Become a Bobcat!

We hope you're planning to join our class at MSU!

This page is intended to provide admitted students intending to enroll at MSU with information, next steps, and additional resources. Haven't applied to MSU yet? Learn more about the application process and requirements for admission here. 

This MSU Enrollment Roadmap is designed to be used in conjunction with your MyMSU Admissions Checklist. Track your completion of each of these items by logging into MyMSU and viewing your Admissions Checklist, which is pinned on your MyMSU dashboard.

Click to jump to each step, or just keep scrolling down!

Step 1
Register for Orientation
Step 2
Complete housing and financial aid/scholarship items
Step 3
Submit Immunization Documentation
Step 4
Send your Paperwork (Transcripts and Test Scores)
Step 5
Complete online Orientation, Questionnaire, and Placement
Step 6
Attend Orientation and register for classes

 

 

1. Register for Orientation

All incoming, degree-seeking MSU students are required to complete Orientation.* You will log into your MyMSU account and register using a link in the "Orientation/Class Registration" item in your Admissions Checklist. 

Orientation registration opens the following dates (depending on your application start term):

  • Students enrolling at MSU for the Spring 2026 semester (that is, entering MSU mid-year in January) may register for Orientation starting November 3, 2025.
  • Summer start students (enrolling in classes starting in May, June, or July) will register for and participate in our Fall Orientation programs (see next point).
  • Fall start students (enrolling in classes starting in August) may register for Orientation starting February 18, 2026.

Learn more about our Orientation programs:

*Students formally admitted to the College of Nursing and officially placed at one of the five campuses or are in the accelerated Nursing program do not need to sign up for Orientation; please contact the College of Nursing at nursing@montana.edu if you have questions about your requirements. If you are a student who has been generally admitted to MSU - Bozeman and have declared a Pre-Nursing major, you are required to register for and complete Orientation.

**Gallatin College students pursuing an Associate's degree or workforce program should not register for the MSU New Student Orientation. Gallatin College oversees their own Orientation program for incoming students; please contact gallatincollege@montana.edu for more information and to register.

Register for Orientation

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2. Complete housing and financial aid/scholarship items

If you haven't done so already, be sure to complete the requirements pertinent to you, including:

You can complete these items on your MyMSU Admissions Checklist.

Log into MyMSU

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3. Submit Immunization Documentation

MSU requires that all students submit immunization documentation. You will not be able to register for classes until this information has been received and processed by Student Health Services, so please don't procrastinate! 

Student Health Services requires:

  • MMR immunization documentation (or Religious or Medical exemption forms)
  • Tuberculosis History form
Submit Immunization Documentation

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4. Send your Paperwork (Transcripts and Test Scores)

Sending Transcripts

Please submit official final transcripts from all previous institutions to the MSU Office of Admissions. High school dual-enrollment students must send their college transcript(s) for all dual-enrollment credits. Transfer students are not expected submit high school transcripts. Transcripts can be sent electronically (e.g., Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse) or mailed directly from the institution.

Transcripts sent through unsecured email attachments, mailed in unsealed envelopes or mailed by a party other than the issuing institution, or faxed will be considered unofficial with the exception of transcripts faxed directly from another Montana University System institution with aMACRAO-fax stamp.

Please note: we do not expect that freshman students will necessarily have final, official transcripts available by the date of their Orientation session, especially if they are attending a June session. Please attend your Orientation session as planned and bring unofficial copies of all transcripts with you, then have your final, official transcripts sent when they become available.

Sending Test Scores (ACT, SAT, AP, IB)

While MSU does not require test scores for admittance, we recommend that you send your ACT or SAT scores for the purposes of math and writing placement (see Step 5 to learn about placement). To send your ACT or SAT scores, please log into your account with ACT or the College Board, respectively, and fill out the request to have your scores sent. If you are prompted for a school code, please use 2420 for ACT and 4488 for the College Board (SAT).

Please also have your AP or IB scores sent directly to MSU from the College Board or International Baccalaureate, respectively. If your AP/IB scores are not available before your Orientation session, your advisor will help you take AP credit into account when registering for classes and you may send your test scores once they become available. 

Plan ahead! It can take up to six weeks for test scores to be received and processed by the MSU Office of Admissions after you request that they be sent. In order to get your scores in before Orientation/Course Registration, send your test scores as soon as possible. We also recommend having unofficial copies of your test scores with you at Orientation/your academic advising meeting.

Credit Evaluation

If you are transferring college credit to MSU, your credit evaluation will take place after your final, official transcripts have been received by our office. Credit evaluations are completed for admitted students in the order in which they are received, but your evaluation will be prioritized by our team if your other enrollment checklist items are completed, including your Orientation registration, immunization documentation, etc. You'll be emailed when your credit evaluation is complete, but you can register for classes before that point! 

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5. Complete online Orientation, Questionnaire, and Placement

Online (pre-) Orientation

All incoming students will have an online component of their Orientation to support them in completing the enrollment steps as well as learning campus technology and terminology. You first need to register for Orientation before receiving access and instructions to complete your online Orientation component.

