Orientation

As students begin in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program at different times, we provide not only this website to assist with your orientation, but also two hybrid sessions; one in June for those starting in the summer, and one in late August, for those beginning in the fall (and any summer-start students who wish to attend for a refresher or to meet the fall-start students).

It's important to attend the September orientation session, even if you attended the June session, as September's session will revisit some information you heard previously, as well as dive deeper into fall semester items that are time-sensitive.  Your affiliated MIT home department may also require your atttendance at their orientation session.  You may find further details below.  Do note, as of August 1, as orientation is a month away, the schedules listed here may not be complete or final.  Further details will be sent via email, either from the JP, your home MIT department, or MIT central orientation organizers.

MIT-WHOI Joint Program Orientation Session Dates for 2026:

• June 25, 2026 - In-person orientation session at WHOI; fall-start students or any students starting at MIT in the summer  are welcome to attend either in-person or via Zoom.  A recording will also be sent along for anyone unable to attend in-person or remotely.  This session will include:

  • • • Informational orientation event (live & recorded)

        • Onboarding overview (MIT and WHOI requirements), introductions, brief look ahead to fall semester 

      • Social Event

      • Faculty Speed Talks

      • WHOI Campus Tour

• September 8, 2026 - In-person orientation session at MIT; summer-start students or any students starting at WHOI in the fall are welcome to attend either in-person or via Zoom.  A recording will also be sent along for anyone unable to attend in-person or remotely.  

  • • Informational orientation event (live & recorded)

      • • Registration and Fall semester information, in-depth academic and intercampus logistics, funding and communication structures

    • Lunch Meet and Greet with Faculty, Staff, and Students

    • Time to attend MIT-wide hosted Graduate Resource Fair

    • MIT Campus Tour

    • Social Event

MIT-Wide Orientation Sessions (9/2 - 9/8; Session on 9/3 is Required):

• • • • Wednesday, September 2 - Various offices on campus offer multiple sessions between 10am - 4pm for your edification.

      • Thursday, September 3 - Required Kresge Auditorium.  9am - 1pm, lunch included.

      • Tuesday, Sept. 8 - Graduate Resource Fair (1 -3pm); the MIT-WHOI JP Orientation schedule on this day accounts for this session so you may attend if you like.

      • Full list of events here: https://apply.mit.edu/portal/orientation-event-portal?tab=events

      • Email gradorientation@mit.edu with questions if you have a conflict during the required session.

MIT Home Department Sessions

• • • • Some home departments require your attendance, others do not.  It will depend on the MIT department with which you're affiliated.  

      • Details about each (date, location, requirements related) will be shared on this website and via email as they become available.  As of August 1, the details below are available for departmental sessions; any further updates will be via email
        
        

• MIT-WHOI Joint Program Orientation Session

• • Sept. 8 – 11am – 5pm – Required and optional sessions

  • The 11am session is required for all incoming students, even if you attended the June session, as there is new, more detailed information related to the fall semester and registration.  As noted above a near-final draft of our schedule for Sept. 8 and Sept. 11 is attached.  

  • EAPS and the MIT-WHOI JP have social events planned for Sept. 8th and Sept. 11th that all incoming MIT-WHOI JP students are invited to, regardless of your home MIT department.  Please RSVP here by August 14: https://forms.gle/Vv9hVgB3tpKwP9ow9

• MIT-wide Events

• • Required Session: September 3, 2026

  • Details can be found here: https://oge.mit.edu/community-belonging/graduate-student-orientation/ 

• Course 2 – Mechanical Engineering (MechE)

• • Sept. 8 – 9:30 – 10:30am session; Room TBD

  • Required for MIT-WHOI JP students in MechE

  • Contact Saana McDaniel (saana@mit.edu) with questions

• Course 6 – Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS)

  • Tuesday, September 1: 10am – 3pm

    • Exact details on optional and required sessions to follow

  • Contact Meredith Bittrich (bittrich@mit.edu) and Liza Ruano-Lucey (lmruano@mit.edu) with questions

• Course 7 – Biology

• • Attendance Optional

  • Thursday, September 3 in 68-181

    • 3 – 4:30 - Biology department overview

      • Do note, these are not program requirements for MIT-WHOI Joint Program students affiliated with the MIT Biology department, but it may be helpful to learn more about the department and its faculty and staff

    • 4:30 – 5:30 – Student Panel Q&A

    • 5:30pm – Pizza with current students

  • Contact Janice Chang (jdchang@mit.edu) and Betsey Walsh (betz@mit.edu) with questions

• Course 12 – Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS)

• • September 8 afternoon & September 11 social events noted above are optional and are hosted jointly with the MIT-WHOI Joint Program; open to all JP students

  • Contact Ann Greaney-Williams and Alana Snelson at: eaps-ed-office@mit.edu with questions

More details will be shared via email (by JP staff and/or the administrator of the relevant department) as these events approach.