Take the next step in your transition to Cyclone life.
Destination Iowa State

Adventure ahead
New opportunities
Discover all that Iowa State has to offer at Destination Iowa State. Take the next step in your transition to Cyclone life.
This action-packed event takes place prior to the start of classes and provides you with an opportunity to:
- Make connections
- Team up with fellow new students and learn together. Journey through Iowa State with your Team Leader, an experienced upper-class student.
- Explore campus
- Travel throughout campus and discover your new favorite café, study nook, or hammock spot.
- Prep for classes
- Find your classrooms, learn about technology, and set your mind toward academic success.
- Experience traditions
- Create Hilton Magic, find Lancelot and Elaine, and meet Cy.
- Be well. Be safe. Be resourceful.
- Discover resources and plan for ways to keep you and your fellow Cyclones safe and well.
- Join Cyclone Nation
- Become a part of the Iowa State community and take advantage of the Cyclone Nation network.
Thursday, August 17, 2023: Traditions in the Making
5:00–6:30 p.m. |
Destination Iowa State Check-in Get your exclusive Iowa State gear. Remember to bring your ISUCard! |
Scheman Building, Iowa State Center |
5:00–7:00 p.m. |
Center of ExCYtement Meet your DIS Team Leader and the other members of your team. Enjoy a picnic meal and explore ways you can get involved on campus as you prepare for Destination Iowa State 2023! |
Lot C-2, South of Hilton Coliseum |
7:15 p.m. |
Destination Iowa State Kickoff Rally together to celebrate the beginning of the new school year with Iowa State traditions and a few special guests. Experience Hilton Magic the moment you become a Cyclone. |
Hilton Coliseum |
Friday, August 18, 2023: Success in the Making
8:30–11:00 a.m. |
Breakfast on Central Campus Join your team at your assigned time to kick-start your day with a delicious pancake breakfast. Meet up with your team and plan for the fun day ahead! |
Central Campus by Curtis Hall |
Assigned times |
Cyclone Skills Gather with other members of your team to share advice, get tips for academic success in and out of the classroom, build connections, explore Iowa State tech, and make plans for the semester ahead. |
Various campus locations |
10:00 a.m.–noon |
TRANSFERmation Network with other transfer students. Learn how to thrive during your first semester at Iowa State and hear about campus resources from a transfer student perspective. |
Memorial Union |
2:00–4:00 p.m. |
Clone Quest Get moving and explore campus during this interactive, app-based scavenger hunt. Take photos, answer trivia questions, and search for the Secret Cy’s to win fabulous prizes. Download Scavify to start the quest. |
Iowa State campus |
8:00–11:00 p.m. |
Late Night at the Memorial Union Take over the Memorial Union with your group for three full hours of activities, music, food, and fun all showcasing the activities that make up your Memorial Union! |
Memorial Union |
Saturday, August 19, 2023: Community in the Making
Assigned times |
One Cyclone One Cyclone. One Campus. One Conversation. During this thought-provoking, interactive program, you will examine you own identity and understand that others think, act, look, feel, and live differently from you. One Cyclone encourages you to openly discuss your own feelings as you begin to understand how each one of us belongs to Cyclone Nation. |
Memorial Union |
Assigned times |
Green Dot Green Dot at DIS is an interactive presentation that introduces Green Dot – a power-based violence prevention program. You’ll learn knowledge and skills to increase your proactive and reactive bystander behaviors and be prepared to use what you have learned to reduce power-based personal violence. Be part of creating a campus community that does not tolerate violence. |
Various campus locations |
8:00–10:00 p.m. |
Hypnotist and comedian Chris Jones SEE the show or BE the show with star of America’s Got Talent, Chris Jones. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. |
Hilton Coliseum |