Transfer & Veteran Pre-Orientation 2023

Thursday, August 24 - Tuesday, August 29

Phone Numbers

Please contact Scarlet, Erik or Scott if you encounter any delays in your arrival to campus. Feel free to text or call us throughout orientation as needed.

  • Scarlet (she/her): (413) 320-4595
  • Erik (he/him): (760) 845-6235
  • Scott (he/him): (949) 291-9611

GroupMe: Feel free to utilize the “Fall 23 Transfer/Veteran Pre-O Cohort” GroupMe to chat with each other and coordinate logistics. While Scarlet is a member in the group, the fastest way to get an answer to a direct question will be to text her.

Other Important Links & Numbers

  • Campus Map: An interactive virtual map can be found here: https://www.amherst.edu/visiting/map
  • Service Center & ACPD: Dorm window broken? Lost your room key? Please call the Service Center (413-542-2254) during regular business hours (8:00 – 3:30) or ACPD non-emergency line (413-542-2291) after hours.
  • Ask IT: Issues with your Amherst email, zoom or other technology? Send an email to: askit@amherst.edu
  • Emergency: ACPD emergency line is (413) 542-2111

Meals During Orientation

Most meals will be from Valentine Dining Hall (unless otherwise indicated in our pre-orientation schedule). 
Their Summer Hours are:

  • Breakfast: 7:30AM-9:00AM
  • Lunch: 12:00PM-1:30PM
  • Dinner: 5:00PM-7:00PM

Academic Advising

Your faculty advisor will reach out, if not already, to schedule your first zoom meeting. If you have not heard from them by August 14th, please reach out to them. Pre-med and other pre-health students are strongly encouraged to connect with Professor Dick Aronson (raaronson69@amherst.edu) or Professor Will Loinaz (waloinaz@amherst.edu) before registering for classes. Please reach out to them directly to schedule an appointment.

Other Calendar Formats

Click here for a visual slide deck of the schedule

Click here for a Google Calendar version of the schedule

Thursday, August 24th

Move-In with Scarlet Im and Pre-Orientation Leaders 

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM • Multicultural Resource Center, Keefe Campus Center

Pick up your keys and IDs. Make sure to have your QR code from OSA. International & Exchange Students will go to CISE check-in at Freshmen Quad.

Erik Arciniega & Scott Hopkins

Campus Tour with Caden Stockwell '25

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Meet in front of Frost Library on Main Quadrangle

Welcome Dinner with Chief Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students Angie Tissi-Gassoway

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM • Terrace Room in Valentine Dining Hall

Pick up food from Val and bring it to location.

Friday, August 25

Course Registration

All Day • Online at your pre-scheduled time slot

Yard Sale Open to Transfer & Veteran Students 

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM • Orr Ice Rink

Sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, the Amherst Yard Sale is a collection of clothes, furniture, and room necessities donated by previous students. Need a lamp, hangers, etc? Save some money, save the landfills, stop by the yard sale to browse free items! Transfer Students get an exclusive first look before other first year students arrive.

(This event is optional)

[CANCELED] Lunch with Associate Dean of Admission Lexi Hurd

Academic Resources Workshop with the Writing Center & Library Research Staff

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM • Frost Library, 2nd Floor Seminar Room

Academic Resources Workshop with the Writing Center & Library Research Staff

Study Abroad & Global Education at Amherst with Chelsi Colleton from GEO

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM • Science Center A131

Internships & Career Exploration with Sherry Gomez from the Loeb Center

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM • Science Center A131

Evening Hangout with Erik and Scott

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM • Location TBD

Keefe Movie Night with popcorn!

Erik Arciniega & Scott Hopkins

Saturday, August 26

Mead Art Activity at the Amherst Farmers Market

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Amherst Commons

The Amherst College Mead Museum hosts an arts and crafts booth at the Farmers Market. Stop by to see local vendors and meet Olivia Feal, a staff member who was also a transfer student.

(This event is optional)

Beneski Science Museum Tour with Museum Educator Fred Venne

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM • Beneski Science Museum

Hike at Ashley Reservoir 

2:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Meet in front of Keefe Campus Center. We will be walking together to our vehicles and driving over to Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke, MA. Don’t forget to wear comfortable clothes & bring water and snacks, if needed.

Dinner at Seligman with Erik and Scott

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM • Seligman Common Room

Food will be provided! 

Erik Arciniega & Scott Hopkins

Sunday, August 27

EVENING Activity with Erik & Scott

7:00PM - 9:00PM Campus Scavenger Hunt (rain check plan: Game/Karaoke Night)

Hang out with your Pre-OLs! 

Erik Arciniega & Scott Hopkins

Monday, August 28

Financial Aid Q&A with Gail Holt 

10:00AM - 10:45AM • Science Center A131

Faculty Panel with Professor C.Rhonda Cobham-Sander and Professor Sally Kim

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM • Science Center A131 

Meet & Greet with President Michael Elliot, Class Dean Kiara Vigil, Chief Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students Angie Tissi-Gassoway, and Associate Dean of Admission Lexi Hurd

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM • Mullins/Faerber Room in Valentine Dining Hall

Food will be catered. 

Explore Strategic Learning Center with Larissa Hopkins 

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM • Science Center A131

Fellowship Opportunities with Eric Myers

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM • Science Center A131

Tour of Office of Identity & Cultural Resources  

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM • Keefe Campus Center Atrium

Dinner and Meet & Greet with Amherst Transfer & Veteran Students

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM • Friedmann Room (Keefe Campus Center 200)

Food will be provided!

Tuesday, August 29

Coffee and bagels at the farm with Erik & Scott

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM  

Meet in front of the Science Center at 9:00am to walk to the farm together, or if driving yourself follow directions to Book & Plow farm via East St. Be aware of move-in traffic on campus - many roads will be closed or backed up.

Erik Arciniega & Scott Hopkins

General New Student Orientation Begins

11:30 AM • Lunch will be served on Val Quad