Harper College

Top 3 Facts about Orientation

What happens at orientation?

  • “Orientation” is a global term which describes one or more steps in the enrollment process. Students often need to complete placement exams prior to advising and course selection. At Harper, students receive access to the MyHarper Student Portal after they apply. There, they can schedule appointments online for testing and Orientation. There is a specially-designed “Getting Started” tab in the portal to guide students through the process. It’s fully customized to your student’s info related to transcripts, test scores, financial aid status and more. 
  • Tuition and fees–when are they due? One of the most common questions. Each college or university will describe their tuition and payment policy based on their rules and rates. At Harper, tuition is calculated by credit hour. Students enroll in courses at Harper during their Orientation/Advising visit to campus and have 48 hours to either pay in full or set up a payment plan. At all campuses, parents and family members are interested in financial aid information.
  • Who helps my student with course selection, registration, campus tours, general questions, etc.? At Harper, we offer individualized advising to all new students. During Orientation, your student will meet one-to-one with an advisor to select courses that are appropriate for his/her program of study (major) and goals. Like many four-year colleges and universities, we also have the Harper One Stop designed to provide all of the support your student might need for everything from registration/enrollment questions to financial aid to transcripts and records and much more.

Questions?

If you are interested in learning more, visit Center for New Students for more details, or contact us at any time at 847.925.6208.

Last Updated: 4/21/26