Undergraduate Advising News
New Space
Construction on Building 11 is nearly complete, and we anticipate moving in by the end of summer. We’re excited to welcome the MIT community into the new space, and look forward to hosting an Open House for OVC staff this fall!
First-Year Orientation
The Office of the First Year (OFY) is gearing up to welcome 1160 incoming first-year students to MIT through our week-long Orientation program designed to introduce and acclimate them to campus.
Supporting this effort are 76 Orientation Leaders (OLs). OLs are upper-level students who applied, interviewed, and have completed training to help guide new students through the transition to MIT. Fourteen of these OLs will be participating in a fun tradition of an OFY instagram takeover! We invite OVC staff to follow along as each OL highlights their summer activities, including internships or MISTI experiences, and host interactive “Ask Me Anything” sessions. Through engaging and relatable content, first-years get a glimpse into the many possibilities ahead as an MIT student.
Orientation is not limited to just one week. International and transfer students have additional orientation experiences tailored to support their unique transitions to campus. Additionally, about 500 first-year students will arrive to campus early to participate in a variety of First-Year Pre-Orientation Programs (FPOPs).
First Generation/Low Income (FLI)
FLI Senior Celebration: On May 15, 2025, the FLI community came together to celebrate the success of the Class of 2025. Over 120 FLI seniors reconnected with old friends and FLI-supporting faculty/alumni. Inspiring remarks from Associate Dean Sadé Abraham and Assistant Dean Alex Hoyt were given, as well as an insightful keynote address delivered by former FLI@MIT co-chair and current Tufts University doctoral student, Crista Falk BS ‘23. The students were then welcomed to the First Generation Alumni of MIT (FGAMIT) by Katherine Tso BS ’95 and MEng, EECS ’96.
FLI students often face unique challenges, including navigating hidden curricula, managing rigorous academics, and building relationships with faculty. Finding community within the FLI program is paramount to many students’ success at MIT. As one of the most popular FLI events of the year, we extend our sincere thanks to our OVC colleagues in the Undergraduate Advising Center for their invaluable support in making this celebration a memorable one for our graduates.
UAC Advising
Last spring, the UAC was excited to welcome over 300 first-year students to our “Connect with Your UAC Advisor” event. Students had the opportunity to meet their UAC advisor and gain clarification on the distinct roles of departmental advisors and UAC advisors.
The sophomore check-in meetings were also a success, with UAC advisors meeting with 40% of the sophomore class in the 2024-25 academic year. This engagement is encouraging as we finalize our junior advising curriculum to pilot this fall.
This summer, more than 110 students registered to participate in collaborative, prep-based workshops designed specifically for rising sophomores and juniors. These in-person and virtual sessions reconnected students with UAC advisors and introduced them to key Experiential Learning Opportunities, including UROP, MISTI, and Sandbox. Three different sessions helped students prepare for and make the most of ELOs in the upcoming academic year.
— Stephanie Hamilton, UAC