1. Get a head start by learning about student orgs on campus.
There are so. many. ways. to get involved at Miami. Between fraternities and sororities, sports, academic, and special interest groups, you’ll have no trouble finding something that interests you!
Get a preview of student orgs through the Hub. You can see every student organization on-campus, sort by interest, see past and upcoming events, and more!
2. Familiarize yourself with Miami’s often-used web-based programs.
Heads up – throughout your time at Miami, you will be using Gmail (with your @miamioh.edu email address), Google Drive, and Canvas. A LOT!
Take the time now to explore these programs because you will need them in almost every class. And the good news is – they’ll make your life a lot easier, anyway!
3. Download free software.
Did you know that as a Miami student, you are entitled to a free copy of Microsoft Office for your laptop? Miami also offers one free Windows operating system upgrade if you need it.
A few other software programs are offered as well. Check out what’s available.
4. Order your textbooks.
This one is a must! Books can be shipped directly to campus, so they’ll be here when you arrive. Order on the ecampus website.
5. Stay in the know.
There are lots of ways to stay in the know about what’s happening on campus and what events are coming up. Join listservs for topics and departments that interest you (there’s a great list on the Division of Student Life website).
You might also want to follow Miami social media accounts. The @MiamiUniversity and @MiamiOH_StudentLife on Instagram are a great place to start, but we also have a whole blog post with 9 Miami social media accounts to follow.
6. Download the Welcome Week App.
You should definitely plan to attend required Welcome Weekend events beginning move-in day and extending throughout that first weekend. But there will be MANY more Welcome Weekend and First 50 Days events all the way through mid-October.
The complete schedule of Welcome Week programs will be posted in the Orientation and Welcome Week app (same as the orientation app you may have already downloaded for orientation) in early to mid-August. If you don’t have the app, get it now!
7. Disclose and document your disability to receive accommodations.
If you have a documented disability, you can apply for services using Students Accessing Miami (SAM), found at MiamiOH.edu/SAM.
Select “New Student Application,” complete the questionnaire, and upload documentation.
Documentation is reviewed and students are notified of eligibility within 7-10 business days. Visit the Documentation Guidelines page for more information.
8. Keep reading the Weekly Hawk Herald.
As an incoming student, you should be receiving a weekly newsletter from the Office of Orientation and Transition programs. Keep reading those newsletters! They have a ton of timely, relevant information about deadlines, tips, and requirements for new students.
Miss an issue? You can find all of this year’s newsletters at the Hawk Herald Website.
With 33 days left until move in (but who’s counting?), you still have time to set yourself for a successful fall semester with these steps. Let us know if we missed anything!
