Frequently Asked Questions

New Student Orientation begins on the evening of Sunday, August 18 after first-year move in, and concludes with Convocation on Sunday, August 25. Transfer Student Orientation will begin Wednesday, August 21, and will also conclude with Convocation on Sunday, August 25. Classes for all students will begin the next day, on Monday, August 26.

Students will be provided with a better understanding of life at JHU, both inside and outside the classroom, through various sessions, presentations, and small-group meetings for students. The program is directed by the Student Transitions and Family Engagement team and includes faculty, staff, administrators, and current students from around the university to successfully transition every student and their family into our campus community.

Each student (first-years and transfers) will be placed in a small group of about 15-20 students and paired with a First-Year Mentor (current JHU student). Some of the ideas that new students will be exposed to include what makes Baltimore unique, how to build academic and personal success, understanding diversity, and where they can find further assistance for the transition to being a student at Johns Hopkins University.

The schedule for orientation will be provided on Hopkins Groups for all first-year students. The orientation schedule is under the JHU New Student Orientation 2024 Hub.

A First–Year Mentor (FYM) is a current JHU student who will guide incoming students (both first-years and transfers) through their transition to the university. Each FYM will lead a small group of about 15-20 new students through the orientation process and act as a peer advisor to them throughout their first year. FYMs are proven campus leaders and serve as a support system and knowledgeable guide for all new students at Hopkins.

New Student Orientation is REQUIRED of all new students, unless a fall student athlete is excused for a varsity sport practice or game by their coach. The information presented at NSO is important and crucial to every student’s transition to JHU, as all orientation programs are intended to set students up for success both inside and outside the classroom in their first year at Hopkins. Missing parts of NSO will result in having to take a make-up session. In addition, missing key parts of NSO may result on a hold being placed on a student’s SIS account; however, no actions will be taken without the student first being contacted by a First-Year Mentor and/or Hopkins administrative staff.

*Students seeking an exception due to travel plans or personal reasons need to email our office, Student Transitions and Family Engagement, at [email protected].

The following is the anticipated Undergraduate Calendar for the 2024-25 academic year. Check out the full 2024-25 academic calendar for more information.

In the 2024-25 school year, the breaks are currently scheduled as follows:

• First Day of Fall Classes: Monday, August 26, 2024
• Thanksgiving Break: Monday, November 25 – Friday, November 29, 2024
  • Residence halls remain open, but dining services are limited.
• Mid-year Winter Vacation: Friday, December 20, 2024 – Friday, January 21, 2025
  • Residence halls will close down, and it is necessary to make travel plans or find a place to stay near campus.
• Intersession: Thursday, January 2 – Friday, January 17, 2025
  • Residence halls and dining services will be open. You may return to campus to take Intersession courses or choose to do something else. Participation in Intersession courses is entirely optional.
• First Day of Spring Classes: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
• Spring Break: Monday, March 17 – Friday, March 21, 2025
  • Residence halls remain open, but dining services are limited.

Students and families can contact us through a variety of platforms, including email and text. The STFE email account ([email protected]) is checked daily and is ideal for longer questions and detailed explanations. You can also text us at (410) 941-3485 with your questions. You can also follow us on instagram at jhu_first_year for updates on NSO and other programs for incoming students!

Feel free to contact us through any of these resources!