New Undergraduate Student Orientation

Were you involved in community service in high school? Are you hoping to grow as a leader? Do you want to engage in the Brandeis and Waltham communities? Join other actively engaged peers in discovering how service can become part of your identity at Brandeis, while gaining the tools you need to become a leader in your new community. 

Participants will actively engage in community service, discover and reflect on the diverse populations, perspectives, and roles that exist in the Waltham and greater Boston communities; develop leadership skills; and become part of a community committed to personal growth through service and reflection.  

Students will explore the city of Waltham through the lens of community engagement, social justice, and local activism, while building relationships with prominent student leaders, faculty members, and community partners who are actively engaged in this work. Participants will leave the program with the connections, skills, and knowledge to jump into service at Brandeis and have a positive impact on their new community.

Queer Academics and Activism (QAA) will offer first-year students a thought-provoking examination of the many dimensions of queer lives and experiences in the United States: the history of struggles around LGBTQIA+ rights, the development of queer activism, the intersections of queerness with questions of race, class, gender, and other vectors of oppression, and how scholars have theorized these realities. 

Students will have the opportunity to learn from renowned faculty members in the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Brandeis as well as to hear about queer life and resources on campus. Through lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and seminar-style discussions, students will be introduced to an intersectional approach to queer theory and queer studies, and the relationship between queer studies and queer activism. In the process, students will learn about opportunities to contribute to queer community progress and forge memorable, lasting friendships in a safe space for personal growth through a well-rounded understanding of their place in history.

Starting college is exciting and it is also a big transition full of new experiences and challenges! RISE is a Pre-Orientation program for students who would benefit from learning skills to help them thrive in college, supporting their mental wellbeing and academic success.

This program is designed for students who would like some extra support in navigating the transition to college, especially those who have previously experienced mental health challenges like depression and/or anxiety as well as students who identify as neurodivergent. This is a great opportunity to connect with new friends and to learn about resources to support your mental health and wellbeing at Brandeis.

Students will engage with faculty, Brandeis Counseling Center clinicians, and other professional departments on campus. The weekend includes fun activities to get to know the Brandeis community, an introduction to navigating college life and opportunities to connect with Brandeis students.

Join Brandeis Hillel student leaders and staff for the Hillel First Year Retreat from Friday, August 23 to Sunday, August 25 at Brandeis University during Pre-Orientation.

This is a great opportunity to connect with new friends and to learn about Jewish life at Brandeis while enjoying a beautiful Shabbat together. The weekend includes fun activities and games, spirited services, delicious kosher meals, as well as a special late-night activity off-campus on Saturday night.

The retreat welcomes students of all Jewish backgrounds and practices. If you have questions about the retreat, please email hillel@brandeis.edu

This Social Justice Pre-Orientation program is a comprehensive experience designed for first year students to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of diversity, equality, inclusion, access, and belonging in society. Through this program, students will explore historical and contemporary issues related to social justice, racism, biases, and discrimination. The course will combine theoretical and practical knowledge to enhance the students' awareness of the role they play in creating a more equitable and inclusive community, both on-campus and in their future careers.

Throughout the program, students will engage in open and honest discussions around topics such as cultural sensitivity, bystander intervention, and having difficult conversations. The program will equip students with the skills to address and challenge biases and empower them to advocate for social justice and inclusion, creating a safer and more welcoming space for everyone. Participants will also examine the Civil Rights Movement and learn from best practices for creating and sustaining healthy, inclusive communities. The DEI Pre-Orientation aims to expose students to diverse perspectives and foster a greater appreciation for the value of equity and inclusion in building a more just and equitable society.

There will be an opportunity for ongoing engagement in DEI advocacy during the academic year for those students interested.

Are you looking for an outdoor adventure in one of New England’s most gorgeous environments? Outdoor Service Pre-Orientation is a program designed to help incoming students build connections with the outdoors and each other as they prepare for college life. Participants of this Pre-O will embark on a trip to New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Based out of the Appalachian Mountain Club Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch, participants will have the opportunity to engage in various outdoor activities such as trail work, hiking, and team-building exercises. These experiences will foster a sense of community and camaraderie among the new students, while also introducing them to the beauty of the region's natural surroundings. Students will learn the importance of trail work and outdoor stewardship and will get the opportunity to do some trail work of their own.

The program will be led by current Brandeis Mountain Club leaders who have undergone extensive training in outdoor leadership, interpersonal skills, and group facilitation, and will also be supervised by university staff members. Alongside official AMC trail guides, these student leaders will serve as mentors, helping incoming students navigate the transition to college life and providing a welcoming environment for them to connect with their peers.

Outdoor Service Pre-O aims to create a strong foundation for new Brandeis students, allowing them to forge meaningful connections through shared service in the great outdoors and develop a sense of belonging within the Brandeis community before their first semester begins.

Outdoor Service Pre-O participants will move onto campus on August 22 (timeframe TBD) and will leave early on August 23 to head to the White Mountains. Participants will return on the morning August 25 with plenty of time to get ready for Orientation that afternoon.