Month: May 2014

Orientation in 140 Characters or Fewer

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No matter where you are traveling from this summer, orientation is a great place to connect with other first-year students and to learn about campus resources.

However, how can you stay connected at orientation and beyond?

The options are limitless.

Facebook, email, good ole’ phone number? All are great options, but what we use most with orientation is Twitter. As an Orientation Leader entering my second summer working with new students, I find that Twitter is a great platform for quick connections and can be used in so many ways at Ohio State. So why not get a head start at orientation?

You might not have a clue what goes on at orientation…and that’s okay! Below are 24 ways to experience your Ohio State orientation (in 140 characters or fewer).

6:30AM: Currently headed to Ohio State for orientation. Hoping Mom was kidding when she said we did not have time to stop for coffee. #TooEarly

 7:45AM: WE MADE IT! *Drake voice*

7:53AM: Wait…how are these people so excited to give Mom and me parking passes? How much coffee have they had?

8:01AM: As if the parking people were not excited, I was just greeted by the most energetic guy. Is he a student or nahh? #WhereAmI

9:45AM: This man just had the out-of-state students stand up. He should ask if anyone needs more coffee and I would be like hi, pick me.

10:47AM: Just learned that these peppy people in red polos are actual students. They also talk loudly and walk backwards….prerequisite?

11:32AM: Was not crazy about the idea of “icebreakers” but it turned out to be fab. My small group is the best! #TeamBigBucks

12:27PM: YAS pizza. Love me some ‘za.

12:45PM: How many humans can fit in this place? #IndependenceHall #new2osu

1:37PM: Shout out to all the parents asking all these questions. May or may not have been wondering similar things.. #DBBS

2:32PM: The people in this academic session are so nice! #SpecialEdMajor #EHE #new2osu

4:05PM: Officially have my BuckID! Does this make this whole college thing real? Loving it!

4:25PM: Excited to be living in @SmithSteebHallOSU next year! Who’s with me?! #OSU18

5:27PM: Pasta and burgers and salads oh my! Options for days. Not mad about it.

6:45PM: Looking forward to the Involvement Fair in the fall. Over 1000 student orgs. HOW!?

8:47PM: #TeamBigBucks coming in hot to the RPAC to win these games. #new2osu

10:20PM: Was not expecting to laugh this hard at Orientation. #ONL #OSU18

11:17PM: The OL giving this tour is cracking jokes about some “long walk.” #OSUTraditions

12:32AM: Crazy to think I am in an actual res hall for the night. Soo college.

9:17AM: Mom, where are you? Session is starting soon! #LOTC

10:32AM: Meeting people from @OhioStResLife this morning makes me want to move into @SmithSteebHallOSU right now!

12:47PM: Classes are officially scheduled for Fall ‘14. Only one 8AM class two days a week. WAHHOOO!

1:23PM: Just picked up #TheGlassCastle for the #BBCBook at @OhioStBookstore.

2:45PM: What a great two days at Ohio State! Looking forward to the fall and seeing all of #TeamBigBucks on campus. #OSU18

Looking for more than 140 characters? Download the Ohio State Orientation guide on the Guidebook app or visit our Guidebook website.

Making the Most of Orientation: Evening Activities

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It’s the first day of Orientation, and you just said goodbye to your parents after dinner in the Ohio Union. Although you tried to hide your embarrassment, you are starting to see why Mom shed a few tears at the thought of leaving you for the night. You may be thinking to yourself…

What now?

sand lot

Great question. What now?

Lucky for you, there are several options known as evening activities that will help you to make the most of your overnight orientation experience. Overnight activities are a great opportunity for you to meet up with your Orientation leader (OL) and many of the students you met earlier in the day. Often, the best memories and most impactful moments of orientation happen during evening activities! If you’re thinking…

Tell me more!

…read on to hear about three fantastic ways to spend your evening at orientation!

The RPAC Challenge

The Ohio State University has one of the top Recreation and Physical Activity Centers (RPAC) in the nation. During orientation evening activities, students and their small groups come together as a team to work their way through a series of physical and mental challenges as they explore the RPAC and learn about all this facility has to offer. There truly is something for everyone at the RPAC Challenge and even fun prizes for the winning team! Don’t miss out on the chance to help your team bring home a  victory! Those bragging rights will last well into fall semester!

Orientation Night Live

Do you like to laugh? Do you enjoy comedy and improvisation? Then Orientation Night Live (ONL) is the show for you! Following the RPAC challenge, students will have the option of attending this crowd pleasing show. ONL is formatted much like the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and is facilitated by the Orientation Leaders. Watching the OLs act silly on stage is guaranteed to make you laugh harder than you can remember! As a student in the audience, you are given the chance to shout out scene and character suggestions, and are even given the opportunity to get up on stage! Orientation Night Live is a favorite memory for many orientation students, and is one activity you definitely don’t want to miss out on!

onl

Moonlight History and Traditions Tour

Darkness has fallen and campus is quiet, but evening activities are going strong with this final opportunity. Following ONL, students are given the option to go on a moonlight tour of the Oval. On the tour (led by the OLs) you will learn many fun and interesting facts about the history and traditions of the university and enjoy the unique atmosphere that is the Oval at night. This tour is the final activity for the evening, and is a great way to wrap up your day one experience!

