Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO)

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PDO 2013

Student Program

During Pre-departure Orientation, students spend two days on the Boston campus in July participating in a program designed to introduce them to N.U.in policies and procedures as well as increase familiarity with their N.U.in locations, and meet their fellow participants and N.U.in staff. Workshops and sessions include culture acclimation, safety and security while studying abroad, N.U.in policies, academic advising, goal-setting, and team-building. Students stay overnight in freshman dorms, and get their first taste of life on Northeastern’s campus. Towels, bedding, and all meals are provided for N.U.in participants.

Parent and Family Program

Parents and guardians are invited to participate in our Parent and Family Program that takes place on Day 1 of PDO. Parents should plan to leave campus after the conclusion of the Parent Program, as the sessions planned on Day 2 are specifically geared toward students. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all registered family members on the first day of each orientation. Find places to stay in the area

PDO is mandatory for all US citizens. Due to US visa regulations, international students are not required to attend this on-campus orientation program. International students will receive all necessary information through our website and email.  

Registration

Registration is required, and each PDO session will fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. Students register through the General Enrollment Form (see Enrollment Forms section by location) by May 15. Students and families may choose one of the following PDOs to attend:

  • July 12-13
  • July 15-16

Day of PDO 

Registration and check-in will take place in the Stetson West lobby beginning at 7:45am (#15 on the campus map). Please plan to arrive no later than 8:30am for registration in order to leave time to enjoy a complimentary breakfast together before our official program begins at 9:30am. During registration, students also check into student housing.  Please note that on-campus housing is not provided for family members and that student housing is only for one night (July 12th for PDO I and July 15th for PDO II).

What to Bring

Participants are asked to please wear comfortable clothes and shoes and to bring a water bottle. Additionally, all students must bring the following items:

  • Photo ID for housing check-in
  • Unofficial or photocopied documentation of all AP or IB score reports and transcripts of all college transfer credit. We ask that students bring copies of these documents - in addition to submitting the official documentation to Admissions - to assist their Academic Advisors, who meet with students to review their N.U.in courses and determine if any academically necessary changes will be made based on AP/IB/transfer information. Please note that advisors will retain these copies for their records here at Northeastern.
  • We recommend that participants and families continue to carefully review the location-specific information on our website before attending PDO so that they can come prepared with questions.  
PDO Policies & Logistics

For safety reasons, it is our policy that once participants check-in for the PDO, they must stay on campus for the entire program. Please do not schedule any activities or events that will take participants off campus or away from the required orientation activities.

 

N.U.in International Student Advisors, who will go abroad with students, stay in the dorms overnight and plan nighttime activities.

If you are driving to campus, please print this parking permit and place it on your dashboard while parked in the Columbus Parking Lot, located beside the garage at 795 Columbus Avenue. Directions to campus