A picture of students attending Orientation at St. John's

New Student Orientation

Get ready to experience the true spirit of St. John’s! Orientation is a vibrant time when our entire University family comes together to welcome you into our community. Your participation is essential to kick starting a successful and memorable journey at St. John’s.

Through New Student Orientation, you will immerse yourself in all the incredible opportunities St. John’s has to offer and learn how to make the most of your time as a proud Johnnie! 

Get excited. Get connected. Get ready!

Female taking photo of group with cellphone

First-Year Orientation

Explore the Orientation schedule and discover other important information.

Student Typing on Laptop

Transfer Orientation

Sign up for Transfer Orientation and view your schedule.

Group of students and Family with Johnny Thunderbird

Family Orientation

We have created a unique orientation program specifically for parents and families to help you support your student’s journey.

Group shot of 7 student and family members painting pumpkins

Family Weekend

This weekend is all about welcoming you to the St. John's family!

Graduate Students Working on Project

International Orientation

Learn more about the International Student Orientation and essential resources for your transition.

Closeup of Graduate Student

Graduate Orientation

Learn important information for Graduate Orientation here.

Orientation Leaders and Coordinators

 During New Student Orientation, your Orientation Leader will be your personal guide to everything St. John’s University has to offer. Take full advantage of this opportunity to learn from their experiences and insights. 

Your Orientation Leaders have been eagerly preparing for your arrival and can’t wait to meet you! They are active members of a wide range of campus organizations, including clubs, programming boards, honor societies, fraternities, sororities, Student Government Inc., and more. 

