Graduate Student Orientation
Events from August 31 through September 3
Friday August 31
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Freedom Trail Walking Tour ($) [Meet at Kendall MIT Coop]
Learn about Boston’s exciting historic past with a stroll through the storied streets of downtown. A seasoned tour specialist for a walk down the Freedom Trail will guide this trip. You won’t want to miss this event. Once you are finished, you personally will be more prepared than most of your friends to give the best tour of Boston for any of your personal visitors. We’ll meet before 11 a.m. near MIT to walk over to Park Street. The tour will follow the Trail, after which we’ll walk back. Bring umbrellas if it is going to rain, and comfortable walking shoes. *The event is open to spouses & partners but is not suitable for children.
5-10 p.m.
International Mentorship Mixer [Morss Hall]
Are you interested in quickly getting up to speed on the life, tips, and opportunities around Boston and MIT? If so, the Mentorship program is for you! The Graduate Student Council, together with MIT’s Alumni Association, pairs up mentors (MIT alums or current graduate students) and mentees (incoming international students) in order to help you settle down more smoothly. If you are interested, please sign up at the form linked in the Google calendar (first come first serve) *The event is open to spouses & partners but is not suitable for children. *Admission open to all. Alcohol requires a 21+ photo ID (US issued ID or passport). *Bar accepts cash only.
9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Sidney-Pacific Dance Party [Sidney-Pacific]
Start your new life in your new universe with a big bang at Sidney Pacific’s infamous annual welcome party. Witness the rapid expansion of your social circle as you mingle with your new dorm SP family. With a cash bar to fuel the crowd and music from Boston’s hottest DJ, DJ Big, you’ll be partying in Planck Time in the Big Bang Bash! Dress and dance to impress as prizes will be given out throughout the night!
Saturday September 1
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Families 101 [Westgate]
Student, faculty and staff families: if you want help on where to shop, finding the best parks, museums, libraries, pediatricians, childcare options, etc., please join us at Westgate for an informal discussion filled with expert information on the best ways to navigate life as an MIT family
2 p.m.-6 p.m.
Family Carnival [Johnson Overhang/Kresge Lawn]
The carnival is the biggest event geared toward fun at all ages. Whether you are coming to MIT with children and are curious to meet other MIT families, or you are simply a student who remains young at heart, the family carnival is a great time. Take this chance to have a photo with the beloved MIT Mascot Tim the Beaver, after feasting on the complementary cotton candy. Carnival favorites like ring toss, bowling, and the duck pond are just the beginning. With so much fun to be had this event can’t be missed –unless you oppose fun (in which case you probably won’t like the balloon artist either). *The event is open to children, spouses & partners
6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Warehouse Food Truck Court [Ashdown parking lot ]
Come get an introduction to the Boston/Cambridge food truck culture. Join us for an eclectic outdoor dinner near the Warehouse. The food trucks will be providing meals at a discounted rate for new students. Pick up your vouchers at the Info Booth! *The event is open to children, spouses & partners.
9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Edgerton Dance Party [Edgerton House]
Whether you are a dance fiend or simply enjoy tapping your foot to a good beat the Edgerton Dance party has got a night of adventure in store for you. Edgerton is the only dorm that offers drink specials for their attendees, so come early to make the most of the deals. *The event is open to spouses & partners but is not suitable for children. *Admission open to all. Alcohol requires a 21+ photo ID (US issued ID or passport). *Bar accepts cash only.
Sunday September 2
12-2 p.m.
Sidney-Pacific Brunch [Sidney-Pacific]
Join us in welcoming our new residents to the SP community as well as all the new grad students at MIT with our first brunch of the academic year. Great company, new friends, and of course free delicious food! Bring your own utensils and help keep SP an environmentally friendly residence.
6-9:30 p.m.
Prudential Skywalk & Ice Cream ($) [Walker Memorial, 50-220]
See your new home from the tallest building in Greater Boston – the Prudential Center, and enjoy some delicious Bostonian ice cream afterward! *The event is open to children, spouses & partners. *A ticket must be purchased at the Info Booth prior to the event. *Ticket price: $5 MIT
9-12 p.m.
Pride Welcome (21+) [Thirsty Ear Pub]
We are having a fairly spectacular movie night complete with free ice cream at the graduate student pub. All are welcome and wanted! *The event is open to spouses & partners but is not suitable for children. *Alcohol and admission require a 21+ photo ID (US issued ID or passport). *Bar accepts cash & tech-cash only.
Monday September 3
9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Apple Picking ($) [Pickup at Sidney St.]
Come enjoy this quintessential New England experience! A $5 ticket to the Apple Picking Trip takes you all the way out into the country side where you can pick farm fresh apples, select from a variety of apple products like pies, and sample from the farm’s BBQ stand. Just remember to bring some spending money and a camera to capture the view. The buses leave at 9:30 a.m. sharp. *The event is open to children, spouses & partners. *A ticket must be purchased at the Info Booth prior to the event. *Ticket price: $5 MIT
2 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
Museum of Fine Arts tour [outside Ashdown]
The MFA is the largest of Boston’s art museums. It is the sort of place you can easily get lost in, but never mind the disorientation. However, given that this is Orientation we’ve secured a number of professional tour guides and passionate MIT students to introduce you to the wonder currently housed at the MFA.
1) Tour o Indian Miniature Exhibit, 2) Arts of the America, 3) General Introductory Tour. *The event is open to spouses & partners but is not suitable for children. *Signup required (see Google calendar)
8 p.m.-10 p.m.
Ashdown International Dessert Night [Ashdown]
Stock up on some extra calories for the semester ahead while sampling delectable desserts from around the world! *The event is open to spouses & partners but is not suitable for children.