Welcome to Cornell!

Congratulations on your acceptance into Cornell…and welcome! We are excited that you will begin your graduate program soon and look forward to working with you. 

The Graduate School will be offering events leading up to the start of the Spring 2025 semester. We want to warmly welcome you to campus and help you transition into graduate school by introducing you to the values, expectations, and resources of an inclusive Cornell community that will be your home for the duration of your degree program.

Please consult your field’s website for field-, college-, and program-specific orientation programs and also make sure to keep track of your new student to do list.

This page will be updated as more information becomes available. A complete schedule should be posted by January 6.

Spring 2025 Orientation Highlights:

Dean’s Welcome Breakfast – Thursday, January 16, 2025, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m., Big Red Barn

Drop in for breakfast with Graduate School Dean and Vice Provost for Graduate Education Kathryn J. Boor. This informal program will include a warm welcome for new members of Cornell’s community of scholars and researchers. Learn about the resources and support services available to graduate students.

Community Events for New Graduate and Professional Students – dates starting mid-January 2025

The Big Red Barn Graduate and Professional Student Center will provide connection opportunities for all incoming students, including trivia night, a language mixer, socials, TGIF, and more! View the Graduate School events calendar for a list of events, dates and times, and descriptions.

For Our International Student Community:

Spring 2025 International Graduate and Professional Student Orientation – Friday, January 17, 1 – 4 p.m.

Register to attend the International Graduate and Professional Student Orientation! The Office of Global Learning’s orientation is for first year international graduate and professional students. It gives students an early start on their Cornell experience by introducing them to important resources for international students and helping them connect with their classmates from around the world.  

The English Language Support Office (ELSO) provides writing, speaking, and language support to Cornell graduate and professional students who use English as an additional language. Learn more about ELSO. 

Find Your Community

Knowing where to look can give you a head start

With 26,300 students, Cornell is large. One tip for incoming students is to establish your networks early by getting out and meeting new people. The programs, organizations, and resources below are designed to bring people together.

• Big Red Barn Graduate and Professional Student Center. The Barn is the heart of the graduate and professional community with numerous events scheduled throughout the fall semester.
• Student Groups. With over 1,000 student groups, find a group that corresponds to your personal or professional interests.
• Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GPSA). Cornell’s system of governance includes an active student component. Becoming part of the GPSA is a great way to meet people.
• Graduate and Professional Student Diversity Council. Help advance a sense of community, professional excellence, and a climate of inclusion for all graduate and professional students, but especially for those from marginalized communities and backgrounds historically underrepresented in the academy.
• Student Communities. Review our short list of student groups and links to other places to find community.

If you have any questions, or need any support regarding accommodations, please contact Janna Lamey, associate dean for graduate student life (607-255-5184 or janna.lamey@cornell.edu).

Please note: This information and related orientation events are designed for students in programs administered by the Cornell Graduate School. See our Graduate School Degrees and Graduate Degrees Administered by Colleges Other Than the Graduate School pages for more information.