Sehara Alexander
Sehara Alexander
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major: Nursing
Favorite Place on Campus: Our campus gym :)
Jadora Altidor
Jadora Altidor
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Major: Fashion Studies
Favorite Place on Campus: Collins College of Professional Studies - 2nd floor
Justin Ashton
Justin Ashton
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Trinidad and Tobago
Major: Mathematics 
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC
Saffah Azeem
Saffah Azeem
Orientation Leader
Hometown: New Hyde Park, NY
Major: Computer Science
Favorite Place on Campus: 4th floor library in St. Augustine
Karissa Black
Karissa Black
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Major: Nursing
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC
Sebastien Brutus
Sebastien Brutus
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Baldwin, NY
Major: Radiologic Sciences
Favorite Place on Campus: Taffner
Amaris Busigo
Amaris Busigo
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Colonia, NJ
Major: Speech Language Pathology and Audiology
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC Living Room
Teodita (Vanesa) Cabral
Teodita (Vanesa) Cabral
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Yonkers, NY
Major: Philosophy
Favorite Place on Campus: Carnesecca Arena
Surih Perez Carrero
Surih Perez Carrero
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Caguas, Puerto Rico
Major: Biochemistry and Public Relations
Favorite Place on Campus: The skyline view next to the St. Vincent Center!
Rhona Castanheiro-Campbell
Rhona Castanheiro-Campbell
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Portmore, Jamaica
Major: Cybersecurity- Minor in Business Technology
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC
Joshua Castellanos
Joshua Castellanos
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Brentwood, NY
Major: Psychology
Favorite Place on Campus: Carnesecca Arena
Inaya-Michelle Charles
Inaya-Michelle Charles
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major: Biology & Critical and Racial Ethnic Studies
Favorite Place on Campus: The patio of the Health Science Building
Aohona Chowdhury
Aohona Chowdhury
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major: Biochemistry
Favorite Place on Campus: Quiet Study in St. Augustine
Jonathan Crowder
Jonathan Crowder
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Roosevelt, NY
Major: Cybersecurity Systems
Favorite Place on Campus: 2nd Floor of St. Augustine Library
Beverly Nana Esi Dekyem
Beverly Nana Esi Dekyem
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Major: Nursing
Favorite Place on Campus: 9/11 Memorial Fountain
Jared Delauney
Jared Delauney
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Major: Computer Science
Favorite Place on Campus: D’Angelo Center
Amyah Estaba
Amyah Estaba
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Coral Springs, FL
Major: Biology
Favorite Place on Campus: The Health Science Building
Syeda Hijab Fatima
Syeda Hijab Fatima
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Favorite Place on Campus: Honors Commons
Hydea Gilles
Hydea Gilles
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Lincoln, Rhode Island
Major: Chemistry
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC Fourth floor overlooking the city at night
Camila Gimenez
Camila Gimenez
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Middle Village, NY
Major: Undecided
Favorite Place on Campus: The Great Lawn
Sara Gonzalez
Sara Gonzalez
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Beacon, NY
Major: Marketing
Favorite Place on Campus: The Great Lawn
Synii Holland
Synii Holland
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Philadelphia
Major: Nursing
Favorite Place on Campus: The Great Lawn
Caitlynn Jefferally
Caitlynn Jefferally
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major: Nursing
Favorite Place on Campus: St. Vincent Health Sciences Center
Jeriah Johnson
Jeriah Johnson
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Major: Finance
Favorite Place on Campus: Marillac
Fawwaz Mohammed Junaid
Fawwaz Mohammed Junaid
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Bangalore, India
Major: Computer Science
Favorite Place on Campus: Belson Stadium
Rhea Kapoor
Rhea Kapoor
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Hollis, Queens
Major: Nursing
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC
Anjali Khan
Anjali Khan
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major: Biology
Favorite Place on Campus: The overview of the city on the right side of St. Vincent Health Science Center
Michaela LaRochester
Michaela LaRochester
Orientation Leader
Hometown: West Babylon, NY
Major: Business
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC!
Samuel Lau
Samuel Lau
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Hicksville, NY
Major: Psychology
Favorite Place on Campus: St. Augustine Library
Justin Lee
Justin Lee
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major: Finance w/ Focus in Marketing
Favorite Place on Campus: Health and Science Center Balcony
Theresa McDowell
Theresa McDowell
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Major: Biochemistry
Favorite Place on Campus: St. Augustine Hall
Trevor Moncrease
Trevor Moncrease
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Franklin, New Jersey
Major: Cybersecurity
Favorite Place on Campus: Marillac or Donovan
Jemiah Norton
Jemiah Norton
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Georgetown, Guyana
Major: Business
Favorite Place on Campus: Montgoris Dining Hall
Olivia-Nicole Okonta
Olivia-Nicole Okonta
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Valley Stream, NY
Major: Biology
Favorite Place on Campus: St. Albert’s Hall
Natalie Ordyniec
Natalie Ordyniec
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Queens, New York
Major: Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS)
Favorite Place on Campus: Marillac
Sam Ortner
Sam Ortner
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Major: Adolescent Education/English
Favorite Place on Campus: Einstein Bagels
Lauren Palma
Lauren Palma
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Jackson Heights, NY
Major: Psychology
Favorite Place on Campus: St. Thomas More Church
Frida Paredes
Frida Paredes
Orientation Leader
Hometown: San Diego, California
Major: Legal Studies
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC STARBUCKS
Elijah Peña
Elijah Peña
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major: Biology
Favorite Place on Campus: Taffner Fieldhouse
Gina Pica
Gina Pica
Orientation Leader
Hometown: New Hyde Park, NY
Major: Adolescent Education
Favorite Place on Campus: St. Thomas More Church
Nasheed Plunkett
Nasheed Plunkett
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Tamarac, Florida
Major: Television and Film
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC
Adrian Ruffin
Adrian Ruffin
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Prince George’s County, MD
Major: Childhood Education
Favorite Place on Campus: Residence Hall Lounge.
Desmond Samms
Desmond Samms
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Major: Marketing
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC Basement
Jay-Lee Santana
Jay-Lee Santana
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Valley Stream, NY
Major: Marketing
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC
Nicholas Sillah
Nicholas Sillah
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Major: Marketing
Favorite Place on Campus: Taffner Fieldhouse or Marillac
Divyani Rani Singh
Divyani Rani Singh
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Nepal
Major: Interdisciplinary Business
Favorite Place on Campus: The skyline spot near the health sciences center.
Parker Songco
Parker Songco
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Bellmore, NY
Major: Journalism
Favorite Place on Campus: The fitness center!
Ali Taimoor
Ali Taimoor
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Islamabad
Major: Machine Learning and Computing
Favorite Place on Campus: Marillac Terrace
Maggie Turner
Maggie Turner
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama
Major: English
Favorite Place on Campus: The Writing Center
Marshaun Washington
Marshaun Washington
Orientation Leader
Hometown: Round Lake, Illinois
Major: Legal Studies
Favorite Place on Campus: Taffner Fieldhouse
Daniel Debord
Daniel Debord
Orientation Coordinator of Staff Training and Development
Hometown: East Meadow, NY
Class Year: Senior
Major: Advertising – Minor in Fashion Studies
Favorite Place on Campus: St. Vincent Patio
Gabriella Muñoz
Gabriella Muñoz
Orientation Coordinator of Logistics and Technology
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Class Year: Senior
Major: Marketing
Favorite Place on Campus: Carnesecca Arena
Ashely Peña
Ashely Peña
Orientation Coordinator of Parent Programming
Hometown: Queens, NY
Class Year: Graduate
Major: Psychology
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC 213
Hailey Vicente
Hailey Vicente
Orientation Coordinator of Registration and Communication
Hometown: Woodside, NY
Class Year: Graduate
Major: Marketing
Favorite Place on Campus: DAC 213

