided in your OU email.
No worries — you’ll have more than one chance!
If you don’t meet the required score on your first attempt:
Between each attempt, you’ll complete required tutoring to help you feel confident and prepared for success! If you have any questions, please reach out to the Assessment Center at assess@ou.edu
For Spring Transfer ONLY Dates: NSO attendees should expect to spend 4 hours with us, either on campus or via Zoom for their session. Find the exact times for the session you are registered for or check out our Day of Schedule page here.
For June and July NSO Dates: Check in begins at 7:30 a.m. and runs until 8:30 a.m., and the day concludes at 4:00 p.m. Directly following your sendoff, you and your family will have the opportunity to join us for an optional Housing Tour, visit to our Student Financial Center, or visit Veteran Student Services. This optional programming will end at 4:30 p.m. Check out our Day of Schedule page here.
Students and their supporters should plan for the entire day as it is required and book travel accordingly.
For parking information, please check below under Hotels, Parking and Accessibility.
For Spring Transfer ONLY Dates: The Jones Family Welcome Center, 550 Parrington Oval
For June and July NSO Dates: Check In will be held in one of two locations
Your check in location can be found in your OU Bound portal as well as your NSO confirmation email.
Our team will be stationed in the Oklahoma Memorial Union every day of New Sooner Orientation.
If you are more than an hour and a half late, you may have to reschedule your New Sooner Orientation Day.
Yes! You will be meeting with your academic college’s advisor during the “Academic College Session” portion of your day. They will advise, review any transfer, dual, or concurrent coursework that has been completed, answer questions, assist you with enrollment and get you on track to graduate from OU. Additionally, you will meet other students being advised that day, get tours of the space(s) and connect with your academic college’s brand/events upcoming!
Students will not be able to see specific rooms they selected.
For June and July NSO Dates: Directly following stadium sendoff, you and your family will have the opportunity to join us for an optional housing tour or visit to our Student Financial Center. This programming will end at 4:30 p.m. No registration is required.
Dimensions for rooms and specifics can be found on the Housing and Food website.
For Spring Transfer ONLY Dates: No. Lunch will not be provided on this day.
For June and July NSO Dates: Yes! During registration, you will receive $2 off any item at the Oklahoma Memorial Union Starbucks. Additionally, each student and their 2-guest maximum will receive a free lunch.
On your registration for in person NSO, you must register for the free lunch.
Lunch: Taco/Nacho Bar, Tea/Water, and Cookies.
Yes! We encourage you to bring your parents, legal guardians or supporters. Please note, each student is allotted 2 guests max.
During your “Academic College Session” the supporter(s) you bring will attend “Supporter Orientation” with Parent & Family Programs, OU Alumni, and Admission & Recruitment.
If you would like to tour before your NSO date, you can register at tour.ou.edu.
If you are not able to tour before your NSO experience, don't worry! You will be up to speed on everything OU by the end of your NSO experience.
Anyone on OU’s campus can opt into emergency alerts by texting “OUSooner” to 67283. Should inclement weather present itself, NSO will keep families informed of cancellations or shelter to be taken.
For Spring Transfer ONLY Dates: Any and all transfer students admitted for Fall or Summer 2026
For June and July NSO Dates: We require that students live 50 miles or more away from the University of Oklahoma. This allows for those who are distant and cannot make the drive/flight to Norman in the summer months of NSO.
After registering for NSO, you will receive emails from "OU New Sooner Orientation" that include Zoom links, what to prepare for and more. Please click on the first zoom link listed for the day and login at your designated time.
Yes! You will be meeting with your academic college’s advisor during the “Academic College Session” portion of your day. They will advise, review transfer coursework, answer questions, assist you with enrollment, and get you on track to graduate from OU. Additionally, you will meet other students being advised that day, and connect with your academic college’s brand/events upcoming!
Yes! We encourage you to bring your parents, legal guardians or supporters.
