August Pre-Orientation Programs
Pre-Orientation programs are an opportunity to arrive on campus a few days early, meet other new students with similar interests and participate in engaging service and/or community-building programs before Orientation officially begins.
There are community-specific Pre-Orientations for International students (International Student Welcome Days), the Myra Kraft Achievers Program (MKAP) and the Student Support Services Program (SSSP), so members of those communities do not need to apply to the programs listed below.
Optional Pre-Orientation Programs
If you are not a member of the above communities, you may apply to participate in an optional Pre-Orientation program or sign-up to participate in the Hillel First Year Retreat Pre-O. You can view the descriptions of these programs below.
- For the Hillel First Year Retreat, you will be able to sign-up for a spot using the link below beginning May 1, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. EST. If you sign-up, you are officially registered to attend. The deadline to sign-up is June 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
- For the Optional Pre-Orientation programs (all others) you can apply using the link below. Space is limited for these programs and submitting an application does not guarantee you a spot.
Timeline
- Applications for the Optional Pre-Orientation programs will be available beginning May 1, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. EST and are due by June 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
- Applications will be reviewed and students will be notified of results by June 11, 2025 so there is plenty of time to arrange travel.
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Join Brandeis Hillel student leaders and staff for the Hillel First Year Retreat from Thursday, August 21 to Saturday, August 23 (through the end of Shabbat) at Brandeis University during Pre-Orientation.
The First Year Retreat is a great opportunity to connect with new friends and to learn about Jewish life at Brandeis while enjoying a beautiful Shabbat together. The program includes fun activities and games (including a pre-Shabbat off-campus excursion!), spirited services, delicious kosher meals, and more.
Note that the Shabbaton portion of the program will be completely Shabbat-friendly and will include Shabbat-friendly versions of the general New Student Orientation, which begins on Saturday afternoon, around our schedule for Shabbat services, meals, and learning.The retreat is welcome to students of all Jewish backgrounds and practices. If you have questions about the retreat, please email
hillel@brandeis.edu
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 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 service through the lens of community engagement, social justice, and local activism, while building relationships with prominent Brandeis community 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 and incoming transfer 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.
This social justice pre-orientation program is a comprehensive experience designed for first year and incoming transfer students to develop a deeper understanding of the relevance of social justice movements in society. Through this program, students will explore historical and contemporary issues related to social justice. The course will combine theoretical and practical knowledge to enhance 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 intelligence, bystander intervention, and having difficult conversations across differences. The program will equip students with the skills to address and challenge injustice and empower them to advocate for social change and inclusion, creating a safer and more welcoming space for everyone. Participants will also examine the Civil Rights Movement and learn best practices for creating and sustaining healthy, inclusive communities. Social Justice and Society aims to expose students to diverse perspectives and foster a greater appreciation for the value of equity and inclusion in building a more just society.
There will be an opportunity for ongoing engagement and equity advocacy during the academic year for those students interested.
For the Hillel First Year Retreat, click on the 'Sign-Up Here' button below and complete the form by June 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
For the Optional Pre-Orientation programs, complete the application by clicking on the 'Apply Here' button below. Applications are due by June 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST. As a reminder, space is limited and submitting an application does not guarantee you a spot. Applications will be reviewed and students will be notified of results by June 11, 2025.
Fee Information
The Service & Leadership, QAA, Social Justice & Society & Hillel First Year Retreat Pre-Orientation programs have a $175.00 participation fee. If you would like to apply for assistance, please contact the Department of Orientation and First Year Experience at orientation@brandeis.edu. You should still complete the application if you are interested.