What Is Meant by Orientation Week?
The orientation week is the first of many exciting events for new students in their university journey. The name of this event may differ across universities, and students also give it various nicknames. It is called “freshman week”, “freshers’ week”, “frosh week”, “welcome week”, “O-week”, and so on. Student orientation goes by many different names, but its purpose is the same: to welcome and introduce new students to the academic community.
When does orientation week take place?
Typically, the student orientation week takes place one or two weeks prior to the start of the academic year. The event is spread over the entire week as it includes many activities that are meant to orient new students to what will be their second home for the next three or four years. The orientation week is particularly important for international students who have just set foot in the country and need all the information they can obtain before the official start of the academic year.
Does everyone have to attend orientation week?
The orientation week usually includes a nice mix of academic and social activities that will introduce new students to university life and their future colleagues. It is not absolutely required to attend all activities during the orientation week, but there are certain mandatory and recommended sessions that you really should pay attention to.
For example, all international students are required to attend official information sessions organized by your college or faculty. Other sessions that are held by various student organizations, such as those aimed at meeting new people and inviting you to join student clubs, are not really mandatory, but still highly recommended.
A few weeks prior to the start of the academic year, the university will send you a formal invitation to attend the orientation week. Along with this invitation, you will receive a complete list of programs or a link to the website where you can see all the activities scheduled for the week. Look at it carefully to choose the activities you want to join and plan your schedule accordingly.
What are the usual activities during orientation week?
As mentioned above, this event includes a variety of activities to acclimatize new students, especially international students, to university life. The orientation week usually starts with formal sessions hosted by the university and its faculties and schools, as well as mandatory and recommended sessions for foreign students.
Throughout the week, there will also be numerous social and academic sessions that you can attend. Among the most helpful activities that you can join is the campus tour, which will help you easily navigate your new surroundings and keep you from getting lost and being late for classes.
There will also be plenty of information sessions on various academic services, such as library, accommodation, healthcare, student services, IT services, and so on. However, the most popular activities are those that involve socializing and meeting new people. Campus associations and clubs will be inviting new students to join them. This is a great opportunity to find a group that shares your passions or hobbies. Joining such a group will help create a balance in the challenging university life.
Final thoughts
University life can be very challenging, but it can also be a lot of fun, and years at university can even be the most memorable years of your life. The orientation week will certainly get you started on the right foot. So, open yourself up to experience new things, have fun and start your university journey with a bang!
