Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

• On Monday, August 19, you check in at HGS 119 to begin the Orientation process, clear any holds, and receive your Yale ID and orientation materials.
• Bring a photo ID, your I-9 and other documents listed on the Checklist page under the section “Documents Required for Check-in at Orientation (August 19).”
• As part of the check-in process, you will receive your Yale student ID card, your I-9 form will be processed, and a Health Hold review will be conducted. Graduate School staff will answer questions and provide information.
• Graduate Dormitory Move-in Weekend takes place Friday-Sunday, August 16-18. Yale Graduate Dorm key release and move-in is administered separately by the Graduate Housing Office (not by the Graduate School).
• International Students must check in separately with the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS). If you are an international student, one of the first things you must do after you arrive in New Haven is report to the OISS. This is a U.S. Immigration requirement, and failure to do so could result in loss of your legal status in the U.S.  The OISS check-in process takes about 1.5 hours and can be scheduled in advance. Note that your ID is NOT received at OISS check-in, but only at the GSAS check-in at HGS. IMPORTANT: Do NOT schedule OISS check-in for Thursday, August 22, GS Matriculation day, as you must attend important GSAS events on that day. In addition to checking in with OISS, all new GSAS international students must attend the GSAS Orientation events (see the GSAS calendar online for details).

• Pick which events you will attend. After resolving any issues at Check-in, you can choose participate in a variety of informational and social events, help sessions, giant resource fairs, and campus and city tours during the Orientation week. See the GSAS calendar online for details.
• Orientation comprises many small group tours, quick info sessions, resource fairs, and socials in and around campus. It does not involve long presentations to huge groups in an auditorium. Many events, like tours for Yale Health and for Yale libraries, are repeated during the week, so you can pick one that works with your schedule.
• Orientation is open to you and your family members. Activities in the GSAS calendar online are open to all new students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and spouses, partners and children are welcome to attend as listed or as appropriate. Events are free unless otherwise noted, and certain events require advance registration.
• There are specific activities for international students, student spouses and partners, students with children, women and students of color. Attend any events you may deem relevant to your own situation.
• Department and Degree Program Orientation events are held on Monday, August 26 or Tuesday, August 27. Contact your department or degree program for more information.
• GSAS classes begin Wednesday, August 28. There is no pre-registration for courses at Yale. Starting Friday, August 23 you can begin choosing courses online with your NetID. You can attend courses of interest during the first two weeks of each term to see if they meet your needs (called “Shopping” at Yale). You must complete online course registration by mid-September.

The highlight of Orientation week is the Matriculation Day. At the Matriculation Ceremony at Sprague Hall, President Peter Salovey and GSAS Dean Tom Pollard officially welcome graduate students to the University. The Ceremony is followed by a reception at the President’s House, weather permitting, and a picnic lunch in the tent in the HGS courtyard. Spouses, partners, children and parents are welcome to attend through lunchtime. After lunch, informational sessions required for New Students are held.

In addition to the Checklist and Orientation calendar pages on this website, we have an Online Orientation Guide for all new GSAS students. Available during the summer of 2013, this guide provides transition information and a virtual Orientation packet of links, information, maps, brochures, and calendars. We host facilitated chats, conduct quick polls, and post messages and deadline reminders there throughout the summer. Access the guide by logging into the Classes*v2 website with your Yale NetID.