School of Media Studies

5 Things You MUST Do at Orientation

This post is part of the SMS Advising Series for New Students. All posts are designed and curated to make the lives of newly admitted students much easier. From academic resources to having a social life in NYC, we want to make sure that our students get the best of ALL worlds!

5 Things You MUST Do at Orientation

Nervous about what to do at the orientation looming around the corner? Don’t be! We have a list of things you should definitely do at the event to make the most of your experience.

If you are an online student or unable to attend, this event will be recorded and live streamed so keep a look out for links from us!

• Talk to Faculty: It goes without saying that the orientation event is your perfect chance to get to know the faculty members in a semi-informal setting. It is always a good idea to look at your assigned faculty in advance and come prepared with pertaining questions that you might want answers. We will also be sharing a list of their research areas at orientation so you can speak to them about what spikes your interest. Online students and those unable to attend should not worry as our faculty members are very approachable via email. It is highly encouraged to connect with them with any questions or concerns you may have.
• Mingle with Peers: If you are nervous about fitting in, orientation is your chance to get to know your peers. Make sure you socialize with not only students from your program but also from other programs as it might give you insight for future projects.
  Online students, you’ll get to know your classmates in class discussions and through group projects. You’ll also have introductions during your first class sessions!
• Discuss Interests and Future Collaborations: Group projects and collaborations are an important part of Grad School. It is inevitable that you will have to work with other students. Take orientation as a chance to discuss your interests with your peers. Knowing your peers’ areas of interest is going to help you with future collaborations as you won’t have to search far and wide for people to work with.  
• Guidebook is Your Friend: Download the Guidebook App to see and RSVP for the full list of New School university-wide orientation events. You’ll want to search for “The New School New Student Orientation and Welcome Weekend 2019” to view the full guide of events. You can then view the events by different categories, such as “Required, Priority, Belonging, Engaging, Making, Navigating, and Wellbeing.” Some specific ones we recommend are:  
  • International Students: All international students studying on-campus in New York must attend a mandatory orientation. There are multiple sessions on Tuesday, August 20 – be sure to register for one!
  • Provost’s Welcome: Wednesday, August 21 – 6:00 p.m., University Center. This event will be recorded for online students and those unable to attend. 

ASK QUESTIONS! You must have heard there’s no such thing as a wrong answer? Well, there’s no such thing as a wrong question either. Make sure you ask plenty of questions.  The SMS Advising team and faculty members will be present at orientation and available online via email and Zoom throughout the semester to assist with any queries and questions you may have!

Written and curated by: Eliya Raza Shamsi

Eliya Raza Shamsi a New York/Karachi based Digital Content Enthusiast, Ailurophile and Potterhead pursuing her Masters in Media Management at The New School. She has worked as a Copywriter, Production Manager and Digital Media Strategist in Karachi, Pakistan. In addition to currently serving as the Graduate Student Advisor at the School of Media Studies, she also works as a Producer for various short film and music video projects here in New York.

Also check out our 3 Amazing Discounts to Take Advantage of as a New School Student, Three Ways to Connect with Fellow TNS Students,  4 Online Resources Offered by The New School, 5 On-Campus Resources You NEED to Know,  Who is Media Studies Advising?, Tips on Thriving in your First Semester and What to Expect at Orientation posts!