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Welcome to College Hill!

Orientation

Orientation is required for all new admission and transfer students.

Hamilton’s orientation programs help you transition to the College community while meeting new friends and learning about the many resources and engagement opportunities available on College Hill during your Hamilton years.

January Orientation is required for all new students arriving on campus in the spring, and runs from Saturday, January 16 through Tuesday, January 19, 2027. Jans should plan to arrive on campus and move into their residence halls on the morning of January 16. Please see the tentative orientation schedule for more information.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the Hill!

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.

August Orientation

Hamilton’s August Orientation program (August 17-25, 2027) 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.

Trips

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.

Read about move-in day
Orientation Leaders welcome new students and families at "the gauntlet"

Moments from Move-in Day

Photos by Nancy L. Ford

The welcome crew on College Hill
The welcome crew were out in force on College Hill.
Upperclassmen welcome new student coming up College Hill Road
Orientation leaders greet new students arriving on campus.
Robert Gregor ’30 heads to his dorm with items he grabbed at the Cram & Scram.
Robert Gregor ’30 heads to his residence hall with items he purchased at Cram & Scram.
Sebastian Pena ’30 shops at Cram & Scram, an annual campus reuse program.
Sebastian Pena ’30 shops at Cram & Scram, an annual campus reuse program.
Celia Goldsmith ’30 and her mom, Lisa, move into South Hall
Celia Goldsmith ’30 and her mom, Lisa, move Celia into South Hall.
Henry Foster ’30, far left, unpacks clothes into his dresser while the crowded room of students and parents are busy helping in Dunham Hall
Henry Foster ’30, far left, unpacks clothes while roommates and families help students get organized in Dunham Hall.
New students and their families make their way through the gauntlet of orientation leaders.
New students and their families make their way through the gauntlet of orientation leaders.
New students, returning students, family, friends faculty and staff, make their way through the gauntlet
New students, returning students, family, friends faculty and staff, make their way through a gauntlet
Ace Etienne ’30 and his mom, Shauna, mingle with faculty and staff.
Ace Etienne ’30 and his mom, Shauna, mingle with faculty and staff.
Michael Welsh, Associate Professor of Chemistry, chats with Kristen Yeung ’30 and her brother, Kaiden.
Chemistry Professor Michael Welsh chats with Kristen Yeung ’30 and her brother, Kaiden.
Faith Price ’30 says goodbye to her dad, Robert.
Faith Price ’30 gets a hug from her dad, Robert.
Georgia Nichols ’30 says goodbye to her parents.
Georgia Nichols ’30 says goodbye to her parents.
New students join in on fun and games during the opening ceremony on Steuben Field
Members of the class of 2030 join in on fun and games during the opening ceremony on Steuben Field.
Orientation 2026 opening ceremonies on Steuben Field.
Orientation 2026 opening ceremonies on Steuben Field.
Andrew Jillings, Director of Outdoor Leadership, raises the hand of the rock, paper, scissors champion.

Related Stories

Zack Weller ’23 trains students in water safety on Delta Lake.

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.

Orientation 2022 - loading buses

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

Phone
315-859-4894

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