Transition Orientation Program

The Transition/Re-entry Program is a fun and informative 5-day orientation program designed to help you adjust to life and college in the United States. It takes place Monday through Friday the week before school begins for the Fall Semester. The program is required for all new international and TCK students and is offered free of charge.
 

During the Transition week you will have lots of opportunities to begin building relationships with other new international and TCK students. Many strong and lasting friendships are formed during this week. There are also lots of exciting “cultural” events during this time to start off your college experience with a good dose of fun. From a practical standpoint, the Transition Program provides you with a lot of useful benefits, as well. In addition to meetings with Student Financial Services and Health Services, you will get to purchase your textbooks early and you will have the opportunity to arrange on-campus employment before the other freshmen arrive. You will also get your new laptop and will have plenty of time to set it up.

The Transition Program offers valuable sessions led by some of Houghton’s excellent Intercultural Studies professors which aim to help you navigate the process of entering into American culture. Sessions include such valuable information as college survival strategies, cross-cultural learning models, understanding the TCK profile, issues of shields and grief, an immigration workshop for internationals, and how to manage cultural stress, values, social acceptance, and dating. You will have the opportunity to get to know these professors both during the sessions and in more informal settings during the week.