During your “Academic College Session”, the supporter(s) you bring will attend “Supporter Orientation” with Parent & Family Programs, OU Alumni and Admission & Recruitment.
Academic advising is a collaborative process that helps students understand their degree requirements and plan their course schedule. During advising, students meet with an academic advisor from their Degree Granting College who can answer questions, review goals, and help select classes that keep students on track toward graduation
OU’s Academic Advising philosophy focuses on holistic advising and reflects the NACADA Academic Advising Core Competencies Model which includes the following competencies: Caring, Commitment, Empowerment, Inclusivity, Integrity, Professionalism, and Respect.
During a student's scheduled academic advising appointment, the student will meet with the Academic Advisor only. Supporters will be provided with a Supporter Orientation at this time. We believe strongly that when we empower the student to take those steps, ask questions, and sit in the driver seat of their education, they are more likely to be retained and bought into this journey.
The role of the academic advisor is to help guide and collaborate with the student to identify the most efficient way to complete their education journey. The academic advisor will take into account concurrent/dual enrollment credits, AP/IB/CLEP credits, and more as they help tailor a schedule for the student. It’s important that the student has consistent communication with their assigned Academic Advisor and informs them along the way of any changes, thoughts of studying abroad, etc.
While that is our goal, all advisors within the degree granting colleges have extensive knowledge of the degree programs specific to that college. All students will receive quality academic advising services regardless of who might be advising them in subsequent semesters of their degree granting college.
After your initial advising during your NSO day, you will meet with an academic advisor each semester you are enrolled at OU, during your assigned enrollment window.
Orientation Holds “OH” will be removed on your NSO date for enrollment purposes.
The OU system automatically places an advising hold on all active student accounts. Once you were admitted to the University of Oklahoma, your account became active, which is why you are seeing this hold. Advising holds are in place to ensure that students meet with an academic advisor before enrolling in classes for a given semester. You will meet with your advisor for the first time during your New Sooner Orientation, and at that time, your advisor will remove your Fall 2026 advising hold so you can enroll in courses. For future semesters, an advising hold will be placed again and removed once you meet with your advisor.
If you’re not sure what you want to study, don’t worry! Your academic advisor in the Center for Career and Major Exploration will help you pre-enroll in courses that will benefit you regardless of the degree you select in the future. During your New Sooner Orientation Day, your academic advisor will help you explore all of the 170 majors we offer at OU.
The Center for Major and Career Exploration is a great resource for students still exploring OU majors too. Major Exploration Coaches can help you discover your options and decide on an academic major that is perfect for you. They offer career assessments, worksheets for identifying interests, and help students identify which majors can lead to specific careers.
You can also check out OU’s MyMajors assessment at ou.mymajors.com. This assessment takes into account a student's interests, strengths, and passions and provides a list of best-fit majors to choose from at OU.
You will meet with your primary major’s academic advisor.
When you meet with your academic advisor during your New Sooner Orientation Day, you can mention that you’d like to add an additional major and/or minor. Depending on the program and your academic college, your advisor can help you with your next steps.
Major change requests can be submitted in a student’s OU Bound portal. As OU is a direct admission institution, meaning the major you applied to OU is the major you were admitted for, our admissions team will review the request and provide a decision back to you within 1-2 business days.
Major change requests must be submitted on or before May 1 for freshmen entering Fall 2026. For transfer students, you are able to submit major change requests after May 1.
If you have any questions surrounding the class schedule you created during your New Sooner Orientation remember to reach out to your Academic Advisor from NSO. If you're curious as to course types/listings provided by OU, please refer to the NSO Enrollment FAQ. If you have AP/IB/CLEP credit you are waiting on, please ensure you have those scores ready to send to OU by July.
Freshmen: Any changes you would like to make to your class schedule after your NSO day, you can do so beginning Friday, July 24, 2026. At that point, you are free to discuss any changes with your academic advisor from NSO.
