Congratulations on receiving orders to the Naval Postgraduate School in beautiful Monterey, California. Your first week here will be very busy. It is highly suggested that you arrive one week prior to the beginning of classes to complete the check-in process. If you arrive at NPS during Student Services' normal working hours (Monday-Thursday 0700-1600, and Friday from 0700-1400), please make us your first stop. We are located in the Basement of the Historic Herrmann Hall. If you arrive on the weekend or after Student Services' normal working hours you should check in with at quarterdeck, located on the main floor of Herrmann Hall, to get your orders stamped.
Uniform of the Day
You must check in to Student Services in the proper uniform of the day. See Chart below for uniform guidance:
| Service | Winter | Summer |
| Navy | SDB | Summer Whites |
| Marine Corps | Service Alpha | Service Alpha |
| Army | Class A | Class B (Short or Long Sleeves) |
| Air Force | Service Dress | Long or Short Sleeves |
| Coast Guard | Service Dress Blues | Tropical Blue |
| International Officers | Service Equivalent | Service Equivalent |
Civilian Students should be in Business Casual Attire.
While in Student Services, you will complete your check-in to the PYTHON system and check-in your Medical and Dental records. Upon completion of the Student Services check-in process--this takes approximately 15-20 minutes--you will receive a Check-In Sheet to be completed before instruction begins. If you check in for the Winter Quarter (beginning in January) or the Summer Quarter (beginning in July), your instruction normally begins the day after the New Student/Faculty/Staff Orientation; otherwise you will begin instruction the following Monday. Holidays can throw this schedule off - so be sure to check with Student Services.
Orientation
Before instruction begins, there is a mandatory New Student Orientation. This Orientation is held in the King Hall Auditorium, in the uniform of the day. The New Student Orientation lasts for one day, begins at 0800 and will last between 3-4 hours. Orientation will include welcome aboard briefs from the Dean of Students and various other important student-centric briefs.
Your respective Graduate School will most likely conduct its own Students Only - New Student Orientation. Dates and times for these vary based on the Academic Quarter.
During the rest of the week (depending on how soon you check in before classes start) you will be locating/moving into housing, completing the Student Check-In Sheet, purchasing books for your first classes, and possibly shopping for the proper dress attire (business casual). With all of these events, please plan accordingly so as to make your first week at NPS a smooth transition.