Winter 2020 grad orientation
Set yourself up for success.
Concordia’s orientation events will introduce you to useful information, resources and people, in order to ensure as smooth a transition as possible into this new chapter of your academic life.
"Orientation activities not only provide new students with important info, but also give them the opportunity to meet key staff and connect with peers," says Stephanie Whitehouse, manager of services for new students at the Student Success Centre.
From getting acquainted with Concordia’s School of Graduate Studies and your new classmates to tips on how to achieve academic success, Winter Orientation 2020 events are packed with useful information to kick-start your first term.
Here’s a list of what’s happening:
1. Pre-term preparation
Explore services and take advantage of events before your classes start.
Don't forget, the university is closed for the winter break from December 23, 2019 until January 5, 2020, so be proactive and connect with the appropriate staff, faculty and services earlier in December.
Explore Concordia on a campus tour. To discover some of the main buildings and facilities on the Sir George Williams and Loyola campuses, attend a new student tour!
For one-on-one advice, the Welcome Crew is equipped with student mentors available to provide you with guidance and support during your first year at Concordia. You can contact them by email or drop by the Welcome Crew offices any day before or after the winter term starts.
Sign up for the International Students Office (ISO) pre-arrival webinars! Connect remotely with an international student advisor about topics unique to Concordians from abroad.
Find out more about how to prepare yourself in advance of your first term.
2. Start Right Graduate orientation
Graduate students from all faculties are invited to attend this orientation event on Thursday, January 9, which aims to provide new students the basic information they need to start their first term off right.
Before lunch, you'll hear from key staff and faculty about the university system and structure, academic regulations and helpful services and strategies for a successful graduate experience.
After lunch, learning specialists and Welcome Crew mentors from the Student Success Centre will offer short crash courses on key topics such as approaching tasks strategically, staying focused, meeting friends and more!
Enjoy a free lunch, take campus tours and meet other new students throughout the day.
Register for the Start Right Graduate orientation today!
3. Winter Term Welcome
On January 6, the first day of class — which is often a whirlwind of figuring out where to go and who to ask for help — the Welcome Crew will be set up all day to assist you with whatever you're trying to find or do.
"The Welcome Crew mentors were able to share exactly what I needed to know as a new student, all while creating an extremely welcoming and inviting atmosphere," says Rima Oassey, a psychology student and now a Welcome Crew mentor.
If getting to know an experienced student is exactly what you need to make a successful transition into your first year at Concordia, drop by the Winter Term Welcome event anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a coffee and chat. Students can also connect with a mentor for their first year at any time.
4. Graduate school base camp
Don’t miss your chance to get a leg up on your studies by attending Graduate School Base Camp, which provides condensed versions of key GradProSkills workshops, including “Effective Reading Strategies” and “Stress Management Techniques.”
Concordia’s GradProSkills program offers development workshops of an academic and professional nature tailored to the needs of graduate students.
The camp will be held on Thursday, January 16 and registration opens on December 6.
5. Calling all international graduate students
Attend WISE YUL Winter 2020 on Tuesday, January 7 organized by the International Students Office (ISO).
This open-house orientation is designed to help you integrate into life in Montreal. Students can get tips on taking care of administrative details, understanding the university structure, accessing key on-campus resources — like Health Services and the Students Accounts Office — and connecting with fellow students.
Delfine Lambert, interim department and social events coordinator at the ISO, points out the many benefits of attending WISE YUL. "Students will be able to enter their Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and study permit in the portal, apply for their permanent code and learn about their health insurance plan," she says.
"They can also get help finding a student job, learn about free on- and off-campus resources to improve their English and French, and discover what the city and Concordia have to offer."
At WISE YUL, you can pick up free passes to Montreal events and learn about a range of free activities where you can meet new students, both international and local.
Organizations such as I Choose Montréal will also have representatives on hand during the event.
Find out more about services and resources available for new graduate students at Concordia.
