Orientation 

Orientation is your first step in successfully transitioning to TCU.  During orientation, you will have the chance to meet with faculty and staff from your respective college or school, new classmates, and current students. Orientation is a time for you to learn about campus resources and receive academic advising in preparation for registering for classes and the basics of academic life at TCU.

All new undergraduate students are required to attend an orientation session. 

If you have any questions, visit our FAQ page, email orientation@tcu.edu, or call (817) 257-7855.
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New Frog Guide

Spring Orientation

Spring orientation is for all incoming first-year and transfer students beginning classes at TCU in January 2026. Orientation is required for all incoming students.

January 8th, 2026

Registration for Spring Orientation will open on November 5, 2025, at 11:00 am am Central Time.

Schedule: 2026 Spring Orientation Schedule

All incoming first-year and transfer students must complete the following three steps after accepting their offer of admission to TCU.
Students starting in spring 2026

1. Register for Orientation – registration will open November 5th, 2025, in the MyTCU portal under the Admitted Student Tile.
2. Complete Pre-Orientation Modules – launches November 19th, 2025.
3. Prepare for orientation by reviewing the information in the tabs below.

Download the Guidebook (instructions below) for your session’s most accurate schedule, including locations. Throughout Orientation, staff will guide you to each location on campus.

  • Open your app store
  • Search for Guidebook and download the app
  • Search for the TCU New Student & Family Programs Guide
  • Download the guide for the Orientation schedule!

 

Orientation is your first step in successfully transitioning to TCU.  During orientation, you will have the chance to meet with faculty and staff from your respective college or school, new classmates, and current students. Orientation is a time for you to learn about campus resources and receive academic advising in preparation for registering for classes and the basics of academic life at TCU.

Summer 2026 Dates

Registration for 2026 summer orientation will open in late March 2026.

 

May 26-27
May 28-29
June 1-2
June 4-5
June 8-9
June 11-12
June 15-16
June 17-18
June 25-26
June 29-30
July 1-2
July 6-7

First-year is a two-day, overnight experience for new first-year students. All Students are required to stay overnight in the orientation residence hall.

View a comprehensive calendar of Orientation AND Frog Camp Dates! It’s possible to maximize your visit to Fort Worth by attending a Frog Camp that leads into an Orientation or an Orientation that leads into Frog Camp!
For example, attend Frog Camp Challenge A that leads into Orientation Session 4.  Or attend Orientation Session 9 that leads into Frog Camp Casa Nueva C. Note, you cannot overlap Orientation or Frog Camp days due to conflicting schedules; the registration system will automatically negate options that conflict.

Example of Schedule
First-Year Schedule

Download the Guidebook (instructions below) for your session’s most accurate schedule, including locations. Throughout Orientation, staff will guide you to each location on campus.

  • Open your app store
  • Search for Guidebook and download the app
  • Search for the TCU New Student & Family Programs Guide
  • Download the guide for the Orientation schedule!

 

Transfer Orientation is designed specifically for those students who have previous college experience. Making new friends, asking questions of the  Orientation Leaders, and learning how things work at TCU will help make your transition much easier. Transfer orientation is a required one-day experience for incoming transfer students.

Summer 2026 Dates

  • May 22
  • June 24
  • August 18

Registration for 2026 summer orientation will open in late March 2026


It’s possible to maximize your visit to Fort Worth by attending a Frog Camp that leads into an Orientation or an Orientation that leads into Frog Camp! F

Example of Schedule
Transfer Schedule

Download the Guidebook (instructions below) for your session’s most accurate schedule, including locations. Throughout Orientation, staff will guide you to each location on campus.

  • Open your app store
  • Search for Guidebook and download the app
  • Search for the TCU New Student & Family Programs Guide
  • Download the guide for the Orientation schedule!

Parent & Family Orientation is a special program that runs concurrently with the student orientation program. The program is optional but highly encouraged. Through this program, parents can learn about the many offices, services, and academic programs TCU offers. While you and your student will have separate itineraries, you will be together several times throughout the experience.

Summer 2026

Registration for 2026 Parent & Family Orientation will be available Spring 2026. Registration for Parent & Family Orientation is part of the student orientation registration process. These sessions are in-person orientations held on- campus. Students can bring two family members/guests with them to Orientation.

