Register for New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation is your academic and social orientation to Boise State, and where you will register for your first semester of courses. We encourage you to attend an Honors-focused orientation on June 16, 22, 24, or 29, but it is not mandatory. Honors College staff will be available at all orientation dates. For up-to-date information, please visit the 2026 orientation webpage.
How to Register:
- You must complete your Intent to Enroll before you apply for on-campus housing and sign up for a New Student Orientation Program. Once you have submitted your Intent to Enroll and received confirmation, you can check your email for a link to log-in with your Boise State username and passphrase from my.boisestate.edu.
- Honors students have priority registration for orientation starting March 13 at 10:00am. In order to register, your Intent to Enroll must be complete. NOTE: If you register on March 13, you must follow the link provided in your Boise State email from New Student Orientation.
- Choose a program that works with your summer schedule. If it works for your schedule, we recommend attending the honors-focused orientations on either June 16, 22, 24, or 29; however, know that you will receive Honors College support at whichever orientation you choose.
Attend Orientation
Honors Breakout Session
During orientation you should attend an Honors Breakout Session. This is your chance to meet other Honors students and receive Honors-specific program information, including course requirements.
Course Registration
During course registration, you will enroll in HONORS 198, a required, one-credit course. Honors advisors will partner with advisors from your major to assist you in registering for fall courses.
(Optional) Parent and Family Q&A
During this session, your parents and family can connect with Honors staff to learn more about what you will experience in the Honors College and how to support you throughout your time at Boise State.
Living in Honors
All students admitted into Honors receive priority access to the Honors College Residence Hall. If you haven’t already done so, please submit a housing application to get started.
Roommate Selection
The first step of the housing placement process is roommate matching. Roommate matching is available from May 11-22 and is accessible through your housing portal. During this time, you will create a profile and then be able to look through the profiles of other Boise State students who plan to live on campus.
When you open the roommate matching portal, you will see a screen that congratulates you on being an honors student. A drop-down menu will ask whether you would like to match with other honors students. In order to receive priority housing within the Honors College Residence Hall, you must select “Match with Honors Students in the Honors College Hall”. If you select “FY Roommate Search”, you will be able to match with any first-year student, but you will not have priority placement in our building.
Choosing a Housing Placement
I want to live in the Honors Residence Hall
Roommate matching with honors student and living in Honors Residence Hall
If you match with another honors student, you will be automatically placed onto the Honors College Residence Hall priority list and will be able to select your room June 3-4. In your roommate group, whoever has the earliest timeslot will be able to select a specific room for both roommates. If neither of you select a room in the Honors College Hall on June 3-4, your room selection defaults to the Orange Group (week of June 15) to select any open rooms across campus. Click here for more information on room selection.
Opt out of roommate matching but living in Honors Residence Hall
If you do not complete the roommate matching process, you will still be able to select an available room in the Honors College Residence Hall on June 3-4. If you do not select a room on those dates, your room selection defaults to the Orange Group (week of June 15) to select any open rooms across campus. Click here for more information on room selection.
I Want to Live in Another Community (Not the Honors Residence Hall)
Roommate matching with non-honors student
By roommate matching with a non-honors student, you will lose priority access to living in the Honors College Residence Hall. To match with a non-honors student, you will need to select “FY Roommate Search” on the drop-down menu during roommate matching. You will be able to select your room during one of the two selection periods: Week of June 8 or the week of June 15. If your plans/roommate change and you wish to live in the Honors College Residence Hall, contact the Housing Office (208-447-1001) by June 1, and they will reset your roommate match, which allows you to select an Honors College room on June 3-4.
Roommate matching with an honors student, but living in non-honors housing
To live with an honors student in another residence hall (not the Honors College), complete the roommate match process, but do not select a room in the Honors College Residence Hall on June 3-4. You will automatically be entered into the general room selection process where you will see all the rooms available to you across campus (week of June 15).
Early Move-In
As a first-year Honors student, you have been pre-approved for early move-in. If you are living on campus (any residence hall), you will move in on the morning of Tuesday, August 18. You will be able to choose your specific move-in time later this summer.
You will receive detailed information to your Boise State email about early move-in (including times and parking) by Friday, August 7.
Honors Welcome Program
The Honors Welcome Program is a two-day event that will be held August 18-19:
- August 18: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- August 19: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
It is a requirement of HONORS 198 and introduces you to the Honors curriculum, staff, and fellow Honors students. Students must attend the full program. You will receive more information about the Welcome Program during your summer orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does priority registration for New Student Orientation mean?
This means that if your Intent to Enroll is completed, you will be able to start signing up for New Student Orientation on Friday, March 13. This is one day prior to other students.
What if I can’t attend an Honors-focused orientation?
While we highly recommend you attend an Honors-focused orientation, it is not required. The Honors-focused orientations will provide an opportunity for additional Honors specific programming and an opportunity to connect with other Honors students. We anticipate over 70% of our incoming first year cohort will be at these orientation dates.
Do I have to live in the Honors College residence hall?
No. You can live in any of the residence halls across campus or in off-campus housing. If it works for you, we highly recommend living in the Honors College residence hall, since it will give you easiest access to the Honors community.
If you submit your housing application by May 1 and select the Honors residence hall as your first choice, you will receive priority placement. If more students apply than there are spaces available, community assignments will be based on a lottery system; however, Boise State guarantees on-campus housing for first-year students. If you are assigned to a different residence hall, you can contact university housing to be placed on a Honors waitlist in case rooms become available.
Do I have to live in the Honors College residence hall to receive early move-in?
No. All Honors students that are attending the Welcome Program and living on campus will be able to move in early.
How do I arrange early move-in?
You do not need to do anything to arrange early move-in. The Honors College will coordinate with Housing on your behalf.
What time can I start moving in?
You will be able to pre-register for a move-in time that best fits your schedule. University Housing will communicate the registration process with you in early August. At that point you will receive detailed parking instructions and check-in information.
What if I need to move in prior to Tuesday, August 18?
If you need to move in prior to Tuesday, August 18, you will need to contact Housing to arrange an earlier date or visit their Early Arrival Move-In page. You are responsible for all early move-in costs prior to Tuesday, August 18. You can contact Housing at (208) 447-1001 or housing@boisestate.edu.
What items are allowed in the residence halls?
Check out the Housing website for all information related to move-in and what is allowed in the residence halls! If you have any further questions, you can contact Housing at (208)447-1001 or housing@boisestate.edu.
Is the Welcome Program required even if I don’t live on campus?
Yes. Attending the Honors Welcome Program is required for all students new to the Honors College.
What if I am an athlete or marching band member and have a schedule conflict with the Welcome Program?
Marching band members and fall athletes sometimes have required training camps that overlap with the Welcome Program. These students will be provided with an opportunity to make up the Welcome Program. Please speak to your honors advisor during orientation for more information.
What is the Welcome Program?
The Welcome Program is a graded Honors 198 requirement for all students new to the Honors College. Attending the Welcome Program includes participating in all events, even meal times. The program is designed to inform, challenge, and introduce you to the Honors curriculum and community. Expect to have a lot of fun and to meet a lot of new people; however, do not expect a lot of free time. We maximize our time with you by having a full schedule. A detailed schedule will be sent out by August 7.
Is the Welcome Program just for students? Or are families invited to participate?
The Welcome Program is for students only. Parents are free to travel back home or stick around to enjoy Boise for a couple of days.