The requirement to complete assigned assessment(s) is/are based on a myriad of factors as outlined by the OU Assessment Center. For any questions surrounding assessments or "the why?", please refer to ou.edu/academicsuccess/departments-and-programs/assessment.
Please refer to the Assessment Center Website.
Students who have previously studied a language are required to take a placement test. This test establishes the student’s reading and writing competency level in the language. It also ensures that the student is placed in the most appropriate course for their skill level.
The results of the placement test may satisfy some or all of the language requirement for your degree however, it does not provide academic credit. Please speak with your advisor to make the final decision about which course is right for you.
For students pursuing French, German, Spanish, Italian, or Russian, a placement test may be taken online by scheduling through iAdvise. This test should only take 30-40 minutes.
For Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Hebrew, or Portuguese, please contact advising liaison Bryan Allwine, Bryan.Allwine-1@ou.edu with modlang@ou.edu cc'd.
Before meeting with your academic advisor, using your New Sooner Orientation registration, you will be pre-enrolled in two to three classes based on your degree requirements, AP/IB/CLEP scores, your ACT/ SAT scores (if available), any completed OU assessments, and/or any previous dual or concurrent enrollment credits earned. No matter the date of your New Sooner Orientation Day, your academic college will pre-enroll you in courses that are foundational to your degree.
When you schedule your New Sooner Orientation (NSO) Day, you will choose a date over the summer to meet with your academic advisor and provide academic information that will be used for your pre-enrollment*. During your NSO, you and your academic advisor will work together to choose and finalize your class schedule, giving you the autonomy to pick your fall classes. This personalized advising means you will start your educational journey at OU on the right path.
You’ll have the opportunity to discuss your class options and make any needed adjustments to your pre-enrolled classes during your New Sooner Orientation Day.
Pre-enrollment is only for your first semester at OU. For subsequent semesters, you will work with your academic advisor to select all your courses.
*Pre-enrollment for first-time freshmen ONLY.
Pre-enrollment is for first-time freshmen ONLY.
Your academic college will assign your pre-enrolled courses based on the information you provide when scheduling your New Sooner Orientation Day. Your curated pre-enrolled courses are designed to help you find the most success in your first semester at OU.
Additionally, our pre-enrollment* structure ensures that an ample amount of courses and sections are available to all incoming freshmen that need these courses their first semester to matriculate to spring semester or need them to be able to take a specific course in the spring through their college.
Plus, pre-enrollment ensures you stay on track to graduate and are ready to start your academic journey at OU in the fall. Remember, pre-enrollment is only for your first semester at OU.
*Pre-enrollment for first-time freshmen ONLY.
Yes! We encourage you to bring your parents, legal guardians or supporters.
During your “College Session” the supporter(s) you bring will attend “Supporter Orientation” with Parent & Family Programs, OU Alumni, and Admission & Recruitment.
Unfortunately, with the nature of space and getting this next class advised/enrolled throughout the summer, we do have capacities set at two guests maximum in NSO programming. But, if you have more than two guests attending with you, there are lots of things to do on OU’s campus, Campus Corner, and the City of Norman:
Take a self guided tour
Visit the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
Visit the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History
Check out our Norman Visitor Center for more things to do.
Supporters in attendance will attend a “Supporter Orientation.” They will hear from OU Alumni, Parent & Family Programs, Goddard Health, Safety, and other key resource office administrators.
These groups play a large role in the student’s success during their tenure at OU. We want guests to learn about resources, meet fellow supporters, and engage with the OU Family.
Guests will be with their students for the entirety of the day except the College Session. That is for the student and the academic advisor only.
Spring Transfer Dates: NSO attendees should expect to spend 4 hours with us, either on campus or via Zoom for their session. To find the exact times for the session you are registered for or interested in check out our Day of Schedule page here.
June & July In Person NSO Dates: Check in begins at 7:30 a.m. and runs until 8:30 a.m, and the day concludes at 4:00 p.m. Directly following your sendoff, you and your family will have the opportunity to join us for an optional Housing Tour, visit to our Student Financial Center, or visit Veteran Student Services. This optional programming will end at 4:30 p.m.
