Becoming A Ram

Your Student's Transition to Colorado State

First-Year Students

There are specific programs available for incoming first year students, designed to support their unique needs.

Transfer Students

There are specific programs available for incoming transfer students, designed to support their unique needs.

International Students

There are specific programs available for incoming international students, designed to support their unique needs.

How Do We Support the Transition for All Students?

Ram Orientation

This is where it all begins. Orientation and Transition Programs staff helps to support the Ram Orientation programs, which are a dynamic, student-centered experiences that inspire a purposeful transition into the Ram community. This is also when all new students meet with an academic advisor and register for classes. Ram Orientation programs are the first step toward a successful graduation, and all new students are required to attend.

By intentionally immersing and connecting students and their parents and family members to the story of Colorado State, orientation fosters an emotional connection to the people, places, and ideas of the Ram community to inspire success. Within this community built at orientation, students and their families learn from staff, faculty, and current students the best practices for academic and personal success as they begin the journey toward graduation.

Students also have the opportunity to extend their orientation experience with our extended orientation programs: First-Year Mountain Experience, Transfer Mountain Experience and Camp 1870. Mountain Experience is hosted at CSU’s Mountain Campus on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park for our immersive Mountain Experience Outdoor Orientation Programs. Camp 1870 is an experience hosted on the CSU Main Campus where students get to engage in exciting activities focused around CSU’s spirit, history and traditions.

Ram Welcome

When you arrive with your student to Colorado State at the beginning of the semester, you will be eagerly greeted by our staff of Ram Welcome Leaders to begin your next step, the Ram Welcome experience. Ram Welcome takes place during the four days prior to the beginning of classes and builds upon the Ram Orientation experience for new students and their families once they have arrived on campus.

Ram Welcome programs for first year, transfer and international students are designed to assist new students with the transition to CSU by creating community, connecting new students to resources and helping new students learn what it means to be a CSU Ram! Students can look forward to engaging in exciting CSU traditions while learning more about involvement resources and getting engaged with their academic college. Parent and family members also have the opportunity to hear from key campus resources during Ram Welcome.

Transition Programs

As your student begins the new semester, the support doesn’t end – there are a number of exciting programs designed to provide a support network, a sense of community, and academic and social mentoring. These programs are ultimately designed to empower students to get to the second year and well on their path toward graduation.