前面我们看到有的学校Registration可以提前通过进入学校网上系统来完成，那什么时候最晚到学校呢，这就要了解学校Orientation的安排了。Orientation，即迎新情况介绍，也就是新生说明会，一般为期一周，去美国留学的话，学校基本都要求学生必须参加，如果错过Orientation的话，是不允许入学的。不少学校Orientation是包含了上篇提到的Registration这部分。
出出国熊老师介绍说，一般会有两种Orientation，分别是由国际学生办公室和所在院系组织的。国际学生办公室主要是针对国际学生的生活，F-1 Status的基本要求、身份和签证的区别、I20的重要性等。
系里的侧重学术，会介绍院系情况、program、学位要求、课程要求、图书馆、计算机房、医疗、职业服务等，系主任和Director会和学生见面。要和指定给自己的Advisor见面，讨论怎么选课。如果是TA的话，还有专门的学校和系里的TA Orientation，介绍关于teaching的经验和建议。
下面出出国熊老师以Columbia University物理系2012年秋季的Orentation安排为例：
FOR INCOMING GRADUATE STUDENTS 针对新入学的研究生
AUGUST 24 - August 31, 2012 2012年8月24日-8月31日
ALP 2012 Fall testing schedule for all incoming Physics international graduate students: 所有国际学生要求参加下面的测试
Essay exam:
Date: Monday, August 27, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Place: TBD
Please arrive 15 minutes early and bring a photo ID along with several pencils for the essay exam.
Spoken English:
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Place: TBA
Please arrive 15 minutes early and bring a photo ID.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2012 国际学生办公室举办的Orientation
1:30 PM – 5:30 PM - International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) Orientation for new international students
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Mix and Mingle at Havana Central (ticketed event)
Tuesday, August 28, 2012 研究生院举办的Orientation
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) Orientation for all new graduate students:
10:30 AM - Check-in and pick up materials in front of St. Paul’s Chapel.
11:00 AM - Convocation in Chapel.
Afternoon - micro-sessions on Library and Computing Services, Health Services, and Career Education.
5:00 PM - GSAS Dean's Barbeque for New Ph.D. and M.A. students in Kent Plaza.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 研究生院举办的给TA的Orientation
8:30 AM - 1:30 PM - GSAS Orientation for New Teaching Fellows - 301 Philosophy Hall.
You are encouraged to attend any portions of this program that do not conflict with the Physics Department Orientation.
THURSDAY, August 30, 2011 – ROOM 705 PUPIN (Tentative) 系里举办的Orientation
9:15 AM - Professor William Zajc, Department Chair - Welcome to the group.
9:30 AM - Professor Robert Mawhinney, Director of Graduate Studies - Introductions and overview of the department and program, including information about the curriculum, placement exams, graduate student teaching responsibilities, Qualifying Exam, and research choices.
10:30 AM - Professor Jeremy Dodd - Teaching Responsibilities
11:00 AM - Coffee break and Photography session.
11:30 AM - Presentation by Marsha Wagner from Columbia University Ombuds Office.
12:00 - 12:45 PM – Lunch in 705 Pupin with members of the faculty and current graduate students. During this time the Physics staff will be available to address any questions (Overview of fiscal and administrative procedures and forms, appointments, visa issues, stipend and salary payments) in 704 Pupin Hall.
12:30 - 1:30 PM - Schedule three (3) graduate students for 20 minute meetings with Director of Graduate Studies.
12:45 - 1:15 PM - Kathleen Kehoe, Physics Librarian - Presentation on library reserves.
1:15 - 3:00 PM - Theoretical Physics (1:15 PM), Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (1:30 PM), Experimental Particle Physics (1:45 PM), Condensed Matter Physics (2:00 PM), Astrophysics (2:20 PM), Nuclear Physics (2:40 PM) Presentations on research being done in the department.
3:30 PM - Coffee break with Department Coffee Hour.
3:00 - 4:40 PM - Individually scheduled meetings of students with assigned faculty advisor in preparation for registering for courses for Fall 2011. If you have not already completed our Doodle Poll please make sure to do so to ensure everyone meets with Professor Robert Mawhinney.
FRIDAY, August 31, 2012 系里另外2个专业方面的考试
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - 705 Pupin, Placement examination in electromagnetism for students who have had a graduate level course in the subject and wish to place out of Physics G6092 - Electromagnetic Theory.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - 705 Pupin, Placement examination in quantum mechanics for students who have had a graduate level course in the subject and wish to place out of one or the other of two semesters Physics G6037 – G6038, Quantum Mechanics I and II.