Spring Semester 2026

International students will attend an Orientation session in January just before classes begin. This eliminates the need for international students to travel more than once to campus.

In addition to attend TCU Orientation, international students will participate in an additional orientation workshop hosted by International Student Services. More information about services for international students found here.

Step-By-Step Overview

All incoming first-year and transfer students will complete the following 3 steps once they accept their offer of admission to TCU. Click across the tabs to learn more about each step!
Students starting in fall of 2026

1. Register for Orientation - registration will open March 2026 in the MyTCU portal under the Admitted Student Tile.
2. Complete Pre-Orientation Modules - launches April 2026
3. Prepare for orientation by reviewing information in the below tabs.

Before Orientation Checklist

  • Complete your Pre-Orientation Modules before attending. The goal of Pre Orientation Modules is to provide you with valuable information about University resources and services, and about your college of enrollment. You may complete these at your own pace, however, they must be completed prior to Orientation. A hold is placed on your account, preventing you from registering for courses, until the pre-orientation modules are completed. To access the Pre-Orientation Modules, log into myTCU, select the Admitted Student Task tile, then select Pre-Orientation Modules.
  • Submit health history and vaccination records on the TCU Student Health Portal. Students have a hold on their account and cannot register for courses until these records are received.
  • Set up your TCU email on whatever device you check most regularly! All official university communication and orientation information will be sent to this address.

Summer 2025 First-Year Orientation Packing List:

    • Casual Attire
    • Comfortable walking shoes
    • Backpack with pen/pencil and notebook
    • Refillable water bottled & snacks (water filling stations will be available on-campus; while meals are provided you may want extra snacks or beverages for your stay)
    • Rain gear in the event of inclement weather (umbrella, raincoat, rain boots, etc.)
    • Jacket (while the Texas summer weather is hot, some of the rooms may be cold)
    • Toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothbrush/toothpaste, etc.)
    • Laptop or tablet for course registration (we have some on campus if you don’t have one to bring with you)

Standard guest bedding and towels are provided for all students and guests who stay on campus. 

Summer 2025 Transfer Student Packing List:

    • Casual Attire
    • Comfortable walking shoes
    • Backpack with pen/pencil and notebook
    • Refillable water bottled & snacks (water filling stations will be available on-campus; while meals are provided you may want extra snacks or beverages for your stay)
    • Laptop or tablet for course registration (we have some on campus if you don’t have one to bring with you)

Overnight Accommodations

Summer 2025

An important part of the orientation experience is getting to stay the night in one of our campus residence halls!
All first-year Orientation participants are required to stay the night in the orientation residence hall during their scheduled session. Students will be assigned a roommate for their on-campus stay. We are unable to accommodate roommate requests for orientation.

Guests may opt into staying on campus in Residence Hall as well. Standard guest bedding and towels are provided for all students and guests who stay on campus. 

Students with consecutive Frog Camp & Orientation sessions will have the option to remain in accommodations on campus between programs. View the Comprehensive Orientation & Frog Camp Calendar to see what sessions that would allow this option.

Unfortunately, TCU cannot provide additional housing accommodations outside of these situations. If you are arriving  prior to your session or staying additional nights after your session late, please make your own accommodation reservations off campus at a local hotel.

Overnight accommodation are not available for transfer students. Transfer orientation is a one day session.

January 2025 Orientation 

We do not provide any overnight accommodations during Spring Orientation as it is a one day session.

Mobility Accommodations

If you have a short-term disability (i.e. broken leg) and would have difficulty traveling long distances during Orientation, please contact New Student & Family Programs office at orientation@tcu.edu

Dietary Accommodations

You will indicate your dietary accommodation specifically for orientation on your registration form. If you have a change to your needs, please email orientation@tcu.edu 

Disability Services

If you have a disability or health condition, or suspect you have one, and would like to have a confidential discussion about accommodations during your time at TCU, please contact Student Access & Accommodations at 817-257-5358 or studentaccommodation@tcu.edu as soon as possible. Some accommodations may take time to arrange.

Whether you are driving to campus or arriving via public transit, you can find your way to Orientation using these directions. If driving, please be mindful that morning traffic may cause delays in arriving to campus.

Orientation FAQs