Clearly, evening activities are a blast and will leave you with knowledge, memories and deeper friendships that will last into the school year and beyond. You can guarantee evening activities are a must in order to make the most of your orientation experience!

Adventure is Out There!

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UP2

Adventure is out there! At least, that’s what Pixar’s animated film Up taught me. For all of you new Buckeyes, your next big adventure is about to start. Just like with any big endeavor you don’t want to start out without preparing a little bit beforehand. That’s what orientation is for! Orientation will give you an advantage when heading out on your journey by providing you with the opportunity to:

Get the Lay of the Land

Any adventurer heading out on a big expedition needs to know a little bit about what to expect when they get there. Will it be a hot desert or a dangerous swamp? Will they need to climb a mountain or paddle across a lake? A part of orientation will be dedicated to helping you learn what is expected of you both in and out of the classroom.  Someone who knows what to expect will be more likely to overcome any obstacles that may appear.

Speak to a Guru

The wisdom of an expert is a valuable asset to any adventurer. At orientation you will get the chance to attend a group advising session led by an advisor in your academic area of study. This will give you the opportunity to ask any questions or voice any concerns you or your family may have about academics. An explorer with the inside scoop is sure to get the gold.

Plan for What is to Come

A good adventure is well planned and may even follow a schedule. Orientation will provide to you the opportunity to schedule your classes for your first semester as a Buckeye. There will be plenty of seasoned adventurers to help you with this process. You will also have the chance to complete some university business. This could include: getting your BuckID card, picking up your Buckeye Book Community book, or taking any necessary placement tests. An explorer who plans is an explorer that has a lot less to worry about in the long run.

Meet Others at the Start of Their Journey

One of the most exciting opportunities at orientation is meeting other people in the same boat. Whether you’re literally taking a boat somewhere, or just figuratively, it is nice to see that other people have similar destinations. Talk to any swashbuckler and they will tell you they never could have achieved their goals without a little help from others.

Survey the Terrain

Not many explorers get the chance to see where they will be exploring beforehand. You will get the distinct advantage of becoming more familiar with campus before you embark on your four-year journey. You will see some of the buildings where classes take place, the student union, and even how our living spaces are set up.

UP1

All of these opportunities are meant to help prepare you to be the best Buckeye you can be. Just like we wouldn’t send someone out into the jungle without the proper provisions, we wouldn’t send a student into their first year without these essentials. I wish you the best of luck young explorer, just always remember that “Adventure is out there” just waiting for you. 

5 Tips for Success at Orientation

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Welcome to the FYE blog, future Buckeyes! As you’re finishing up your last days in high school and getting ready for a great summer, I wanted to share with you some tips for success at summer orientation. These are a few things I learned throughout my own orientation experience and my time as an Orientation Leader (upperclass students who help you transition to Ohio State).

DRESS for SUCCESS.

When I was preparing for orientation three summers ago (I’m so old) I read that we were supposed to keep it casual and comfortable. Naturally, I understood this as wearing my favorite summery skirt and sandals (pretty sure I just wanted to make a good first impression). After two hours into orientation, I regretted the sandals/skirt combo as my Orientation Leader had us playing interactive, action-oriented games on the Oval, which was not skirt friendly. Be prepared to have fun playing games like this and getting to know your fellow Buckeyes, but make sure you wear what’s most comfortable for you. There’s also quite a bit of walking throughout the two-day program and infamous temperamental Ohio weather. Try to wear sensible shoes and pack an umbrella if you don’t like the rain.

KEEP it POSITIVE.

Bring a great attitude and be open to new experiences. Orientation is a chance for you to meet fellow Buckeyes and learn about many opportunities to make your time as a Buckeye the best it can be. Be open to striking up conversation with someone in your small group or on your walk to your foreign language placement test. I actually met one of my best friends waiting to talk to my academic advisor; we bonded over a love for musicals and our biology majors. Three years later, I’m no longer a biology major, but I’m still best friends with that boy.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP.

Sleep on the plane flight or during the car ride, because these two days are packed with fun activities, course registration, plenty of walking and icebreakers. Make sure you are refreshed for your orientation!

LOVE YOUR PARENTS, GUARDIANS, FAMILY, FRIENDS and MENTORS who HELPED YOU BECOME a BUCKEYE.

Be thankful for all that others have done to help you get here…and thank yourself for all your hard work! Get ready to be part of a loving, supportive community that will provide you with countless amazing memories and life experiences.

YOU do YOU.

Be yourself during your time at Ohio State. Being a Buckeye means being part of a larger community that is comprised of amazing individuals. This is your time to let your true colors shine! We cannot wait to get to know the real you.

Alright, Class of 2018, we look forward to meeting you in a few short weeks! Get ready for you next big adventure.