ORIENTATION

Orientation Information

We can’t wait to see you at orientation ! All orientation sessions will take place on campus. You can choose the date that works best for you using the link below. Capacity is limited so register now!

What to Expect

Our orientation program is a one-day event, taking place on campus. Check-in will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the program will conclude by 5:00 p.m. The day will be filled with a lot of information and fun! You’ll meet with an advisor and receive your fall schedule, register for your Colonel Card, explore student organizations, get to know other incoming students, and learn about campus housing and meal plan options

REGISTER HERE!

Once you have received your orientation invitation, complete your registration for one of the dates below!

We will continue to post updates for Orientation here! Should you have any questions or concerns regarding orientation please email at hailey.hodson@nicholls.edu

FAMILY Orientation

Students are able to bring 2 guests with them to attend a separate and optional Family Orientation program. Check-in will begin at 8:00 am and the program will conclude by 5:00 pm. We will answer your questions, discuss financial aid, fee payments, and provide tips on how to support your student during this transition.

JOIN THE ORIENTATION TEAM!

Please email katie.martin@nicholls.edu with any questions.

DIRECTIONS

Input “Peltier Hall” into your map app to get directions to orientation!

CAMPUS MAP - PELTIER AUDITORIUM LOCATION

CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE

In order to be invited to Orientation, a student must have applied and been accepted to Nicholls State University.  Following your admission to the university, about a month before the Orientation program, an invitation will be sent detailing the program.

New Student Orientation is for First-time freshman. There will also be Transfer Orientation options. Invitation letters will be sent out to these students as well.

ORIENTATION INSTRUCTIONS

Are you excited? We are getting ready for you! Our team has been busily preparing for your arrival to Nicholls State University Freshman Orientation Fall 2020! Below are some important reminders to follow so you get the most out of your Orientation Experience.

When you arrive on campus, parking will be available next to the Ellender Memorial Library or Guidry Football Stadium.

Check in will begin promptly at 9:00am in the Student Union Ballroom. The program will begin at 9:00 am SHARP. When you arrive at Peltier, you can find your materials at your color group table.  If your parents are attending the parent program, they will be escorted to Peltier Auditorium in the Student Union. Due to space limitations, parents can not attend the student program.

The program will end at approximately 4:00pm. Lunch will be provided.

You will need a picture ID in order to get your Colonel Card. You will also need to know your license plate number for your parking decal.

All students should have either completed a Housing Application if living on campus, or a Housing Exemption form if living at home.

If you have not completed the FAFSA, it is time to do so! You can check your Banner Account to check your status.

We will see you soon!

ORIENTATION LEADERS - tba

Anne Marie Martin

Class: Freshman
Major: Art History
Hometown: Chacahoula, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Tri Sigma, Orientation Leader

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? How easy it is to get involved and how nice the people here are

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Joining a sorority and getting the opportunity to go to SROW for orientation team

Fun fact about me: 1. I’ve been to Brazil 2. I hate olives (any kind)

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? that it’s okay not to have everything figured out

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. get involved
2. don’t park in front of the library when it rains
3. make friends in your classes
4. don’t be afraid to reach out to your teachers if you need help
5. use campus resources

What are you most excited about this Fall? taking new classes!

Alyson Portier

Class: Junior
Major: Athletic Training with a Minor in Psychology
Hometown: Houma, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Orientation Team

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? My favorite thing about Nicholls is football season!! Everything from Tailgating & watching every play to just making memories with friends!

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Participating in band: going to every football & basketball game, and traveling to away games

Fun fact about me: I have played Clarinet since 4th grade

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? I wish I would have knew more about how to get involved.

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1.) Time Management: have fun but still prioritize school
2.) DONT SKIP CLASS
3.) the library is a much better place to study than your bedroom
4.) it’s completely normal to change your major
5.) 8:30 in high school is NOT 8:30 in college

What are you most excited about this Fall? Football !!!!

Amyri Myles

Class: Freshman
Major: Pre-Medical Biology
Hometown: Houma, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Orientation Leader, Student worker

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? They care so much about their students.

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Bonding with the orientation team during our trip to South Carolina.

Fun fact about me: I danced for 12 years. I hate peas yuck!

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? Talk to your advisor about everything.

