Doha: New student orientation at QF partner Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) kicked off, this week, welcoming the newest cohort of first year students and ensuring a successful start to their higher education journey.
The virtual programme, held over three days, connected more than 115 new students from Qatar and around the world with the resources, guidance, and strategies needed to thrive at GU-Q.
“We are so excited to welcome the Class of 2025 to our campus community,” said programme organiser Assistant Director for Student Programmes Uday Rosario.
“This is their chance to bond with the classmates they will be spending the next four years with, and to learn how they can enrich their undergraduate experience beyond the classroom through cocurricular activities, student clubs, and research.”
This year’s NSO programme included a special orientation programme called Hoyas 101. Held virtually during the summer, the programme’s modules invited students to learn how to register for classes, join student clubs, and gain access to Georgetown’s dedicated student support services, such as GU-Q’s peer tutor programme which earned College Reading & Learning Association’s (CRLA) International Tutor Training Programme Certification (ITTPC), setting a new standard of academic support at the university.
Current students are also contributing to that warm welcome, including NSO Student Advisor Sooin Jessica Choi, a senior majoring in Culture and Politics, who recalls how important the programme was for her own start at GU-Q. “NSO gave me my first impression of Georgetown. The people I met at NSO later helped me figure out how to register for classes, tutored me for Economics problem sets, and connected me to internship opportunities. Having never lived in the Middle East before coming to GU-Q, I did not know what to expect about the next four years. But through the people I met, all my anxieties went away.”
While this year’s programme is virtual, students were also offered an introduction to the GU-Q campus with a personalized tour. For participating first year student Hamad Althani, enrolling in Georgetown continued an academic tradition.
“Applying to GU-Q was a given for me. Two of my siblings are alumni and I’ve always felt inspired by their experiences. I’m really looking forward to writing my own story here.”
The Class of 2025 will be joining a diverse student body at GU-Q of more than 40 different nationalities.
The NSO programme will culminate in the annual New Student Convocation ceremony, a formal initiation into Georgetown’s academic community.
