First week… You have probably traveled a long distance. If you are visiting the United States for the first time, you’re up for a few surprises. But more on that later. This post is to keep you on track to help you focus some of the important things for your first week at school.
For those who have arrived just before the start of week 0, jetlag might be your first challenge. Make sure you adjust your sleep schedule and acclimatize to the weather here at Irvine as early as possible. You want to be fresh and well adjusted for all the fun activities planned ahead for you.
Week 0 is an excellent opportunity for you to adapt to school life. There will be a variety of activities scheduled for you, such as orientations, mixers, and a welcome picnic. These activities serve as an excellent opportunity to get well acquainted with the UCI campus, interact with your peers, and make new friends. I highly recommend that you attend them. Networking in these events will have a positive impact on your first week of instruction. You might find folks taking the same classes as you and possibly a seat mate for week 1!
Besides attending these events, it’s valuable to spend some time around the campus. From my personal experience, locating classes in my first week was super helpful in navigating as opposed to when instruction started. Use your first week to also explore different places on campus, such as libraries and cafeterias. You can also utilize this time to figure out your transportation to, from, and around the campus.
The first week is pretty relaxed. It’s also a good time to get to know Irvine better. You can use this time to figure out transportation around Irvine and Orange County, places to eat, and grocery stores. For more information on these do keep an eye out for our emails and blogs.
Week 0 will definitely fly by in adapting to your new life as a graduate student. While you are getting accustomed to this new life, my last advice is to stay in touch with your loved ones back home.
Arundhati SawantHome Country: IndiaDonald Bren School of Informatics and Computer Sciences
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