Orientation
Orientation is required for all new admission and transfer students.
August 18-26, 2026
Arrival on campus and residence hall move-in will take place between 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on August 18. Hamilton’s Orientation program consists of two parts: our signature Orientation Adventure Trips, and on-campus orientation programming. New January Admission students are encouraged to participate in an August Orientation Adventure Trip, and will have additional on-campus orientation programming when they arrive on campus the following January.
August Orientation
Hamilton’s August Orientation program (August 18-26, 2026) consists of two parts: our signature Orientation Adventure Trips, and on-campus orientation programming. New January Admission students are encouraged to participate in an August Orientation Adventure Trip, and will have additional on-campus orientation programming when they arrive on campus the following January.
January Orientation
January Orientation (January 16–19, 2027) is required for all new students arriving on the Hamilton campus in the spring semester; students should plan to arrive on campus and move into their residence halls on the morning of January 16, 2027.
Welcoming the Class of 2030
Orientation
Cars, SUVs, minivans, and airport shuttles filled with new students and families were greeted by raucous singing and cheering Orientation leaders and President Steven Tepper in his full Alexander Hamilton costume. The Class of 2030 and transfer students arrived on College Hill on Aug. 19 to begin Orientation, embark on adventure trips, and matriculate into Hamilton.
Moments from Move-in Day
Photos by Nancy L. Ford
Related Stories
Adirondack Adventure Alumni: Bringing that ‘Big Andrew Energy’
Thirty-three trips into the wilderness, 68 student leaders, 287 student participants. Plus dozens of canoes, tents, sleeping bags, rain gear, pounds of cheese, and other essentials. The planning that goes into Hamilton’s Adirondack Adventure (AA) orientation program is extensive, and the process has run like a proverbial well-oiled machine for the past four decades thanks in large part to Director of Outdoor Leadership Andrew Jillings, who came on board in 1997 to expand the program from a modest six trips.
Class of 2028 Bonds Big on Orientation Trips
Fun moves fast at Hamilton. Less than two days after arriving on campus, the Class of 2028 embarked on 56 orientation trips, guided by more than 100 student leaders.
Contact
Contact Name
Tessa Chefalo
Assistant Dean of Students for Student Engagement
