"Freshman Day" was first instituted at Iowa State College (University) during the fall quarter of 1926. The next year the program was expanded from one to three days during which students were required to have a physical examination by the campus physician, register for classes, and attend a convocation held in State Gym.



Freshman Days continued to expand and change over the coming years. A system of Junior College counselors was first introduced in 1928, but was eventually phased out in the late 1950s. Students were given a psychological exam administered by the Psychology Department starting in 1929 and several years later, in 1933, the English Placement exam administered by the English Department was first mentioned in the Freshman Days program.



In 1960, two significant changes occurred in regards to Freshman Days. One was the change of name from Freshman Days to Orientation Days. The other was the creation of a summer orientation program. The summer program was in addition to the fall program, which students were still required to attend in order to register for classes. The summer orientation program eventually became the main orientation program for students in the coming years.



First introduced in 1969, the Cyclone Aides consist of upperclassmen whose main responsibility is to guide new students through orientation activities and events. They conduct campus tours, answer questions from students and parents, and give presentations on student life and the University to new students and their families.