Frequently Asked Questions

We are here to answer your questions! If you have any questions that are still not answered, please feel free to contact the Orientation office at 718-990-5353.

What happens at orientation?

During Orientation students have the opportunity to become better acquainted with the academic environment, the support services and important locations on campus. You will also be able to learn about the St. John's experience from Orientation Leaders.

Where can I find a schedule of orientation?

A full schedule of events Is available under the “Freshman Orientation” tab as well as in person for your Orientation session day.

Is orientation mandatory for students?

Yes. New Student Orientation is mandatory for all new incoming students. If there are unavoidable circumstances please contact the orientation office at orientation@stjohns.edu or 718-990-5353.

Do I have to pay a fee for orientation?

No, orientation is free for students and parents to attend.

How do I register for orientation?

Everyone will receive an email with instructions on how to register online for orientation. You can also click on the ‘Register for Orientation’ link on stjohns.edu/orientation. If you are having difficulty registering please contact our office at orientation@stjohns.edu or 718-990-5353.

Can I change my orientation date? 

Yes, contact our office at orientation@stjohns.edu or 718-990-5353.

What time does orientation start/end?

Check-in for orientation will start at 9 a.m. and end around 6 p.m. 

What is an Orientation Leader (OL)?

An Orientation Leader is a St. John's student who embodies the values of St. John's University and is chosen to assist incoming students with their transition to college, Orientation Leaders are involved in a variety of activities at St. John's and are here to answer your questions from the student perspective.

When do I get my class schedule?

 As a first-year student, you will have the opportunity to meet with your First-Year Advisor ahead of your course scheduling for the fall semester. It is important to schedule your advising appointment as soon as receiving your registration email from the Center for Student Success

Where can I park? Is parking free? 
Free general parking is available for all students and guests attending orientation. You can find general parking at Gates 1, 4 and 6.  

Will I be able to tour the residence hall I will be living in during the school year?
A tour will be provided of available building(s) on your Orientation connection day.  That availability may be limited on the date of your visit.  But, a representative space will be available to be toured.

How do I see what the residence halls look like?
To learn more about residence life at St. John’s, including the layouts of the types of rooms available, please see the Residence Life Handbook. Also, look at our 360-Degree Residence Hall Tours for a preview of every room type available on campus.

Do I have to stay the whole day of orientation? Can I leave early? 
Yes, students must stay for the entirety of the program. If there are unavoidable circumstances please contact the orientation office at orientation@stjohns.edu or 718-990-5353.

