So I know orientation has already come and gone...but hopefully this information will be helpful for new students. I sure could have used this ahead of time.

New Student Orientation

Monday, August 27
6 PM - Welcome - Opening Session
7 PM - Professionalism and the Medical Student I
7:30 PM - Life in Dominica

Tuesday, August 28th (Parent Orientation Occurred on this day as well schedule for parents at bottom)
9 AM - Welcome to Ross University/Introduction to Dominica Campus
9:30 A - Academic Grading and Promotion System
9:45 A - Professionalism and the Medical Student II
10:30 A - Break
10:45 A - Academic Success
12:00 P - Lunch
1:30 P - Student Health Insurance/Health Center on Campus
2 P - Introduction to Campus Life
3:30 P - Campus Facilites Services
3:45 p - Safety and Security on Campus in Dominica
4 P - Free Time
5 P - BBQ/Reception

Wednesday, August 29
9 AM - How to Outwit, Outsmart, and Outlast Your Professors - so you can choose when you leave the island
11 A- Professionalism and the Medical Studetn III
11:15 A - The Food of Dominica
12 P - Lunch
1 P - 4 P Round Robin Session
How the Library can support your studies
Words of Wisdom from the Current Students
How the IT Department Can Support you studies
How to Stay Well While in Medical School

Thursday, August 30th
8:30A-5P New Student Registration
10-2 Vendor Fair

Friday, August 31st
8:30-12 New Student Registration
9 A and 1 PM - Welcome from the Dean, Professionalism and the Medical Student IV
6 P - PACE Introduction Meeting
7 P - Movie

Saturday, September 1st, September 2nd
8 A - 6 P - Island Tour

Monday, September 3rd
8 A - first day of class

Friday, September 7th
2 P - White Coat Ceremony

Saturday, September 8th
9 and 1 - Optional Tours

New Parent Orientation
Monday, August 27th
7:30 PM - Life in Dominica

Tuesday, August 28th
10 A - Welcome to Ross University/Introduction to Dominica Campu
10:30 A - Important Information
10:45 A - How to Support Your Child from Miles Away , A day in the life of a student
11:15 A - Question and answer session
12 P - Lunch
1 P - Trip to Rosseau, the capital of Dominica
4 P - leave rosseau and return to campus
5 P - BBQ

If you have specific questions about the student sessions, feel free to ask me.

Wish I had this when I started...would have saved me those hours I wasted on some of these.

same here...at least it will give people an idea of what they are missing if they come in late, or what it's store for them if they are coming early

Hi thank you for the orientation schedule. Just wondering....in retrospect which one
of the activites for orientation do you think were unnecessary or a waste of time? Plus, do famlies normally come to white coat ceremony?

I actually didn't get in until Monday night to campus, so I missed the Monday events and cannot really comment on those.

For Tuesday's events, I attended all of them, but found these to be most helpful:
Academic Grading and Promotion System
Academic Success
BBQ/Reception (for the free food)

For Wednesday's, these were most helpful:
How to Outwit, Outsmart, and Outlast Your Professors - so you can choose when you leave the island
The Food of Dominica
Words of Wisdom from the Current Students

I'm one of the those people who like to attend everything just in case something important is said, but it just depends on you what you feel is necessary. I just listed the ones that I thought were most helpful. But alot of the sessions were a bit tedious and boring.

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

The Island Tour is really a great free way to explore the island for free (you just pay for lunch). Plus I met one of my really good friends on it. The took us to Trafalgar Falls, Rosseau, a panoramic view point to take pictures of Rosseau, the Old Mill (I think that's what it is called) for lunch, and Scott's Head. It's good way to see the island, before the hubub of classes begins.

For the white coat ceremony, I did have my family attend. Most people's parents came during orientation and left soon after classes started or earlier. My parents actually came in for a few days before the White Coat Ceremony and left that weekend. This way my parents were able to bring me stuff that I needed, could not find, or was too expensive on the island with them when they came. In retrospect, I think this is the smartest way to go. Because most people do not know before hand what exactly they will need on the island. I think I was one of the few people's whose parents actually atteneded the ceremony. Some of the people who brought their families to the island, did have their entire family attend.

It all depends on what you take from the orientations. A lot of it is pretty much common sense (ex. you need to study) I thought. The "words of wisdom from current students" section was interesting, but you can get those same tips during the semester from other semester students.

As far as the white coat, not a lot of families attend...personally, if you care a lot about your family don't subject them to staying an extra week on this island. Just my two cents.

Thank you Nulie01 and SurferMD, that is actually some really good advice to have the folks bring stuff down with them. i am also one of those people who attend everything just to make sure that i don't miss anything important. Sad, but true i am self-admittedly AR about these things. It just sounded like some of the things at orientation were viewed as a bit unnecessary. I appreciate all your help.