New Student Orientation

The Macaulay staff and faculty are excited to meet you. We’re working hard to prepare for your arrival and have designed a series of activities to help you transition to life as a Macaulay student.

Orientation is the kick-off event to your First Year Co-Curricular Experience. All Orientation activities are required and will take place on Sunday, August 20th and Monday, August 21st

BEFORE ORIENTATION
  • Complete the Orientation Questionnaire by July 30th
  • Receive Club Macaulay and Macaulay Honors College App credentials
    Log-in instructions will be sent in early August.
  • Complete Pre-Orientation session and activities prior to the first day of Orientation on August 20th
    Log-in credentials will be sent early August.
  • Get to know your peer mentors and Macaulay Crew
    Starting in early August, you will be assigned to your Macaulay Crew, a group of other incoming students, and a peer mentor, who will help you transition into college and stick with you during your time at Macaulay. You will be able to chat with the group through Club Macaulay or the Macaulay Honors College App.
  • Get to know your Cultural Passport
    Cultural Passport IDs issued by John Jay College (524 West 59th St. New York, NY 10019 – Walk-ins only). Learn about your Cultural Passport and the days available to pickup ID here.

Pre-Orientation Sessions

Complete Pre-Orientation session and activities prior to the first day of Orientation on August 20th. Details will be provided to you in early August.


Day 1: Macaulay Crew Day

Sunday, August 20th
1:30PM – 5:30PM
John Jay College

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The emphasis of Day #1 of orientation is on community building, skills building and class bonding, and will be held at John Jay College, led by Macaulay student leaders.

 

Location

John Jay College
524 West 59th Street
New York, NY 10019

How to get there: 
By Subway
Take the 1, A, B, C or D to the 59th street – Columbus Circle

*Please note new location for Macaulay Crew Day: John Jay College

What the day will be like

You will be walking in small groups of about 15 students at John Jay College throughout the day. For most of the day you will participate in team building activities that may include running, lifting, jumping, and maybe even dancing. Be prepared for a fun, active day!

What to wear during the event:
This is a rain or shine event. You will be spending all day outside. Dress appropriately for the weather (bring sunblock) and for a physically active day. It’s best to wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing that may get dirty and sneakers or athletic shoes. No sandals please! Bring lots of energy, a sense of adventure.

How to prepare for the event:
Please eat lunch before you arrive. Food will not be available on campus. Bring a full bottle of water!

It is very important for our staff to know about any medical issues that might affect your participation in any way. Please include any medical concerns or allergies. All correspondence will be kept strictly confidential.


Day 2: Community Resource Day

cMonday, August 21st
10:30AM – 5:30PM
John Jay College

 

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*Your specific campus may also hold a separate meeting between 9:00AM–10:00AM

Day #2 is your Community Resources Day, and on this day you will meet the Macaulay staff; your Macaulay campus Advisors; representatives from the Macaulay Scholars Council and our numerous Macaulay student organizations; as well as representatives from a select number of our community service partner organizations.

A short break for lunch will be in your schedule during the day. Pack a bagged lunch, purchase lunch at the John Jay Cafeteria, or plan to eat at local stores in the area. Bring a full bottle of water; there will be places to refill on campus. See more information about lunch at Orientation Day 2. 

Location

John Jay College
524 West 59th Street
New York, NY 10019

How to get there: 
By Subway
Take the 1, A, B, C or D to the 59th street – Columbus Circle


Next Steps: GRWMacaulay: Start College with Confidence

August 22–25
10–11:30AM or 3–4:30PM
Virtual

At this online event, incoming first-year students will learn all the basics they need to be prepared for their time as Macaulay scholars. Students will access their Macaulay email accounts, ePortfolio (which is used for class websites and personal portfolios), and Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, etc.), and questions about what to expect from the coming year will be answered as well.

Pick one session to attend!

August 22nd at 3PM August 23rd at 10AM August 24th at 10AM August 25th at 3PM

Time Management & Studying Strategies

Monday, September 18
4:00–5:00PM
Zoom

Do you find yourself procrastinating and/or getting overwhelmed with work? Are you unsure how to best use the time you have to prepare for and succeed in class? You are not alone! Come to a supportive workshop that will help you think about how to organize yourself for success and create friendly systems for accountability.

Register

First Year Co-Curricular Experience

The First Year Co-Curricular Experience is a series of opportunities meant to build connections between new students and help students successfully transition into the Macaulay community.

Club Macaulay

Students can use Club Macaulay to view a complete list of clubs and organizations that are available to join, browse through and register for upcoming events, select what messages to receive from clubs, and more!​

NYC Cultural Passport

Macaulay students receive free admission to hundreds of the city’s cultural institutions.

Parents

Macaulay offers special programming for family members who support our students.