New Graduate Student Orientation

Welcome to Baylor! We are so pleased you will be joining us!  

Be sure to read your emails and follow the Admitted Students checklist to avoid any problems or delays.

You can find helpful information on getting started, finding resources, and living in Waco at our orientation site for new graduate students.  This information is collated by your Graduate Student Association officers, who were themselves new Baylor graduate students not so long ago.  

The annual New Graduate Student Orientation event is hosted by the Baylor University Graduate School in partnership with the Graduate Student Association (GSA) and is designed to get you off to a good start in your graduate school experience. 

Below is the livestream from the August 2025 orientation.

2026-27 New Graduate Student Orientation

Our 2026-27 New Graduate Student Orientation event will take place both in-person and via livestream on Monday, August 17, 2026 from 11:15 AM to 3:30 PM, followed by an event for students and their families from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Student Life Center.  Registration is required. This event has a maximum in-person attendance of 350. All incoming students will receive an invitation in early to mid-June. 

When event registration opens in early June 2026, you will need to have Activated Your BearID (First Name_Last Name#) in order to register to attend. Remember that your Bear ID is different from your Student ID Number.

Day-Of Schedule

This event includes the following (please note that those marked * are the sessions available via livestream): 

• Lunch at a table with your GSA representative and other incoming students in your department.  For some new students, this is your first opportunity for connection with peers in your program. 

• A main session with talks by university leadership including the President, Provost, Dean of the Graduate School, and University Chaplain to share the vision of Baylor University and the role of graduate education.* 

• Two breakout sessions on: 

  • Life as a PhD student (in a faculty panel format)* 

  • Using Baylor grad student insurance (come and go FAQ sessions) 

• A resource fair with tables where students can meet and mingle with people and programs that can support them during their time as a Baylor graduate student. 

• An open house at the SLC (Student Life Center), which includes the health center, counseling center, and recreational spaces, available for new graduate students and their families.

Watch your email and register to receive full details. We look forward to introducing you to Baylor!