FAQs & Directions to SOAR

Find the Information You Need

Have questions about SOAR? Explore the sections below to find information about orientation requirements, registration, academic advising and directions to your assigned campus. Select a topic to jump directly to that section.

Frequently Asked Questions

New to SOAR or wondering what to expect? Find answers to common questions about orientation requirements, session formats, fees, what to bring and how to prepare. This section is helpful for incoming students and their families who want to know more about the SOAR experience.

SOAR Registration

Ready to register or need to make a change? Learn when registration opens, how to sign up, what virtual options are available and how to update your session. This section is especially helpful for admitted students planning their orientation.

Advising & Scheduling

Wondering when you’ll receive your class schedule or how to connect with your academic advisor? Find information about the advising process, required orientation steps and how your first-semester schedule is created. This section is designed for new students preparing to begin classes.

Directions to SOAR

Planning your visit to campus? Find SOAR check-in locations, campus addresses and directions for the Statesboro, Armstrong, East Georgia–Swainsboro and Liberty campuses. This section is helpful for students and supporters attending an in-person SOAR session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about SOAR, including orientation requirements, session expectations, fees and what to bring. This section is helpful for incoming students and their supporters preparing for the SOAR experience.

SOAR stands for “Southernʼs Orientation Advisement and Registrationˮ. This is a mandatory University-wide initiative that all incoming students must complete prior to enrolling at the institution. SOAR serves as your official commitment and intent to enroll at Georgia Southern. SOAR helps you prepare for classes, connect with campus resources and take your next steps as an Eagle.

SOAR completion is required to attend Georgia Southern. You must complete either an in-person or online SOAR session to enroll in classes and keep your schedule.

Once you have successfully completed your SOAR Registration, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address on your application, your official Georgia Southern Email, AND to any email provided for registered guests. We will send a series of emails as your SOAR date approaches with important details, so keep an eye out for more information.

The length of SOAR depends on your campus and session type. Students are required to attend the full duration of their chosen SOAR session.

Transfer students do not attend a live SOAR session. Instead, they will complete asynchronous Pre-Flight Online Orientation Modules. These will open prior to the start of term and can be found in your Enrollment Portal.

Students can expect to:

  • Become acquainted with key campus departments for their immediate success as a student
  • Learn key online resources that will be used from day one in their Georgia Southern experience
  • Learn how to get involved on campus
  • Learn how to create a schedule and what the academic advising process entails
  • And much more!

For any and all SOAR sessions, please make sure that you have turned in all required paperwork such as final high school transcript, immunization forms, and lawful presence verification to the Admissions Office.

  • Students, please bring the following:
    • Phone charger
    • Weather Appropriate Clothing and/or Umbrella in case of rain
    • Breakout spaces can get chilly, so we recommend bringing a jacket or sweatshirt
    • Athletic shoes for walking
    • Positive attitude!
  • Supporters:
    • Please bring a smiling face! You will be provided with something to write with but please bring anything pertaining to your student you deem necessary.

SOAR completion transfers up to one complete academic year. For example, if you originally intended on attending in the Fall, you could carry over your SOAR completion to the following Spring and Summer semesters, but not the Fall after you completed SOAR. If you completed SOAR for a Spring start, you could attend in the following Summer and Fall, but not the Spring after you originally intended.

Your SOAR fee acts as your official commitment fee to Georgia Southern and reserves your spot as a part of your incoming class. It also covers promotional materials from key campus departments, a student bag and t-shirt, a meal for the day, programming fees, and access to our online orientation portal.

Students who complete a virtual option will receive their t-shirt and other materials in the mail.

All SOAR registration fees are non-refundable. No refunds will be given to students who decide not to attend Georgia Southern after registering for SOAR.

While there is no attendance requirement for parents/supporters, we do highly encourage attendance. Parents and supporters that do attend with their student will be able to take part in the dedicated Supporter orientation that runs concurrent to their studentʼs orientation.

