Orientation

New Student Orientation

The Office of Student Affairs hosts new student orientation year-round for new freshmen students and new transfer students. New student orientation is a welcoming event designed to help incoming students transition smoothly into campus life. Through interactive sessions, campus tours, and an opportunity to meet staff and fellow students, you'll get all the tools and information you need to start your journey with confidence.

What will I learn in new student orientation?

What does Midlands Technical College expect from me?
When do I need to make important decisions?
What classes are required for my program and which classes will I take?
What student resources are available to me at Midlands Technical College.

The mandatory in-person new student orientation is totally free, interactive, and a great way for you to meet your future classmates.

Before your new student orientation session

In order to participate, you must have:

Been accepted/admitted to MTC;
Submitted official transcripts for all high school and college courses and official score reports for Advanced Placement (AP), SAT, ACT, CLEP, or IB directly to the MTC Admissions; and,
Completed Virtual Backpack in D2L to prepare you for the MTC online learning platform.

What type of student are you?

Current/Continuing Student: A student who is currently attending MTC. Continuing students should schedule an advisement appointment.
New Freshmen Student: A student who has never attended a college or university. New freshmen students are advised during the mandatory in-person orientation session.
Transfer Student: A student who has earned credits from another college or university and is transferring to MTC with the intent to earn a degree, diploma, or certificate. Transfer students are advised during the mandatory in-person orientation sessions.
Readmit Student: A student who hasn't attended MTC in over a year. Re-admits are required to re-apply to MTC. Re-admitted students are advised after completing online new student orientation and should schedule an advisement appointment.
Transient Student: A student who is currently attending another college and is taking a class at MTC that they want to transfer back to their original institution. Transient students are required to apply to MTC but do not need to be advised. Please reach out to the admissions office for important next steps and registration.

In-Person New Student Orientation FAQs

Is there a cost to attend orientation?

No, there is not a cost.

Is the in-person orientation required?

Yes. New student orientation is required in-person for all new freshmen, all new transfer students. You are unable to register for classes until you attend orientation. If you are a new dual enrollment student, you will complete an orientation specific to the dual enrollment program.

What is the orientation schedule?

Schedule at a Glance

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM | Registration & check-In

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome to MTC

9:15 AM – 11:40 AM | Breakout sessions

11:40 AM – 12:40 PM | Lunch

12:40 PM – 1:10 PM | Campus tour & resource fair

Concurrent

1:15 PM – 3:15 PM | Academic advising & course registration

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Parent & family session

3:15 PM – 4:00 PM | Wrap-Up and next steps

Where is my orientation?

You will receive an appointment confirmation e-mail in your MyMTC e-mail account and a confirmation text message. This confirmation will outline where and when your orientation is located. Please review this e-mail carefully, and take the next steps outlined to prepare for your orientation session. If your plans change and you need to reschedule your orientation, please do so at least 24 hours in advance online.

After I complete orientation, do I need to schedule an advising appointment?

No. Your advising appointment is included in the in-person orientation session.

I've signed up for an orientation session, now what?

You will receive an appointment confirmation e-mail in your MyMTC e-mail account and a confirmation text message. Please review this e-mail carefully, and take the next steps outlined to prepare for your orientation session. If your plans change and you need to reschedule your orientation, please do so at least 24 hours in advance online.

What if I have questions after I attend orientation? Should I schedule an advising appointment?

You can get help from an Academic and Career Advisor in your School of Study by attending our drop-in hours. Advisors are available in-person and virtually during these times: Monday and Thursday: 10:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday: 1:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

What will happen during my orientation session?

New Student Orientation sessions are designed to help you get started on the right foot. During your session, you’ll receive a comprehensive introduction to Midlands Technical College. You can expect to sit through sessions that will cover Student Success, Financing Your Education, and get more information about Student Life & Support Services. You will learn about MTC student code of conduct, policies and procedures and meet one-on-one with an Academic and Career Advisor. You’ll also have the opportunity to register for your first semester classes with the support of our expert Scheduling Navigators.

After New Student Orientation, you will be assigned an Academic and Career Advisor. By the end of your orientation, you'll be ready and registered to begin your academic journey.

Can I bring a guest to my orientation session?

Yes, you can have a guest attend the new student orientation session if they are over the age of 18. Please understand that space is limited and only one guest can attend. Due to the confidential nature of academic records (FERPA), guests are not allowed to attend the advising component of the orientation session. We help answer questions or concerns from a family member/supporter’s point of view. After new student orientation, we can provide you with a FERPA form for future use in advising appointments.

What is the Virtual Backpack?

This is a free, non-credit course designed to prepare students who want to take online and virtual courses at MTC. All components of this course must be completed successfully in order to register for online courses.

What do I need to do to request an accommodation?

It is the student’s responsibility to self-disclose as a student with a disability and to request accommodations through Disability Services. Please contact their office directly at mailto:disability@midlandstech.edu or 803.822.3505/803.738.7636 for your specific request.

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