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
Always find a new place to study. NEVER study in the same place you won’t get anything done. If you want parking come to campus as early as you can. DON’T skip!! STUDY STUDY STUDY

What are you most excited about this Fall? Going to games and new classes.

Brennan Simoneaux

Class: Freshman
Major: Safety Management
Hometown: Napoleonville, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
SAE, Orientation Leader, Student Worker

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? Tailgates, Small campus, Intramurals

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? My favorite experience at Nicholls is tailgates for football games.

Fun fact about me: I was on a Nicholls commercial.

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? I wish I knew that the street by the library flooded

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
Don’t be scared of the library
There are trip hazards everywhere
Free scantrons in the SGA office
Make as many friends as possible
Get out of your comfort zone

What are you most excited about this Fall? I am excited for tailgating for football again.

Caleb Sylvest

Class: Freshman
Major: Finance
Hometown: Thibodaux, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
Men’s Club Soccer
Orientation Leader
Student Employment

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? My favorite thing about Nicholls is how easy it is to get involved. That may sound cliché, but it’s true. Good things happen when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? My favorite Nicholls experience has been participating in intramural sports and tailgating before football games.

Fun fact about me: I have lost two high school soccer state championships.
I made a Christmas album with two of my friends my senior year of high school.

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? One thing I wish I knew before coming to Nicholls is that it’s okay to lose touch with some of your high school friends. You can always stay connected with your old friends but Nicholls gives you so many opportunities to meet new ones.

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. Get involved with what you enjoy or may be curious about
2. Don’t be super intimidated by classes, you’ll have plenty of time to do your work.
3. Look into getting a job with student employment or somewhere close to campus where you can work hours that accommodate your schedule.
4. Stop by student organization tables and see what they have to offer.
5. Never worry too much. It’s easy to stress about schoolwork and all kinds of other commotion, but college is 4 years that you’ll never get back so just enjoy yourself.

What are you most excited about this Fall? I am most excited about getting even more involved this Fall especially since things are starting to go back to normal.

Gavin Acosta

Class: Sophomore
Major: Mathematics with concentration in Computer Science
Hometown: Lockport, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Orientation Team

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? The Price

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Joining Orientation Team

Fun fact about me: I play poker.
I built my own computer.

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? To be more social and make new friend.

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. Go to class
2. Go to as many events on campus as you can
3. Make friends
4. Study and don’t fall behind
5. Join Greek

What are you most excited about this Fall? Getting to meet new people

Hayley Roland

Class: Junior
Major: Health Science
Hometown: LaPlace, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Orientation Team

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? The small class sizes

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Living on campus with my friends

Fun fact about me: I love trying different restaurants around Thibodaux

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? Academic advisors want to help you through most of your academic problems

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
-Don’t skip class, it can easily become a habit
-Start studying ASAP don’t wait and cram
-Study in the library, there are resources you may not know they have
-Stay organized, a planner will become your best friend
-Save your classes as folders and save assignments and power-points in them

What are you most excited about this Fall? New classes and more memories with friends

Jack Durocher

Class: Freshman
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Thibodaux , Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Greek life (ΚΣ)
SPA
Orientation team
Colonel Catholics

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? Kappa Sigma

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Football tailgates and Socials

Fun fact about me: I’m played basketball in high school and I skateboard

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? Don’t be scared to get involved in everything

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
Get involved, be yourself, don’t care what anyone thinks, put yourself out there, and love yourself

What are you most excited about this Fall? Fall fraternity recruiting

Kat Davis

Class: Freshman
Major: Culinary Arts
Hometown: Hammond, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
BSU and a DA

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? The culinary arts program.

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? My best experience so far is being able to get out my comfort zone and doing things that I would have never thought I’d do and actually loving it. I’ve been flourishing as an incoming freshman even though I thought that I wouldn’t do great things right after I lost my father, but Nicholls helped me reach my full potential.

Fun fact about me: 2 fun facts about me is that i’m still learning myself even though it might seem like I have everything together, and I love to binge Law & Order Special Victims.

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? One thing I wish I knew before coming to Nicholls was that I would meet some amazing people that have my back through thick and thin.

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. Be open minded
2. Manage Time
3. Don’t compare yourself to others
4. Be yourself and be different, You set the tone!
5. Never be afraid to ask questions

What are you most excited about this Fall? This fall i’m excited about continuing new things, trying new challenges and taking new classes to better myself in my career.