SOAR Registration

Learn how to register for SOAR, explore available session options and find information about registration deadlines and making changes to your reservation.

  • Spring 2027: October 1st
  • Summer & Fall 2027: November 1st

Upon receiving their decision letter from the Office of Admissions, students will be asked to log into their application status portal to review and acknowledge their decision. Once they have done this, they will then be given the option to accept or decline that offer of admission. If students accept that offer, they will then be redirected to the SOAR registration portal where they can access all available options based on their campus and student type.

Yes, virtual sessions are available. First time freshman students can select a Zoom virtual session when they register for SOAR. This is a great option for students that live far away from campus or those with busy summer schedules that need the flexibility. Transfer, adult, and fully online students complete asynchronous Pre-Flight Online Orientation Modules as their SOAR requirement.

The length of SOAR depends on your campus and session type. Students are required to attend the full duration of their chosen SOAR session.

All in-person sessions are campus specific. If you change your campus, you will need to reach out to our team to get you changed to another in-person session that corresponds to your new campus.

Absolutely! You can go into your Application Status Portal and select the “edit registrationˮ button to change to another session in your currently selected modality. If you need to make a move from virtual to in-person or vice-versa, you may need to contact the SOAR team at

Yes! If you are experiencing scheduling conflicts that may prevent you from attending on any of the scheduled SOAR dates, please reach out to the Office of New Student and Family Programs directly at orientation@georgiasouthern.edu to explain your situation and discuss alternative arrangements.

Students changing their major within the same campus can keep their scheduled SOAR session. Please contact advising@georgiasouthern.edu so the advising team can update your advising questionnaire.

Advising & Scheduling

Learn how the academic advising process works, when to expect your first-semester course schedule and how to connect with your academic advisor.

Course schedules are constructed after you complete your Pre-Flight Modules and Advising Questionnaire. For your first semester at Georgia Southern, your academic advisor will create your schedule based on your responses to the Advising Questionnaire and class availability on your campus.

Students are assigned an advisor after completing the following steps:

  • Submission of SOAR registration
  • Completion of Advising Questionnaire
  • Completion of Pre-Flight Online Orientation Modules

Once an advisor is assigned, you can find and contact your academic advisor in GS Connect within your MyGeorgiaSouthern portal. You will receive an email from the advising team once your schedule is available. Students with questions at that time can reach out to their advisor.

No. As a new student at Georgia Southern, your first-semester schedule will be pre-built for you by the advising team. Your first-semester schedule will enter the build queue after you complete the following:

  • Submission of SOAR registration
  • Completion of Advising Questionnaire
  • Completion of Pre-Flight Online Orientation Modules

Once an advisor is assigned, you can find and contact your academic advisor in GS Connect within your MyGeorgiaSouthern portal. You will receive an email from the advising team once your schedule is available. Students with questions at that time can reach out to their advisor.

Directions to SOAR

Select your assigned campus below to view the location and directions for your SOAR session.

Check-in for SOAR on the Statesboro Campus will be inside the Nessmith-Lane Center.

Address: 847 Plant Dr, Statesboro, GA 30458

Check-in for SOAR at the East Georgia Center will be inside the Nessmith-Lane Center.

Address: 847 Plant Dr, Statesboro, GA 30458

Check-in for SOAR on the Armstrong Campus will be inside the Student Union.

Address: 11935 Library Dr., Savannah, GA

Check-in for SOAR on the East Georgia Campus will be inside the Gambrell Builidng.

Address: 131 College Circle, Swainsboro, GA 30401

SOAR Check-in on the Liberty Campus will be located as listed below:

Address: 175 West Memorial Drive, Hinesville, Georgia 31313

We’re Here to Help!

If you have more specific questions for the advising team, please reach out to them directly at advising@georgiasouthern.edu or 912-478-3939.

Other Contacts for questions related to new student enrollment: