1. Office of Orientation
  2. Early Orientation

Early Orientation

Early Orientation is designed for Honors-eligible ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs with high academic achievement.

This Orientation program offers priority course registration for the summer and/or fall semester.

Early Orientation Dates

Early Orientation Session 1: May 26, 2026 
Early Orientation Session 2: May 27, 2026

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for Early Orientation, incoming freshmen must have a 23 ACT Composite or Superscore (SAT 1130). 

Submit ACT/SAT test scores to the UL Lafayette Undergraduate Admissions Office for consideration. UL Lafayette school codes: 

  • ACT: 1612
  • SAT: 6672

Early Orientation Details

Freshman Orientation registration for Summer & Fall 2026 will open on March 1, 2026. Orientation registration instructions will be emailed to admitted ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs in late February 2026. 

If you have not received those instructions by March 5, 2026, please send an email to orientation@louisiana.edu. Include your full name and ULID in your email.

ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs admitted after March 5, should expect to receive registration instructions within two weeks of admission. If you do not receive registration instructions by email within two weeks of admission, please send an email to orientation@louisiana.edu. Include your full name and ULID in your email.

The Freshman Orientation fee is $125 and includes parking, program implementation, program materials, food, a Ragin’ Cajuns spirit shirt, lanyard, pen, and bag. Your Orientation fee must be paid online via ULink when you register for Orientation. 

Orientation ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs have the option to stay overnight in a UL Lafayette residence hall the evening before their Orientation session. Overnight housing check-in will run from 6:00-8:00 PM.

If you'd like to stay overnight, you must pre-register for overnight housing during Orientation registration and pay the additional fee. ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs must bring their own bedding, pillow, toiletries, towels, and other personal items needed for their overnight stay. 

When you arrive at overnight housing check-in, you will be paired with another ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ attending Orientation. If you wish to room with a ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of the same gender, who is also registered to attend the same orientation, please check in to overnight housing at the same time. The ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ Orientation Staff will be present with fun activities (from 7:00-9:00 PM) to help you get to know more about campus and meet your peers.

Important note: Overnight housing is NOT available for family and friends. Please view our list of local hotels for recommended accommodations. 

ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs are NOT required to stay overnight in the residence hall for Orientation but it is recommended, especially for ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs traveling from out of town or planning to live on campus. 

The schedule at a glance for Orientation is below. This schedule is tentative and is subject to change.

7:45 AM - 5:30 PM

  • ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ Check-In
  • ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ Welcome
  • Discussion Groups
  • Money Matters Session
  • Academic Success Session
  • Lunch (provided)
  • ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ Success Sessions
  • Academic College Town Hall
  • Academic Advising
  • Course Registration
  • Campus Tour (optional)
  • Check out after course registration (between 3:30 PM-5:30 PM)

*Schedule subject to change

*ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs are REQUIRED to participate in the full duration of Orientation activities. Those arriving late or leaving early must reschedule another Orientation session. If you have school or extracurricular responsibilities that prevent you from being present through the entire program, please schedule another available Orientation session.

Advance Credit Exam Details

ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs have the opportunity to take Advance Credit Exams (ACE) during the summer. View the full list of Advance Credit Exams and the dates and times they are offered.

If you earn credit from an exam after attending Orientation and need to adjust your class schedule, contact the Academic Success Center at 337-482-6818 or success@louisiana.edu for assistance.

Visit this website to view the 2026 Advance Credit Exam schedule.

 

Mathematics Placement

Course placement for math is based on ACT and SAT subscores.

  • ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs with an ACT Math of 25, 26, or 27 (SAT Math 590-640) earn credit for MATH 105 - Applied College Algebra.
  • ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs with an ACT Math of 28 or 29 (SAT Math 660-680) earn credit for MATH 109 - Pre-Calculus Algebra.
  • ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs with an ACT Math of 30+ (SAT Math 700+) earn credit for MATH 109 & MATH 110 - Pre-Calculus Algebra & Pre-Calculus Trigonometry and Function Theory
  • The Mathematics Advance Credit Exam allows ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs to earn up to 6 credit hours in MATH 109 & MATH 110, therefore ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs with a Math ACT of 30+ (SAT Math 700+) should not take this exam as they have already earned this credit.

 

Credit by Other Means

UL Lafayette awards credit to ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵs earning AP, CLEP, and Military Credit, etc. Learn more about credit by other means.

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