Orientation

Colleges and Universities A-Z Smith College
1

<p>My dad is trying to make reservations for the Autumn Inn for the Pre-orientation/ orientation week and he is trying to figure out the best day to stay there to help me unpack my stuff.</p>

<p>The problem is that Pre-Orientation ends on Aug. 31st and Orientation starts on Sept. 2nd. What happens with that day in between? Can I offically move into my house or will i still be in the house that my pre-orientation group was assigned to?</p>

<p>Also, if anyone has a copy of the schedule from last year, it would be really helpful, just to give me an idea of what goes on.</p>

2

<p>Yes, if you are in a pre-orientation program you will be able to move into your house and do all the registration stuff the day between. A good day for all the shopping of things you did not bring from home. The school runs buses to the Hampshire Mall for those students who don't have family around.
We are on the west coast and my D and I flew in the night before preorientation, then I went to visit an old friend. We met up the day between and spent way too much time shopping for either of our tastes. I left the afternoon orientation started.
Ellen</p>

3

<p>Check with Randy, but, as in the past, you should be able to move in to your house the day <em>before</em> pre-orientation begins, giving you Sept 1st to relax or shop with your parents and not have to worry about moving in to the house.
Additionally, you’ll know what you need for your room by moving in earlier, therefore; you can shop that afternoon/evening, or your parents can shop while you're at pre-ordination to make the 1st even more relaxing and stress free--not that shopping is stressful for many I’m familiar with.:)</p>

<p>You'll stay in a temp. house for pre orientation, so pack what you’ll need for those days in a separate suitcase.</p>

4

<p>It is the same situation as yrs. past. I should have checked this first. <a href="http://www.smith.edu/sao/firstyear/stud_firstpreorient2.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.smith.edu/sao/firstyear/stud_firstpreorient2.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>“When possible, and in most cases, we will be able to give you a key to your permanent room when you arrive for pre-orientation so you can move everything into your permanent room except what you need for pre-orientation. If we cannot give you access to your permanent room at that time because another program is taking place in your permanent house, we will provide a locked storage area in your permanent house”</p>

<p>Another advantage to moving in the 27th or 28th, depending on which program you’re in, you’ll not have to fight for parking or try to be moving in to your house when it’s far more congested due to the returning classes and other 1st yrs.
You also have the HONS-- heads of new students—almost exclusively to yourself to help you move—i.e help unload and carry your belongings to your room. Parents love the help.</p>

5

<p>Pro-orientation is only for first years, right? And orientation is for all entering students?</p>

6

<p>Pre and orientation are for 1st years. Adas have their own orientation program. Does that help?</p>

7

<p>That's what I thought, but I saw this on the Smith site:
"This year's orientation begins on Saturday, September 2, 2006. All entering undergraduate students are required to attend orientation. Entering students include the class of 2010 (first-year students), transfer students, exchange and visiting students from other colleges, and Ada Comstock Scholars." </p>

<p>and I wasn't sure. I suppose I could wait until I get official word from Smith. :)</p>

8

<p>You are required to be there Sept 2nd for orientation. The Smith site doesn't mention you'll be with a group specifically for Adas.</p>

<p>Btw—Congratulaions. I’m impressed by your dedication and all the hard work you must have done to be admitted.
You'll do great :)</p>

9

<p>Stolenshovel, they did pilot a Pre-O program with a small group of ADA students last year, but I have no idea whether they are going to do it again. </p>

<p>During regular orientation many of the sessions are with other ADA students, some are with all of the incoming students, some are by choice and a couple are with your house (if you choose campus housing). In reality, they let you know on the schedule which sessions are mandatory and the rest of the time you can choose the sessions that you're most interested in at the times that work for you. For example, there will be several library orientation sessions scheduled and one of them is specifically set up for ADAs. However, if you can't make that one, you can go to any of the others. </p>

<p>The best part of orientation is getting to know the other students -- both ADAs and trads. Outside of the scheduled sessions, I spent quite a bit of time with the students in my house because the HONs did a great job of getting everyone together. </p>

<p>BTW, congratulations and see you in September.</p>