Forty-two new freshmen and three undergraduate transfer students will participate in a week of orientation from September 14 to 20 called Wildcat Welcome. According to Laura Robinson, associate director of admission, the average test scores for SESP incoming undergraduates have increased, making this the most academically talented class in recent years. "The incoming SESP students have very impressive backgrounds, and are extremely motivated to put their intelligence, experiences and skills to work both in and outside the classroom at Northwestern,” she says.
Of the four concentrations open to SESP undergraduates, social policy was the most widely selected by the Class of 2014. Eleven freshmen opted for social policy, compared with nine for secondary teaching, six for human development and psychological services, and five for learning and organizational change. Eleven freshmen are undecided.
A highlight of the welcome week for incoming undergraduates is a dinner at the home of Dean Penelope Peterson on September 20. The schedule of SESP Wildcat Welcome activities also includes a convocation, individual advising, registration, tours and group meetings. Freshmen meet with their academic advisers as well as their peer advisers, nine upperclass volunteers selected for their leadership abilities. Led by peer adviser coordinator Amit Bhat, the SESP peer advisers for 2010 are Aria Fiat, Alexis Harrell, Rachel Moore, Katie Florez, Haley Rucker, Taylor Hartstein, Anneke Hoekstra, Chris Nho, Jack Chen, Katherine Mattux, Nadia Ahmed and Naima Zakir. Brittany Mason is transfer peer coordinator.
SESP graduate programs also have kickoff and orientation events planned for the coming weeks. The Human Development and Social Policy doctoral program is welcoming five new students this fall. Orientation activities on September 16 include a session on student perspectives where current students will share their registration tips and advice. A new twist this year is two joint events with the Learning Sciences graduate program: lunch and a scavenger hunt to explore the Northwestern campus. The Learning Sciences graduate program will greet 12 new master’s students and seven new doctoral students with an orientation on September 16 and 17. Activities include a panel discussion, poster session, mentor meeting and dinner. A barbecue for the entire Learning Sciences community will be held on September 19.
The Master of Science in Education program’s 91 new students will have orientation from 6 to 8 p.m. on September 20 at Annenberg Hall, and an informal welcome party will be held on October 1 at the home of Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon, director of the program. The Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change program’s 19 new students will participate in a retreat from September 10 to 12 to kick off the year. two-day weekend retreat for incoming students. "It's an event where we build community among all of our incoming students -- whether they live in the area or are joining our program via the alternative schedule option and live elsewhere (California, Minnesota, Wisconsin among the states we are drawing from)," notes MSLOC associate director Jeff Merrell.
The entire SESP community will come together for a social event on September 23. All SESP students and faculty members are invited to an All-SESP Ice Cream Social from 3 to 4 p.m. The welcome-back event is co-sponsored by SESP’s student organization, Promote 360, which is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of minority and under-represented students.