Your Fall Start at RIT
Welcome to RIT! We're excited to welcome you to the Tiger community.
This page serves as your central guide to getting ready for your first semester at RIT. From the time you pay your deposit through your arrival on campus, you'll find important information, resources, deadlines, and next steps designed to help you confidently navigate your transition.
Throughout the summer months leading up to your arrival, you'll complete required onboarding tasks, learn about university services and resources, connect with your future classmates, and get ready to participate in an orientation experience designed for you. You'll also discover opportunities to get involved, find support, and begin building your RIT community before classes start.
To get you started, let’s focus on the basics:
First-year Undergraduate Students
If you’re a first-year student, you’ll participate in Welcome Days and Fall Student Orientation. You’ll check in, explore campus resources, connect with other new students, and take part in programs designed to help you feel prepared for your first semester at RIT.
Undergraduate Transfer Students
If you’re a transfer student, you’ll be able to choose from two Transfer Orientation program options based on your previous college experience, so you can select the experience that best fits your needs.
Specialized Orientation and Welcome Experiences
Your orientation or welcome experience may vary based on your program, identity, or how you’re joining the RIT community. Graduate students and some incoming deaf and hard-of-hearing students participate in separate orientation experiences. International students, commuter students, and others may also have specialized programs to help you connect with RIT, complete important next steps, and feel prepared for your start.
Learn more about specialized orientation and welcome experiences
Communications
New undergraduate students starting at RIT in the fall will begin receiving important updates about the onboarding experience at their RIT email address in May. Follow the instructions in your Fall Start Student Checklist to set up your RIT email and check it regularly so you don’t miss key information and reminders. General messages for all new students will also be posted here for easy reference.