I just started my third real week of classes, and I am finally starting to reflect on my experience thus far, especially orientation. It has been a while since I have been part of an orientation program, and I am so appreciative that HGSE dedicated a full week to making students feel welcome and comfortable on campus.
The day before official orientation started, the higher education cohort had a “retreat” with the sole purpose of getting to know one another. It was very clear that this time was not to register for classes, but was for meeting and interacting with individuals in our cohort. This day was fun, casual, and served as a great springboard for more relationships to form.
Official orientation began the following day and what I can remember most is the palpable energy that was radiating from campus. Every person I met seemed genuinely excited to have arrived on Appian way. At the beginning of the day, newly appointed Dean Bridget Long welcomed all HGSE students to campus and offered some sage words of advice, all of which can be found here. The rest of the day was, what Dean Long likes to call it, an “intellectual spa day”. For many incoming students, it’s been a while since we have set foot in a classroom, so it was important for us to get back into that academic mindset without the pressures of exams or papers. As part of the 8×8 event, 8 different HGSE professors spent 8 minutes each talking about their recent research that can have a big impact on the field of education. Luckily for you, you can check out all of these TedX-like talks! The rest of the day continued on this theme and allowed us to attend mock classes that covered a wide range of topics. There is something invigorating about attending a class just to listen and learn. The day ended with a barbecue and reception out on the Radcliffe Quad, which was the perfect way to meet even more people and debrief about the day.
These ideas of intellectual excitement and forming relationships were at the cornerstone of orientation week. From meeting professors across HGSE to cohort socials at various locations through Harvard Square, I felt like I was instantly a valuable part of this community. There were opportunities to get questions answered, no matter how big or small, and to meet different support systems who genuinely wanted to help in any way possible. Though choosing classes was a bit overwhelming (I am saving that for my next blog post!), orientation gave me the confidence to hit the ground running.
Blog Written by Jaime Morgen, Photo provided by Jaime Morgen 
Jaime Morgen is an Ed.M. candidate in the higher education program at HGSE, as well as one of the four graduate assistants in the HGSE admissions office. Immediately after graduating from Tufts University in 2014 with degrees in English, psychology, and entrepreneurial leadership, she joined the Tufts Office of Undergraduate Admissions first as an admissions counselor, and later as an Assistant Director of Admissions. During her four years in the office, she revamped the alumni interviewing program, coordinated events, and managed all print publications. She is most excited to finally be taking classes relating to higher education and to be surrounded by talented, intelligent, and genuine individuals who share similar interests.
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