Lacie Lemoine

Class: Sophomore
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: Raceland, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Orientation team and Tri-Sigma.

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? One of favorite things about Nicholls is how easy it is to get involved. I have built so many relationships and connections that I am very grateful for that came from joining different organizations on campus.

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? My favorite experiences at Nicholls came from joining Greek life and orientation team.

Fun fact about me: My favorite ice cream is Mint Chocolate Chip and I can play the piano!

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? One thing I wish I knew before coming to Nicholls is that sometimes things don’t always work out as planned and that’s okay!

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. It’s okay to not know what you want to do, changing your major is okay!
2. Get involved it makes your college experience so much more worth it!
3. Don’t skip class it’s so hard to catch up!
4. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!
5. Go to campus events and take advantage of the resources offered to you!

What are you most excited about this Fall? I am most excited to meet all of the new incoming students.

Maddie Naquin

Class: Sophomore
Major: Allied Health Communicative Disorders with a minor in Psychology
Hometown: Kenner, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Phi Mu, PHA, orientation leader, colonels for kids, NSSLHA.

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? The campus life, there is always something to do. I also love all of the organizations you can get involved in.

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Greek life recruitment. I found my forever home all because of Nicholls.

Fun fact about me: I’ve been to Disney World 15 times! I danced competitively for 16 years!

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? I wish I knew I needed to stay on top of my classes. Your advisor is there for you with anything! Ask all of the questions and they will help you as much as possible.

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
Stay on top of your work!
Join clubs!
Go to all SPA events.
Get in your majors organization.
Make relationships with your teachers!

What are you most excited about this Fall? New classes, getting closer to graduation!

Marisa Rickard

Class: Junior
Major: Allied Health: Pre-Athletic Training
Hometown: Watson, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Orientation team
Allied health club
Tri Sigma

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? my favorite thing about Nicholls is how easy it is to become involved and our traditions.

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? My favorite experiences are gleaux colonels, crawfish day, and football games!

Fun fact about me: I was a colonelette for two years

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? One thing I wish I knew before coming to Nicholls would be to not worry about what other people will think. If you want to go to an event, you should go.

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. Go to events, you might meet someone new
2. If you commute, get to school early for a parking spot
3. Join clubs related to your major
4. It’s okay to graduate with a different major than what you started with
5. The more you are involved, the better your college experience will be

What are you most excited about this Fall? I am excited for football games and the homecoming pep rally

McKira Parfait

Class: Freshman
Major: Allied Health Pre Professional
Hometown: Houma, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Orientation Leader, SPA, PMA

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? rec center

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? tailgating for football games

Fun fact about me: I like being in the gym, traveling makes me happy

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? take notes and ask as many questions that come to mind, be prepared for advising appointments

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
Go to class, follow spa and get involved, stay positive, if your doing a lot of thinking take a break and do something physical, be nice & make new friends

What are you most excited about this Fall? Switching my major

Peyton Oncale

Class: Junior
Major: Safety management & petroleum engineering
Hometown: HThibodaux, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Colonel Catholics, Kappa Sigma, Orientation Team

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? My friends

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Meeting all my friends when I got here

Fun fact about me: I have a twin sister

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? What I wanted to go for.

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
Try new things, don’t be afraid, push yourself to learn more

What are you most excited about this Fall? To be closer to finishing my degree

Randilyn Russo

Class: Freshman
Major: Dietetics
Hometown: Bourg, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Delta Zeta Kappa Alpha

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? seeing familiar faces everyday & being able to count on my besties and DZ sisters being close by whenever i need help with anything

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? My favorite experience at nicholls was all of the tailgates i got to attend

Fun fact about me: I have the cutest golden doodle ever & i am the stereotypical scorpio! lol

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? One thing i wish i knew before coming to nicholls was the importance of time management!

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. Be vulnerable, but most importantly be yourself. Always try new things!
2. Communicate with your professors. Although it may be intimidating, they are here to help you succeed!
3. Join clubs! They’ll help you enhance your college experience and you’ll meet so many new people.
4. Always take a mental break when needed! Studying and passing is the most important, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. Your mental health is more important than anything!
5. Make friends with people in the same major as you! You guys can make study groups and help each other in your classes!

What are you most excited about this Fall? This fall, I’m most excited about see all of our baby colonels fall in love with our university. Seeing their faces on campus, enjoy their college experience, and get involved will make me smile everyday.

