New Graduate Student Orientation 2009 will be held Monday, September 14, 2009, on the Evanston Campus.  In addition to opening remarks from President Schapiro, a lunch reception, tours, and a resource fair, The Graduate School is developing several breakout sessions that we feel will be extremely informative and useful.

Registration is now open.

Getting to Orientation

Norris University Center is located in the heart of the Evanston Campus, at 1999 Campus Drive.  Pick-Staiger Concert Hall is located just to the south of the Norris University Center at 50 Arts Circle Drive. For more detailed maps of the Evanston Campus, see Northwestern's campus maps.

There are a variety of public transportation options available to those traveling to Evanston and the Northwestern campus.  The Chicago Transit Authority, Pace Bus system, and Metra Rail all offer service to Evanston, and the Intercampus Shuttle connects students traveling from Northwestern's Chicago campus.  Students who will be driving to campus may park in the South Beach two level structure south of Norris Center (# 214/215 on Parking Services' map) without worry of being ticketed the day of orientation.  Please note that some campus parking areas will be closed/restricted to allow students to move in to their on-campus residences.

Please be prepared to be on the Evanston campus for the full day of NU Beginnings, from 9am until 5pm. And if you'd like, stick around afterwards to join other incoming students and Student Services Staff for happy hour!

Schedule

Sessions Available:

Career Planning: Maximizing Career Services Throughout Your Academic Years
Many students wait too late to develop plans for life after graduate school. Often, the result is that students have missed very important opportunities and valuable information. This presentation will provide you information regarding how to maximize the free services offered by University Career Services. Start planning NOW for life after degree completion.

Computing and Technology Resources for Graduate Students
A basic introduction to computing systems and technology services at Northwestern that an incoming graduate student is likely to use. Information about Net ID, e-mail, calendaring, IM, and document sharing accounts, free-for-download and deeply-discounted software, the Course Management System, CAESAR, wireless access to the NU Network, support services, and core online services will be detailed.  There will be time for questions.

Connections: Catalyst to Success
A panel of graduate students will discuss how networking with faculty members, peers, and departmental staff advanced their graduate studies. Then, new students can experience the value of networking with peers as the floor is opened to questions. Please bring your questions, concerns, and curiosity to this special discussion. No administrators or faculty will be in the room for the Q&A part of the session; so, please feel free to ask anything.

Fellowships, Grants, and Scholarships: Somebody Else’s Nickel
This session will introduce the Office of Fellowship and its staff. The Office of Fellowships aids students who apply for external fellowships. We will discuss your search for external funding and outline successful strategies for constructing a strong application package.

Graduate Student Loans for Master's Students
An in-depth question and answer session for Master’s-level student loan borrowers.

How Teaching Can Help You Survive Graduate School
Come to this session to discuss how you can use your required teaching duties to help you in graduate school. Learn how to successfully navigate the sometimes overwhelming world of TAing and teaching at Northwestern. Come with your questions and concerns about how to make the most of your TAships, how to gain the skills you need to teach at the college level (even after you finish at NU), and how to balance the often competing demands of teaching and research.

Interdisciplinary Study and Research at Northwestern
Interdisciplinary study is a hallmark of Northwestern's excellence. This session will detail The Graduate School's Interdisciplinary Cluster Initiative, and how students can benefit from connecting and working with other students and faculty across disciplines.

International Office Immigration Make-Up Session
This session will cover basic immigration information pertaining to international graduate students in F-1 or J-1 status. This is mandatory session for international graduate students who did not attend the International Office’s graduate student orientation on Friday, September 11.

Mind, Body, and Spirit: Taking Care of You During Graduate School
Graduate school can be a wonderful, exciting, and challenging experience. It can also bring with it new stressors. This presentation looks at ways to keep yourself healthy and develop balance while in graduate school.

Navigating CAESAR
Learn how to navigate CAESAR, Northwestern's online student services site. Get tips to make your first registration quick and painless including what to do to avoid a registration hold, and how to search for classes. Learn essential skills like adding and dropping, ordering transcripts, and how to get help when you're stuck.

Path to Understanding Your Financial Landscape
Policy and procedures from Payroll, Student Accounts and The Graduate School as well as a brief presentation on taxes.

Professional Success in Diverse Environments
This session will feature diverse situations in classroom settings and diversity experiences of Northwestern current students to make all new students aware of the great diversity of backgrounds and cultures at NU and to get them to open their thoughts to what constitutes good behavior in a richly diverse population – including how their behavior may be viewed by others both in real life as well as online.

The Role of Your Advisor – Faculty View
When should a student expect to find an advisor? What should the student do to find an advisor? What should the student expect from his or her advisor at various points in their degree progress?

Student Health Services and Student Health Insurance at Northwestern
The Director of the University Health Service and the Coordinator of the Student Health Insurance Office will discuss student health services on campus, and the University-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan.