As our newest community members, you’re invited to connect with peers and upperclass students through one of our immersive Pre-Orientation Programs.
Pre-Orientation is an optional opportunity open to incoming first-year students (except the International Student Welcome, which is required for F1 students). Programs are designed around a specific focus and serve to connect students with various aspects of the Emory community.
We encourage incoming first-year students to review the different programs, their focus, and registration information below to see if they are interested in signing up for a Pre-Orientation Program. Keep in mind that students may only participate in one Pre-Orientation Program, as the schedules directly overlap.
Registration opens in May. Please check back soon for more details.
Please note that the Pre-Orientation Programs listed on this website are only open to first-year students on the Atlanta campus.
If you are interested in participating in a Pre-Orientation program on the Oxford campus, you can learn more about Oxford's Ignite Leadership Program and Oxford's International Student Welcome.
Ignite
Description: An immersive and interactive 5-day experience for incoming first-year students dedicated to building community before Orientation begins. Ignite provides opportunities to explore Atlanta, connect with faculty and staff, and find community among peers as you settle into your new home at Emory. As an Ignite participant, you will engage in experiential and reflective activities related to self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills.
During part of the week, we will break out into smaller cohorts that are focused on areas of interest. This gives participants the opportunity to engage with students outside of their assigned small group, meet faculty and staff from different areas on campus, and explore interest areas -- including ways to engage with different communities at Emory. Here are the Pre-Orientation tracks for 2023:
Number of Participants: 290
Type of Registration: First come, first served
Cost: $225
Program Contact: kaleo.laymon@emory.edu
(If you are an incoming first-year student on the Oxford campus, you can view more information on the the Oxford Ignite Pre-Orientation Program website.)
International Student Welcome (ISW)
Description: A special pre-orientation program designed for students who have grown up primarily or exclusively outside the United States. Students attending Emory on an F1 visa are required to attend.
Number of Participants: 300
Type of Registration: Invite only
Cost: $240
Summer Outdoor Adventure Retreat (SOAR)
Description: A program for incoming first-years dedicated to building community through outdoor adventure immediately before Orientation.
Number of Participants: 96
Type of Registration: First come, first served
Cost: $275
Program Contact: adventure@emory.edu
Welcoming Interfaith and Spiritual Exploration (WISE)
Description: A 5-day interfaith experience designed to ease the transition to college while also providing an opportunity to explore Atlanta, build religious and philosophical literacy and interfaith leadership skills, and connect with new friends as you settle into your new home at Emory. We welcome first-year students from diverse religious, non-religious, spiritual, and ethical identities.
Number of Participants: 40
Type of Registration: First come, first served
Program Contact: zachary.cole@emory.edu
Financial aid is available for the Ignite and SOAR Pre-Orientation Programs, which would cover the full cost of either program for eligible participants. If your application fee was waived when you applied to Emory, you automatically qualify for a fee waiver.
Please Note: We will work with each student on a case-by-case basis to ensure all students have equal access to the program – if you did not receive an application fee waiver when applying to Emory, you can still receive a full waiver for the Pre-Orientation program. You can request a waiver when completing the interest form for SOAR or Ignite.
Although the details are still being finalized and individual Pre-Orientation Programs may communicate their own specific plans for the day, the main focus of Monday, August 14 will be Move-in.
A tentative Move-in schedule for Ignite, SOAR, and WISE participants can be found below:
8:00AM – 3:00PM | Move-in and Pre-Orientation Check-In |
12:00PM – 2:00PM | Optional Lunch |
12:00PM – 3:00PM | Optional Campus Tours |
3:00PM – 4:00PM | Pre-O Welcome and Kick-Off Celebration |
4:00PM – 6:00PM | Parent/Family Programming + Farewell |
4:00PM – 5:00PM | Small Group Meeting (students only) |
5:00PM – 7:00PM | Dinner & Break (students only) |
7:00PM – 8:00PM | Small Group Meeting (students only) |
8:00PM – 10:00PM | Optional Evening Social (students only) |
A tentative Move-in schedule for ISW participants can be found below:
8:00AM – 9:15PM | Shuttles from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to Campus |
8:00AM – 10:00PM | Move-in and Pre-Orientation Check-In |
12:00PM – 2:00PM | Lunch (optional) |
12:00PM – 3:00PM | Campus Tours (optional) |
1:00PM – 6:30PM | Shopping Shuttle to Target |
4:00PM – 6:00PM | Parent/Family Session (for all parents attending Pre-Orientation Programs) |
7:00PM – 8:30PM | Dinner |
8:30PM – 10:00PM | Optional Evening Social with Academic Fellows |