Pace University Freshman Orientation Guide: Your Launchpad to Success

Congratulations! You're one step closer to your future at Pace University, a place brimming with career opportunities, a vibrant community, and the unparalleled excitement of New York City. Orientation is a crucial part of the undergraduate admission process, designed to provide you with an introduction to all aspects of the Pace University community to ensure that your transition will be easy, successful, and full of new opportunities. This guide will help you navigate the orientation process and prepare for your first semester.

Welcome to the Pace Community

The Center for Student Engagement is excited to welcome incoming Pace University students. All students accepted into the university are required to attend Orientation. This multifaceted program guides you in adjusting to your new life at Pace and the NYC campus. You'll have the opportunity to stay overnight in the brand new building, 15 Beekman. The orientation offers a fun and educational experience of what your next four years will look like at Pace.

Orientation Programs: In-Person and Virtual

Pace University offers a variety of orientation programs to suit different student needs:

In-Person Sessions: These sessions include info sessions, campus tours, academic advising, interaction with current Pace students/staff, opportunities to meet campus partners/organizations, icebreakers, and a trip to One World Observatory!
Transfer In-Person Sessions: A one-day experience specifically aimed and designed to help Transfer students with their transition to Pace. These sessions help students integrate into their new university environment, understand academic requirements, and make connections with fellow students. Time is taken in these sessions to discuss Transfer Credit Evaluation, Academic Advising, and Registration so that students feel like they are starting at a point best for them.
Virtual Sessions: Virtual orientations have become increasingly common, especially considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These orientations aim to provide the same essential information and support as in-person orientations while utilizing online platforms such as Zoom.
Parent and Family Sessions: A program designed to provide information and support to the families of new students, helping them understand the university environment, resources, and key policies. They discuss all the information given to students, but touch on the parent/guardian side of them.

Registering for Orientation

Once you have received your acceptance packet from Pace University filled with important information and key dates, you will be directed to register for a Summer Orientation date. The Summer Orientation program is required for all new students and will fully prepare you for the Pace experience in the fall semester. If you are still deciding between schools, the Orientation experience will help you understand why Pace is the right choice. Once you are ready, please register for Orientation!

What to Expect During Orientation

You will get to know Orientation Leaders, upper-class students who will guide you through the two-day Orientation experience.

Pre-Arrival Checklist: Preparing for Your First Semester

After your Summer Orientation experience, keep in mind the following information before the fall semester begins:

Accessing Your Schedule: At the end of Orientation you will receive your first semester schedule. This schedule is based on your major, your placement test results, any previous credits you bring into Pace, and the information you selected on your course selection questionnaire. If there are any adjustments to your schedule needed after Orientation, please make sure to contact The FYE Office. Reasons for schedules changes can include: Credit from a college level course or advanced placement course taken in high school or a change in major. Sometimes, you may have a course on your schedule that you didn’t necessarily choose, but fulfills one of our Pace core requirements. We can discuss changing it; however, as we move closer to the fall, availability of courses diminishes and it becomes more challenging to make schedule changes. You can access your Pace schedule through the Pace Portal with your standard Pace login and password. Once in your portal, you can click on the Student tab -> Registration Grades and Tuition -> Student Schedule. Sometimes, classroom assignments or Professors for courses can change or be listed as To Be Determined, so it is recommended you double check your schedule online before the beginning of the semester and confirm your classroom location.
Transcripts and AP Scores: Send any college-level transcripts or Advanced Placement Scores to the Pace Admission Office. Pace can accept college level courses from other institutions. If you have taken a college level class in high school, you will need to have an official transcript from the college associated with that course sent to Pace University. If you send this information prior to the fall semester, the Admission Office at Pace can evaluate the transcript and determine the transfer credit equivalency. Pace accepts a grade of C or higher for college level courses. In order for Pace to review and process these scores and apply them as credit, you will need to send your official AP exam scores to the Admission Office through the College Board. If you do not request these scores be sent to Pace, we will not be able to give you credit for them.
Textbooks: Look into purchasing college textbooks early on. The first step to purchasing textbooks is to understand which books are required for your courses. You can do this online at Pace’s Bookstore by entering the Course Registration Number (CRN) associated with your course, which can be found on your first semester schedule. The price of college textbooks can be an unexpected expense when you first begin college, and can vary greatly in cost. In the course schedule each semester, there are courses that are identified as having textbooks (or other instructional materials) that are free of cost or under $50 for the entire semester “Low-Cost/No-Cost Textbooks.” Students and Advisors can work together to search for these. There are other options to save money on textbooks, as well. Consider buying used books instead of new, but always make sure the used book is the correct edition requested by your Professor. In addition, our college bookstore gives an option to rent most textbooks. Renting books requires you to return them when the semester is over, so you want to make sure to keep them in good condition. You may also want to carefully consider which books you rent, as opposed to buy. However, when buying a textbook online, please account for shipping time and the start of classes.
Roommate Connection: Connect with your roommate if you are residing in the Residence Halls. This will allow you to get to know them prior to your arrival on campus. Sometimes, students begin to coordinate on what each will contribute to the room (i.e., TV, rugs, etc). It is also an opportunity to get a sense of what your roommate’s expectations are, and your own. Remember, this is a good time to examine your social media and make any necessary adjustments if how you represent yourself could be misinterpreted by your new roommate.
Financial Aid: Take care of any financial aid or tuition questions in advance. Taking out loans, parent plus loans, and accepting your financial aid package all include specific steps you need to follow. You must make sure you sign off and accept your package online, as well as understand where and how your financial aid will be applied. The Office of the First-Year Experience encourages you to have these items resolved prior to the semester starting. Work-study is another opportunity you may qualify for, and if offered, it will be part of your financial aid package. However, securing a work-study position is not always guaranteed. You will need to seek out and apply to an on-campus position on your own. It is expected that the money you earn from your work-study position will be used toward cost of attendance.
Accessibility Services: If needed, request accommodations through the Office of Student Accessibility Services.

