How to Get The Most Out of Orientation
Orientation! That week (or day) before classes starts where new students are encouraged to turn up at university to learn their way around, take tours, sign up for clubs, make friends, and eat free snacks. It’s viewed by most senior uni students as not worth attending, but if you’re new to university life, it can be a vital first step in getting accustomed to it all before classes start, and you have more important things to worry about, like assignments and getting places on time.
I only have one day to do my orientation this year, which is fine by me, because all the things I need to do are going to be happening on the same day anyway. I’ll put a picture of my planner for the day down at the end, but first I’m going to share with you a few of my tips for making the most out of orientation, whether you have one day, or an entire week.
1. Actually Go: you wouldn’t believe the amount of people who think that since Orientation isn’t compulsory, that attending isn’t worth going to. In reality, Orientation is a great time to do a whole heap of things that you won’t have time for once classes start.
2. Register for Information Sessions: Look on your university’s student portal to see if they are running information sessions. Most university will run one for the individual courses, and sometimes they also run ones on topics such as using the library, success in your first semester, and study skills.
3. Visit the Club Stalls: If your university has clubs and societies, they will likely all have little stalls set up in one of the common areas where you can visit to get information about the clubs, and even sign up if that’s something you’re interested in.
4. Find Your Classrooms: One of the most important things to do during orientation is to work out where all your classes are going to be. If you don’t understand the room codes, ask someone. There are usually people on-campus to help students with any questions. Once you know where your classroom is, actually go there. If you know what the room looks like, and where it is, and how to get there, it will save you precious time in the first week or so of classes.
5. Do any Administrative Things: This could include purchasing course materials from the on-campus bookshop (if you have one), collecting your student ID card, having meetings with professors if you have specific needs, and organising the little things like renting a locker or a bicycle parking space (if those are things you need to do).
This is the little planner sheet I’ve made for my Orientation Day. I’m attending two information sessions, one is an introduction to the Bachelor of Education, and the second is on Success in the First Semester. I also have a few little things to do like finding my classrooms and lecture theatres, picking up my textbooks from the bookshop, and collecting my student ID. I also have a meeting with my disability advisor to talk about some of the adjustments I need for my classes.