Sally LeBlanc

Class: Freshman
Major: Business Pre-Law
Hometown: Thibodaux, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Delta Zeta Sorority, Pre-Law Society, Orientation Leader, Colonel Catholics, Campus Writing Tutor

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? How easy it is to get involved and familiar faces on campus

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Joining greek life and getting to know so many new girls

Fun fact about me: I don’t like rice krispy treats and I love the beach!!

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? That no matter how close you live (I lived down the street) you will meet new people! It is what you make it

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. Get involved!! 2. Live on campus!! 3. It is okay to not know what is going on, no one does 4. Changing your major is normal 5. College is what you make it

What are you most excited about this Fall? Getting new faces on campus and meeting new people

Sierra Allemand

Class: Junior
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: Chalmette, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
SGA Senator, RHA President, Student Wellness Team, Orientation Team, N.E.A.T., Residential Housing Staff Member

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? The connection you get to make with your classmates due to small class sizes.

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Attending rival football games against Southeastern

Fun fact about me: I love to go to the beach & hangout with friends!

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? You have to make the most of the experience

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. Don’t “reward yourself” by skipping class
2. Don’t study in your bed
3. Invest in a planner
4. Complete assignments before the due date
5. Make the best out of the college experience that you are paying for

What are you most excited about this Fall? I am most excited to be a helping hand to incoming freshman that I meet through orientations.

Sonny Hanson

Class: Junior
Major: Finance
Hometown: Raceland, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
TKE

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? The small community feeling

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Joining a fraternity

Fun fact about me: I went to San Antonio on a class trip

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls?An in depth knowledge of campus

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Join at least one organization. Find one place you like to hang out in. Explore different majors as a freshman. Find a place you can sleep at in town if you are a commuter.

What are you most excited about this Fall? I’m excited about showing freshmen how fun Nicholls can be.

Tarah Boudoin

Class: Senoir
Major: Allied Health concentration in food and nutrition
Hometown: Hahnville, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Orientation Team and Student employee

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? The on campus activities

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Being on orientation team and crawfish day

Fun fact about me: Orientation team was the first thing i got involved in on campus ever and i love it!

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? There are no black sororities on campus

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
1. it is okay to be independent and not rely on parents. 2. be outgoing and make friends, talk to people in class. 3. apply for on campus jobs. 4. stay organized. 5. put your mental health first

What are you most excited about this Fall? Graduation

Tyler Coleman

Class: Senior
Major: Allied Health
Hometown: Slidell, Louisiana

List the activities you are involved with at Nicholls:
Kappa Sigma, Colonel for kids, orientation leader

What is your favorite thing about Nicholls? Small class sizes

What has been your best or favorite experience at Nicholls? Crawfish Day

Fun fact about me: I worked for Disney for a semester.

What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to Nicholls? Be prepared to get organized fast.

What are your top 5 tips for incoming freshmen?
Don’t go crazy your first semester.
Get organized.
Get involved
Get out and meet new people
Talk to your professor often

What are you most excited about this Fall? I’m graduating this fall

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I get invited to Orientation?
    Students MUST have applied and been accepted to the university.
  2. Will my parents/family stay with me throughout the day? Students and their guests will start the day together, but will be separated for each of their programs following the welcome presentation. Everyone will come back together for the closing session. 
  3. I’m a transfer student. Do I need ACT scores?
    You will be notified if ACT scores are needed.
  4. What do we do at Orientation?
    Students learn all about Nicholls State University and its excellent academic programs and activities. While at Orientation, students are given their fall class schedule. Students are required to attend Orientation in order to receive their class schedule.
  5. Do I have to spend the night in a dorm?
    No. Our program is one day only from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. 
  6. Will I learn about Financial Aid?
    Yes, both students and their guests get information regarding financial aid in their separate sessions. In order to get the most accurate information, please be sure to submit your FAFSA form. If you have not yet completed it, you can do so at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The earlier this form is submitted, the earlier more promptly your financial aid gets processed. We will have financial aid counselors available at orientation to provide further assistance if needed.

CONTACT US!

Have a question about orientation? Please contact us! You can reach us at 985-448-4507, toll free at 1-877-NICHOLLS, or via email at nicholls@nicholls.edu

Our office is ready to help you make the next step into the Nicholls family!

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