Can I leave campus during orientation?
No, for security reasons students are not allowed to leave campus for the duration of the program.

What do I need to do before orientation? 
Review the New Student Guide Checklist so you are fully prepared before you arrive on campus. This checklist is full of things you need to consider or complete before attending Orientation. Instructions to complete online orientation modules will be sent to you via email within 7 days of your arrival for your registered session. 

What should I wear to orientation?
During Orientation, students spend time walking around campus. Therefore, students should wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. As most facilities are air-conditioned, you may want to bring a sweater. We will be both indoors and outdoors.

What should I bring to orientation?
If attending a single-day session, there are no required materials for students to bring.

If attending our overnight session, students should bring toiletries and a change of clothes for the respective days and anything they feel they would need when spending the night on campus. A list of provided, and prohibited items will be included in your confirmation email as well as on the First-Year Student Orientation page. 

Are kosher meals available?  
Yes, Kosher meals are available to request when you register for your orientation Session Day. For any other dietary restrictions, please contact the orientation office at orientation@stjohns.edu or 718-990-5353 for more information. 

I am fasting during orientation, will I be able to put a meal aside?
Yes, just let your orientation leaders know at the start of the day and arrangements will be made. 

What health forms are required?

Due as soon as possible after June 1 per New York State Public Health Laws 2165 and 2167, all students must submit proof of immunization to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) as well as either proof of meningoccocal vaccination or a declination form.

For more information on the MMR and meningoccocal vaccination requirements, please visit Student Health Services.

Can I bring my health forms to orientation?

No, health forms must be submitted via the Medicat, the online patient portal. Health forms are not accepted in person nor via mail, fax, or email.

Are my parents required to go to orientation?
No, parents are not required but encouraged to attend Parent and Family Orientation.

Can I bring a guest to orientation?
No, we cannot accommodate guests. Orientation is a chance for students to become familiar with their new school environment and interact with other incoming students so guests are not allowed. 

Do my parents/guardians participate in the same program?
The Family Orientation program runs concurrently with the student program. However, it is a completely different program that is dedicated to families, so you will not be with your parent during this time. 

How long is the family program?
The parent program ends at 5:45 p.m.

Are there any hotels in the area or that offer a discounted rate? 
Yes, these hotels have special rates for St. John’s University affiliates.

Do graduate students attend orientation?

For more information about Graduate Orientation, please reach out to Graduate Admissions at gradhelp@stjohns.edu or 718-990-1601.

Don't hesitate to reach out to the officers below for any additional information you need. They're here to assist you every step of the way!

Contact information

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Orientation Office at 718-990-5353. You may also contact any University office directly for more information.

OfficePhone
Academic Service-Learning718-990-6499
Admission Office718-990-2000
Bookstore718-990-6247
Campus Concierge718-990–6631
Campus Engagement718-990-5400
Campus Ministry718-990-6255
Career Services718-990-6375
Counseling Center718-990-6384
Dean of Students718-990-1506
Department of Student Wellness718-990-7537
Dining Services718-990-1535
Disabled Student Services718-990-6384
Discover New York718-990-7629
Financial Services718-990-2000
Fitness Center718-990-2357
Fraternities and Sororities718-990-6707
General Information718-990-6161
Health Services718-990-6360
Institute for Writing Studies718-990-2171
International Student Services718-990-6083
Leadership Development718-990-5400
Library718-990-6201
Math Learning Center718-990-2573
Military Science718-990-2745
New Student Orientation718-990-5353
Off-Campus Housing718-990-7512
Office of Student Conduct718-990-1422
Operations and Services718-990-2104
Peer Mentoring718-990-5400
Performing Arts718-990-2972
Public Safety718-990-6281
Recreational Sports718-990-2342
Registrar718-990-1350
Residence Life718-990-2417
StormCard Office718-990-6257
Student Development718-990-6039
University Freshman Center718-990-5858