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StartStrong
Pre-Orientation

StartStrong will help you prepare for the fall term, connect with your new community, and make a successful transition to college life at Meredith.
All new first-year students are required to attend StartStrong.

Contact Information 
1st Floor, Park Center
(919) 760-8062
advising@meredith.edu

What will I do at StartStrong?

  • Meet with an enrollment counselor to talk about your fall course schedule
  • Connect with many of Meredith’s student services including tech services, study abroad, disability services, and more 
  • Get your student ID (also known as your CAM card)
  • Meet student advisors who will guide you throughout your first year
  • Eat lunch on campus
  • Meet and connect with other incoming students in your class

What will my family members do?

While students are the primary focus of StartStrong, we understand that this is also a big change for families.

  • Learn how to help your student successfully navigate the transition to college, especially the first semester
  • Learn about opportunities for your student beyond the classroom – studying abroad & internships
  • Connect with many of Meredith’s student services including tech services, accounting, disability services, and more
  • Eat lunch on campus
  • Schedule an individual financial aid package discussion – sign-up during check-in

Step 1:

Four sessions available - choose one:

  • Thursday, June 13, 2024
  • Tuesday, June 18, 2024
  • Monday, June 24, 2024
  • Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Two StartStrong students greeting each other.Students attending StartStrong may bring a maximum of two parents/guardians. 

If you intend to enroll in the Dual Degree Engineering Program, please fill out the Declaration of Intent.

If you are a new first-year student living abroad and are unable to attend, submit the Regrets Only Form for students living abroad.

Meredith Summer Symposium
Meredith Summer Symposium is an overnight, two-day experience for deposited students. It offers community-building activities and a thought-provoking weekend of speaker-led workshops, action, and reflection sessions centered around topics of culture, identity, advocacy, and social justice to incoming historically underrepresented students who are committed to creating and maintaining culturally inclusive communities.
 
First-year students must sign up for a StartStrong Event. We encourage Symposium participants to sign up for the June 24 event but understand if you need to select a different day.

Step 2:

Take the Online Placement Exams

hands on laptopIn early March, request your MyMeredith Student Account and Meredith email. You must set up your MyMeredith Student Account and Meredith email before you can complete the Online Placement Exams. Placement exams open in mid-April.

To take the placement exams, log into Brightspace with your Meredith login credentials. You will be able to access the language placement test under the courses section in Brightspace. Please complete the placement test for the language you plan on pursuing while at Meredith. You are not required to take the placement test for a language that you do not wish to take courses in. If you took a language other than Spanish, Latin, or French, you will not need to complete the placement test.

New students who need to take the online English assessment will be contacted by the English Department.

The language placement exams open in Mid-April. Once the exam is open, please complete your testing as soon as possible. We recommend that placement tests be completed by Sunday, June 2. Completing the placement test by June 2 will ensure that your results are available for enrollment counseling meetings occurring at StartStrong.

Step 3:

Participate in StartStrong!

StartStrong Gathering in front of Jones Auditorium

After you register for StartStrong, the Office of Admissions will confirm your date of participation. 

We look forward to seeing you in June!

Participation is required of all new students. Students who cannot participate due to extreme circumstances will be contacted separately.

Step 3:

Finalize your Health Forms and Insurance Information

Completing this information is essential for your health and the health of our community. Please complete these forms before you attend StartStrong, including your immunization records. Health representatives will be available at StartStrong to answer any questions.

  • Meredith requires health insurance for every student. This requirement can be met by submitting a waiver for an approved policy the student already has or by purchasing the BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) policy made available through the College.

Take Action: Indicate your insurance decision in the insurance portal, which opens in June.

  • Every student must complete their health forms by July 1. Failure to complete these forms by the deadline may delay the release of your course schedule.

Take Action: Complete all health forms in your Student Health Portal.

Step 4:

Participate in StartStrong!

StartStrong Gathering in front of Jones Auditorium

After you register for StartStrong, the Office of Admissions will confirm your date of participation. 

We look forward to seeing you in June!

Participation is required of all new students. Students who cannot participate due to extreme circumstances will be contacted separately.

Admission Counselors Checking StartStrong Students

Not yet sure what you plan to study? No problem! Many first-year students are undecided about their majors, and one in three change their major at least once. Meredith offers more than 90 majors, minors, and academic programs. Feel free to explore your options – that’s what college is all about. 

At Meredith, students discover what makes them uniquely strong and then learn how to use their strengths to prepare for the life they want to lead. Find out what makes you strong.

At Meredith, students discover what makes them uniquely strong and then learn how to use their strengths to prepare for the life they want to lead. Find out what makes you strong.