Class 2011 New Student Orientation Day 1

Today is the opening day for 2008 Beijing Olympic, and the Haas EWMBA Class 2011 New Student Orientation.

The three-day-long Orientation is mandatory for all EWMBA students. It offers an opportunity for students to befriend one another quickly, and to received fastrack training (and mental preparation) for the upcoming years. In the past three years, the orientation has took place at the beautiful waterfront hotel - DoubleTree Berkeley Marina.

The evening started with students checking into the hotel, and the line quickly backed up just around dinner time (every year the senior students critique the suboptimal operation logic of the check-in process, but nobody ever took the initiative to conduct a free consulting session for Double Tree). The dinner hosted various speakers, including our new Dean - Professor Richard Lyons, the EWMBA Program Staffs, and an alum guest speaker Anarug Mairal, EWMBA05', from Orbees Medical.

The agenda varies every year, however is always the highlight event of the Admission Committee. This year we have the following committee members participate throughout the entire orientation - Sharianne Loui, Phil Liu, Chris Lin, Jasmin Young (on loan from the EWMBA Board), and myself. In my personal option, there is nothing more rewarding than to share my Haas experience with the new students and to witness them succeed in the program. It takes a lot of effort to help plan and actually participate in the events; however for someone who enjoys coaching and networking, Admission Committee is a top choice.


The agenda for the Class 2011 New Student Orientation is the following:

Friday, August 8, 2008

5:00pm Check-in at the Double Tree (Admission Committee Task: assist the program office staff in setup and process management)
7:30pm Introduction/Welcoming Remarks by the Dean of Haas School of Business
7:45pm Dinner (Admission Committee Task: situate one volunteer per table, offer current student perspective and facilitate networking)
8:30pm Speakers: Executive Director Evening & Weekend MBA Program; Alumni Speaker


Saturday, August 9, 2008

8:00am Breakfast (Admission Committee Task: mingle with new students, offer current student perspective and facilitate networking)
9:00am Student Services Panel
10:00am Team Building Activity (Admission Committee Task: make annoying comments and useless suggestions on people's designs; take pictures and look seasoned)
12:00pm Lunch (Admission Committee Task: mingle with new students, offer current student perspective and facilitate networking)
1:15pm Shuttles leave to the Haas School of Business
1:30pm Group Photo (Admission Committee does not take part in this)
2:00pm Case Study Exercises, Campus Tour, Q&A with Financial Aid, and Student Club Workshop (Admission Committee Task: lead the campus tour and student club workshop)
5:30pm Shuttle departs campus to the Double Tree
7:00pm Dinner Festivities: Human Bingo & Rock Band Competition (Admission Committee Task: mingle with new students, manage the Rock Band Competition)

Sunday, August 10, 2008

8:00am Check out of the Double Tree
9:00am Breakfast (Admission Committee Task: mingle with new students, offer current student perspective, facilitate networking, and notify new students that the good time is now over)
9:30am Career Center Workshop
10:30am Leading Through Innovation Presentation
11:35am Haas Alumni Network
11:40am Closing Remarks by the Program Director