Instructions for accessing your online Orientation modules are available on your Orientation confirmation page, which is linked in your MyMSU Admissions Checklist:

  1. Log into MyMSU
  2. Access your Admissions Checklist
  3. Scroll to the Orientation/Class Registration item
  4. Click the link "Click here to view your Orientation Confirmation page."

Please also see your confirmation page for online (pre-) Orientation deadlines.

Orientation Student Questionnaire

This Questionnaire, which helps your academic advisor provide you with the best guidance for your first semester, is part of your online (pre-) Orientation. Be sure to follow the detailed instructions for completing your Questionnaire in your online (pre-) Orientation modules.

Currently, this requirement applies to freshman students only.

Math and Writing Placement

In order to register for classes, all students need to have a math and writing placement on file or transfer credit that substitutes for a formally assigned placement. 

There are multiple ways to get a placement on file. If you have multiple placement metrics on file, we will honor whichever gives you the highest placement.

  • Math placement:
    • ACT/SAT scores
    • EdReady math placement test (available through your online Orientation)
  • Writing placement:
    • High school GPA
    • ACT/SAT scores
    • EdReady writing placement test (available through your online Orientation)

If you have none of these metrics but have taken math and/or writing classes at the college level (including AP/IB), you may not need to provide additional information. Please review our placement page linked below to make this determination.

Please note: if you are using college credit in lieu of a placement score, the placement box(es) in your Undergraduate Admissions Checklist will not get checked off. This will not impact your ability to attend Orientation or register for classes.

Learn more about Math and Writing Placement

 

If you haven't done so already, you'll need to register for Orientation. Instructions for completing your online Orientation modules are available on your Orientation confirmation page, which will be linked in your MyMSU Admissions Checklist once your registration is processed.

Logged into CatsConnect and still don't see your Orientation path? It takes our office two business days after receiving your Orientation registration to grant access to your online Orientation. If it's been longer that that, please contact orientation@montana.edu so we can check on your CatsConnect access!

We use high school GPA by itself to provide writing placements. As most students have a self-reported high school GPA on file, most students will have a writing placement. 

We do not use high school GPA alone to assign math placements, so you'll need to take the EdReady math placement test (available in your online Orientation and our recommended option) or send ACT or SAT scores. 

If you have AP/IB/dual enrollment/transfer credit that gives you credit for the prerequisite class for the math class you need to take or for the math class(es) required by your major, you may use that in lieu of a math placement. The math placement box will not get checked off in this case.

Your questionnaire is linked in its corresponding module in your online Orientation. Please log into MyMSU and view your Orientation confirmation page for instructions to access your online Orientation modules.

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6. Attend Orientation and register for classes

Congrats, you're almost finished! The final step for enrolling at MSU is course registration, which takes place as part of Orientation. How you register for courses and your in-person Orientation session requirements depend on for which term you're enrolling and your student type:

Orientation and course registration overview for students starting at MSU in January:

  • Freshman students should plan to complete online Orientation and submit all test scores, transcripts (if finalized), immunization information, and get math and writing placements on file by January 2, 2026. An academic advisor will then take the information you provide on your Orientation Student Questionnaire and create a class schedule for you. You'll then attend required in-person Orientation on January 12, which is your opportunity to meet with your advisor and make any necessary changes to your schedule.
  • Transfer and non-traditional students should plan to complete online Orientation and checklist requirements as soon as they can after online Orientation opens on November 24, 2026. Your online Orientation modules will walk you through contacting your academic advisor and registering for classes. You'll attend your required in-person Orientation on January 12.
  • Veteran and International students should plan to complete online Orientation and checklist requirements as soon as they can after online Orientation opens on November 24, 2026. Your online Orientation modules will walk you through contacting your academic advisor and registering for classes. You'll attend your required in-person Orientation sessions hosted by the Office of Veteran Services and the Office of International Programs, respectively. These sessions are on January 12, 2026.

Students starting during Summer term (classes starting in May, June, or July) will need to register for and complete a traditional Fall start Orientation, which is how you'll register for Fall courses. To register for summer courses, you'll need to register for Fall Orientation, complete your checklist requirements, and then discuss course registration for the summer term with the Academic Advising Center, advising@montana.edu. 

Freshman students planning to start at MSU in Fall 2026 (August) will attend one of four in-person Orientation sessions: June 8-10, June 22-24, July 13-15, or August 23-25.

  • Students attending the June and July sessions will meet with their advisor and register for classes in-person at Orientation.
  • Students attending the August Orientation should aim to complete their online pre-Orientation and checklist requirements by July 8. An academic advisor will then pre-register students for classes (so that you're not trying to register the day before classes start!). You will have the opportunity to meet with your academic advisor and change your schedule at in-person Orientation August 23-25.

After completing your online Orientation and checklist requirements, you will meet with your academic advisor (instructions for finding your advisor and making an appointment are in your online Orientation modules). After your advising appointment, you may register for classes online on your own time. 

Transfer and non-traditional students are welcome to attend an optional in-person program August 23-25.

Veteran and international students are required to attend in-person Orientation sessions in August hosted by the Office of Veteran Services and Office of International Programs, respectively.

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Questions? We're here to help.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us! You can email our staff at orientation@montana.edu, or call us Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm MT at 1-888-MSU-CATS.

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