Navigating Your First Semester

Your first semester at Pace should be exciting and enjoyable, but it may also be scary and overwhelming. You will meet new people from across the country (and the world!). Part of the adjustment process is being accountable for balancing your school work, social life and outside commitments. Moreover, you will learn from Professors who may have different teaching methods than your teachers in high school. The classroom experience and your interactions with Professors will be different, so it is strongly encouraged that you get to know your Professors, visit them during office hours and ask questions.

Key Events and Resources

Convocation: Pace kicks off each semester with our annual Convocation event, which usually takes place the day before classes officially begin.
The First Week: Your first week will be full of new experiences. You will meet your Professors, other first-year students, and get to know your roommate if you are living on campus. It is a lot of change to digest, and it is our goal to help you along the way. The Office of the First-Year Experience is always here for you, but remember to chat with your RA, your Peer Leader or University 101 Instructor for help or additional guidance.
Residence Life: In addition to connecting with your roommate, you will also have access to your Resident Assistant (RA), who will explain everything you need to know about living in the Residence Halls. Your RA will be the point person for all housing related concerns. They are also a great resource for learning about opportunities to get involved and connect with students on your floor and in your building. In addition, your RA will provide information about Residence Life events and how to receive “housing points” for participating in select events, which can be used toward raffles, prizes and more! In addition to connecting with your roommate and utilizing your RA as a resource, you will also have a Residence Director (RD) located in your hall. Your RD can address any major concerns or questions you have and can clarify any housing policies and procedures.

Time Management Strategies

If there is one thing you should do before starting college, it is to think of how you will manage your time successfully. Will you:

Set deadlines?
Put everything in a planner or your smart phone calendar?
Download an app that can help you stay organized?
Use different folders and notebooks for each class?
Set specific times each week for studying and socializing?

These are questions to ask yourself in advance because your first semester will require careful planning. You will also be spending less time in class than you did in high school, and more time doing work outside of class. This approach requires you to be self-aware and accountable for your actions when balancing your social and academic life. You may also be living away from home, which can lead to further distractions. The first six weeks will probably be the hardest adjustment period, but if you can work out a routine and ask for help when needed, you will position yourself for a successful first year ahead.

Tips for the First Six Weeks

Make sure you take care of any schedule changes within the first week.
If you need to drop or withdraw from a class within the first six weeks, you must talk to your Academic Advisor.
Attend Week of Welcome events during the first month. Many are designed for first-year students and you will meet tons of new students and get a lot of free food and goodies!
Think about where and when to take care of your basic needs- such as laundry, going to the gym, running errands, connecting with family and friends back home, and learning how to get around. Commuters should also think about how commuting time and outside commitments will impact academic work.
You should take care of any outstanding financial balances, immunization paperwork, meal plan adjustments, housing concerns, etc.

Navigating Midterms

We use the term “midterms” at Pace for the time about 6 weeks into the semester when most classes start to give exams or major papers are due. There isn’t an official mid-term period, but you can expect to be studying a lot and might feel a bit overwhelmed around that time. While we want you to work hard, study, and take this important time seriously, we don’t want you feeling overly stressed or anxious. By being accountable for your own actions and remaining self-aware, you can help reduce those negative feelings.