Students and their supporters should plan for the entire day as it is required and book travel accordingly.
No, we’re glad you’re here!
For Spring Transfer Dates: No. Lunch will not be provided on this day since NSO programming is limited to a half day AM or PM session.
For June & July NSO Dates: Yes! During registration, you will receive $2 off any item at the Oklahoma Memorial Union Starbucks. Additionally, each student and their 2-guest maximum will receive a free lunch.
On your registration for in person NSO, you must register for the free lunch.
Yes! Each student and supporter(s) will have a session they will be in together with our MoneyCoaches, Financial Aid administrators, and scholarship office. We will walk through one.ou.edu, granting access to supporters to see financial records, and review OU's Financial Success Plan. On this day, there will not be 1:1 appointments available. However, when NSO sessions conclude, students and their supporters are welcome to visit the Student Financial Center for any questions they weren’t able to get answered during the billing and payment session.
You can add your parent or legal guardian as a proxy in the Proxy Management system to grant direct access to information including your enrollment, grades, weekly schedule, and major(s). Alternately, you can complete the Permission to Release Education Record Information form to allow OU to discuss your records with them.
Yes! For more information about our VSS office, hours, and what support they can provide, please visit ou.edu/veterans.
During NSO, the VSS office will be available at the resource fair (Spring transfer NSO dates), lunch, and after Stadium Sendoff (June and July dates).
The University of Oklahoma is a federally approved institution for students to use VA education benefits. To check which OU programs are approved by the VA, visit the VA WEAMS website. Please note that each OU campus has separate VA program approvals and dedicated veteran services staff to assist you with using your benefits.
Currently, the OU School of Aviation’s Professional Pilot – Helicopter program is not approved for VA educational benefits. Before approval can be granted, the Oklahoma State Approving Agency must first review and approve Semper Fly Helicopter as an instructional provider. Afterward, the Department of Veterans Affairs must approve OU for VA educational benefits for this program. This approval process may not be completed until Fall 2026 or later.
For help in finding an orientation date that works around your training schedule, please email newsooner@ou.edu. Our team will work with you to explore available options and help you identify a session that best fits your circumstances.
That depends on when you need to attend that training. To work through your situation, please reach out to Sarah Shipman, with Admissions & Recruitment, at shipman@ou.edu.
The City of Norman offers several lodging options close to the OU campus. You can explore options by visiting their website visitnorman.com.
If you are flying to Norman, a good arrival time to stick to on the day of your NSO is between 7:45 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. CT at the latest. For some, that might mean staying in Norman/OKC the night before. This ensures that you get parked, snag your coffee/tea/water, attend the Study Abroad Session and meet with your small group for the day.
Keep in mind the day ends at 4:00 p.m. CT. The optional programming ends at 4:30 p.m. CT.
It typically takes 30-45 minutes to get to Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City from Norman.
If you are driving to Norman, a good arrival time to stick to on the day of your NSO is between 7:45 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. CT at the latest. For some, that might mean staying in Norman/OKC the night before. This ensures that you get parked, snag your coffee/tea/water, attend the Study Abroad Session and meet with your small group for the day.
Keep in mind the day ends at 4:00 p.m. CT. The optional programming ends at 4:30 p.m. CT.
Please park at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Football Stadium/Asp Ave Parking Facility. A parking pass will be provided to you in your OU Bound portal. Print that off and place on the front dash of your window.
Parking permits for the 2026-2027 school year will go on sale in mid-July. More details will be sent to a students OU email address. You must have your Sooner ID photo imported through OU Bound to be able to buy a parking permit.
Please email newsooner@ou.edu or ensure that you have listed the requested accommodations in your NSO registration.
You will need to register with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center and ensure that you have appropriate paperwork on hand for your application. You can find the registration process at ou.edu/adrc.
