Penn Graduate Student Center

Graduate & Professional New Student Orientation

About New Student Orientation

The Graduate Student Center is here to make sure you experience a seamless transition to Penn. The Grad Center will also be your home base at Penn long after orientation is over. So become part of the community right away!

Penn offers several orientation programs for incoming graduate and professional students. Take advantage of your school-specific orientation for academic information, then register below to get acquainted with Penn and Philly through the Grad Center's orientation activities.

We know you'll be busy, so we've organized our events à la carte. Pick and choose what's most convenient for you! Arriving right before classes start? Take advantage of our One-Day Orientation Extravanganza!

If you're an undergraduate new student, please visit the Undergraduate New Student Orientation website.

Events

Philly Walking Tours

Want to explore Philly but not sure where to start? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Enjoy a walking tour of our fabulous city while getting to know fellow new students!

If you're a returning student and would like to volunteer to lead a group of new students, please register for this event and select Volunteer from the Penn Status drop down menu.


Register

First Friday Walking Tour of Philadelphia

Friday, September 5, 2008, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Meet at the Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk
Enjoy the sights and sounds of Philly on this walking tour of the city. At the conclusion of the tour, take advantage of Philly's unique 'First Fridays' to explore the vibrant arts community of historic Old City, where the neighborhood's 40+ galleries will be open late. SEPTA tokens for transport to and from downtown Philly will be provided for this event.

Itinerary: Meet at the Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk, at 4 pm, end in Old City
Register

Schuylkill River Walking Tour

Saturday, September 13, 2008, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Meet at the Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk
Take a break from studying and see the tranquil side of the city! A recently developed park-like setting along the river, the Schuylkill River Banks offers a change of pace, whether you walk, run, or bike it.

Itinerary: Meet at the Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk, at 10 am, end at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Seminars - Transportation

New to Penn and Philadelphia? Confused about tokens, LUCY, the E, W, N, and X shuttles? Come to our transportation seminar to learn more about Penn transit, getting around Philly using SEPTA, and how you can save on transportation through partnership programs such as PennPass and PhillyCarShare.

Register

Seminars - Transportation

Thursday, August 28, 2008, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk

Seminars - Understanding Health Insurance

Penn requires all full-time graduate, professional and dissertation status students to carry adequate health insurance. Attend this seminar with Dr. Evelyn Wiener, Director of Student Health Services, to learn more about health insurance at Penn.

Register

Seminars - Understanding Health Insurance

Thursday, August 28, 2008, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk

One-Day Orientation Extravaganza!

Won't be here in August? Not on campus every day? Join us for a one-day extravaganza -- orientation crammed into a single day! We'll have seminars on Philly fun, understanding health insurance, and much more. Don't forget to register to join us afterwards for our annual Gnome Hunt and Happy Hour!

If you're a returning student and would like to volunteer to lead a group of new students, please register for this event and select Volunteer from the Penn Status drop down menu.


Register

One-Day Orientation Extravaganza!

Sunday, August 31, 2008, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk

Register

Gnome Hunt and Happy Hour

Sunday, August 31, 2008, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Meet at the Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk
Get to 'gnome' Penn's campus during our annual Gnome Hunt! Help us find our gnomes, who have a habit of hiding in various campus locations. Afterwards, come back to the Grad Center for the awards ceremony and happy hour!

If you're a returning student and would like to volunteer to lead a group of new students, please register for this event and select Volunteer from the Penn Status drop down menu.


New Student Activities and Events

Join the Graduate Student Center for fun activities and events we are holding in August and September that can assist new graduate and professional students in acclimating to Penn and Philadelphia!

President's Reception and Resource Fair

Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Annenberg Center Lobby, 3640 Walnut Street
President Amy Gutmann and Provost Ronald Daniels invite all new graduate and professional students to join them at a welcome reception. A campus resource fair will be available.
Please bring your PennCard to be admitted.
Co-sponsored by the GAPSA and the Graduate Student Center.

GAPSA Welcome Back Blender at Strikes

Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Strikes Bowling Lounge, 4040 Locust Street
GAPSA welcomes all new and returning graduate & professional students. Two free drinks for first 300 Penn grad students; free bowling, billiards, ping pong tables, foose ball, and use of all lounges for everyone; Must be 21+ with valid ID and Penn grad card.

Register

LGBT Happy Hour Mixer

Friday, September 19, 2008, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
LGBT Center, 3907 Spruce Street
Lambda Grads, the LGBT Center, and the Graduate Student Center invite new and returning graduate and professional students to attend this event. Please bring your PennCard to be admitted.

Register

Wine and Cheese Reception
for new and current African-American Graduate & Professional Students

Friday, September 19, 2008, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Grad Center Common Room
The Black Graduate & Professional Student Assembly (BGAPSA) and the Graduate Student Center invite new and returning African-American grad and professional students to a Wine and Cheese Reception. Please bring your PennCard to be admitted.
Register

Welcome Reception
for New & Returning Latino/a Graduate & Professional Students

Friday, September 26, 2008, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Graduate Student Center, 3615 Locust Walk
La Casa Latina, LaGAPSA, and the Graduate Student Center welcome new and returning Latino/a grad students. Please bring your PennCard to be admitted.

Campus Events

The Grad Center has a variety of events happening all the time. Also, a number of campus organizations provide programming for graduate and professional students. We provide a list of their calendars.

Common Room Summer Hours

Friday, August 29: Close at 3:00pm
Monday, September 1: Closed

Common Room Fall Hours

Start Tuesday, September 2

Monday - Thursday:
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sat & Sun: 12 Noon - 6:00 PM

Graduate Student Center

3615 Locust Walk
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia PA 19104-6221
215-746-6868
gsc@pobox.upenn.edu