The Penn experience starts here.

Every year, the Office of New Student Orientation & Academic Initiatives (NSOAI) hosts New Student Orientation (NSO). Our staff is committed to creating a smooth transition to Penn and providing the most exciting and academically enriching time for new Quakers.

NSO 2023 included academic programs as well as cultural and social events that explore Penn, Philadelphia, and much more!

NSO 2023 Recap Video

Below is a snapshot of NSO facts & figures this year:

* These demographics do not include graduate and/or professional students. However, during this year’s NSO, we did offer programs to the graduate and professional students in collaboration with the Graduate Student Center.

Like most statistics, these numbers don’t paint a full picture. Our new Quakers have a broad spectrum of identities that we honor and celebrate!

Every year, the one-of-a-kind NSO experience for new Quakers is made possible through the joint efforts of many individuals, including the valuable partnership and support from over 100 campus and academic partners at Penn.

Currently, the NSOAI team has 4 professional staff members who lead the intern team of 8 undergraduate Penn students. Together, we oversee NSO from planning to execution to assessment.

NSOAI has an instrumental orientation leader program — Peers Helping Integrate New Students (PHINS). The PHINS are trained to aid new Quakers with their academic, cultural, emotional, and social adjustment to life at Penn.

Take a look at some of the facts & figures of the NSO Teams below!

This year’s NSO took place from August 23-29, 2023, with move-in on August 22 and 23.

Prior to the start of NSO, we also hosted specific population programming for International, First-Generation and/or Limited-Income (FGLI), Exchange/IGSP students from Monday, August 21 through Wednesday, August 23, 2023, and Transfer students from Monday, August 21 through September 1.

We also hosted Second-Year Orientation (SYO) from August 27 to September 1. One of the signature events for SYO was the Dessert Reception at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (view photo album). For more information on SYO, Please visit our Second-Year Students page to find information about the past Second-Year Orientation (SYO) events.

Take a look at some of the facts & figures of the NSO events below!