Read also: Your Pace Portal: A How-To

During this time, we recommend you take advantage of our Learning Commons. Learning Commons is a free service, which is founded on peers helping peers. In addition, we encourage you to utilize the Library, which has numerous places to study and do homework (a great alternative to your room, which can be distracting!)

Midterms is also an important time to evaluate how you are doing in your courses. If you are receiving grades from papers and exams, it can give you a better sense of where you stand academically and what opportunities you have left to improve or maintain your current grades. Exams, quizzes, papers, class participation and attendance are all considered opportunities for success and improvement.

Registering for Next Semester Courses

Please check out our First Year Advising section that explains the advising and registration procedure for first year students. Please make sure to read it carefully, but always know that you will have help throughout your first year from both your University 101 Advisor and the Office of the First Year Experience.

Staying Healthy: Prioritizing Well-being

Staying healthy, which includes sleeping well, eating well, and getting enough physical and mental rest is very important to your success. As a student at Pace, there are opportunities to get involved, go out and engage in social activities, but there is also a need for balance. In order to stay on track and remain healthy, sleep is critical, - just don’t oversleep for class! It might seem obvious that sleep is important, but sometimes lack of sleep is one of the biggest concerns we see with first year students. Make sure to sleep enough to not get run down during crucial times during the semester (especially midterms and finals) and practice self-care. Lack of sleep can also lead to lingering colds, flu, etc. We know it is not always easy to stick to a sleep schedule and eat healthy all the time in your first semester, but remember, in the end, it can have an impact on your success.

Also, not only is it important to stay physically healthy but it is essential to stay mentally healthy as well. Pace prides itself on having one of the best higher education Counseling Center’s in the nation. We believe having someone to talk to and supporting you during your transition, along with being allowed to express yourself in a supportive environment, is essential to your success.

Read also: A Guide to Pace Tech

Preparing for Finals

As the semester comes to a close, you will be working on papers, projects and studying for final exams. At this point, you should have your next semester schedule set, understand what final work you need to complete, and also begin reflecting and thinking about what your next few years at Pace will look like.

For finals, the Library, Learning Commons and Cafeteria all have extended hours to accommodate your busy schedule. Your first semester will pass in the blink of an eye, so make sure you are keeping up with your work as finals approach. Finals week can be stressful with multiple projects or exams due on the same day, so managing your time, and setting deadlines for yourself will be very important.

The Learning Commons also offers review sessions in various subjects. It is recommended to form study groups with peers as a way to review course material and stay alert. Completing your work is important, but quality and good performance also matter. Feel free to talk to your Peer Leader for further advice and recommendations about how to prepare and manage the stress of finals.

Spring Semester and Grades

As you head back home for winter break, you will have nearly a month before the next semester begins. While you can sign up for a winter session course (see below “Winter Session Courses”), it is also an opportunity for rest and relaxation as you prep for the spring semester. Usually, by the end of the first week of January, most of your final grades are available to view online in Pace portal. Once all grades are in, you will have a cumulative GPA based on a 0-4.0 scale. Maintaining at least a 2.0 is essential at Pace, not only for academic success, but to ensure your financial package (including scholarships) remains intact. This is called “Good Academic Standing”. Reviewing your grades will also allow you to make appropriate adjustments to your schedule for the spring, if in fact there is a course you need to retake or drop.

You can also modify your spring schedule over the winter break. Perhaps there was a course you were hoping to get int…

Additional Opportunities: Global Pathways

Congratulations on your admission to Global Pathways! You have joined Pace University's pathways into your degree. This program will strengthen your English language skills while earning a number of academic credits towards your bachelors or masters. Our program's 98% (2019-2020) matriculation rate shows how meaningful Pathways is to our students' education.

As our hard-working students move through Pace University, their GPA's are some of the highest on campus. In order to secure your place, you will need to make a $3,000 deposit, which will be applied to your tuition balance. Once you've paid your deposit, your academic advisor will register you for classes. You will also receive an updated invoice. To make your tuition deposit, log into your application dashboard and click on the deposit link. These Pathways tuition rates are valid for the 2020-2021 academic year. For more information, please visit our partner's page.

Stay Connected and Get Involved

You will be joining a community of students that hails from over 100 countries, adding to the fantastic community at Pace. Orientation is a packed week with activities that help transition you into your new life in New York City, including:

Getting to know the campus
Becoming familiar with your class schedule
Student life around the city
Maintaining your status as an international student

Below is our monthly Event Calendar, along with events for Pace International! Visit the Pace University Events Calendar! If you’re on campus, don’t forget to check the bulletin boards and homer screens.

We encourage you to join a club or organization at Pace which fits your interests.

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