Design Media Arts Transfers, is New Student Orientation necessary?

Hi, thanks for reading.

I will be transferring to DESMA in the Fall, and I’m wondering if the New Student Orientation is necessary for that particular department.

They told me that if I want to skip it (due to cost issues), I would have to wait until September to see a counselor, and figure out which of my classes can transfer over as the pre-requisites. Because you guys should know how confusing their requirements are!

Do they only split the classes between the various orientation dates? Or do they keep a supply of open classes for the rest of the non-orientation students?

And DESMA is a pretty small department, also. So the classes shouldn’t fill up, right? Or, is waiting to see a counselor/enroll like 2 weeks prior to classes starting, a bad idea?

I would love some advice about the orientation from the students with either experience. Thank you, guys.