Lesson #010: "See you at CI!"

Fun fact: This is the CI logo. What is it, you ask? One hint is that it is not a G and a W, as some have speculated. Ask your small group leader when you come to Colonial Inauguration.

Lesson #010: "See you at CI!"

Hey, buff and blue Colonials! In case you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, I’ll tell you: I’ve been at Colonial Inauguration (@GWCI on Twitter)! Let’s back up a little bit…

At some universities, mom and dad pull up in their minivan three days before classes and drop off their students, at which point students are forced to sit in auditoriums and classrooms, learning about university services. Boring, right? I concur. At GW, we have our own brand of orientation and it is called Colonial Inauguration or CI.

Dozens and dozens of professional staffers and student staffers work for over a half year to put the pieces in place for a 2 ½ day spectacular. Chris Kim and Lauren Cattano, the 2012 CIHQ (Colonial Inauguration Headquarters) team, could better explain what it’s all about!

Colonial Inauguration is not only for students but also for the whole family. The siblings program is an opportunity for Future Colonials to get to know the place their older sibling will be living for the next 4 years (in fact, it is so impactful that about 10% of the Class of 2016 is made up of siblings of previous Colonials!). Parents also have an opportunity to get in on the action and learn to adjust to their child going to college, not only for their own purposes but so that they can be there as a resource for the student they are shipping off to a city that could very well be an eerie place had GW not had this orientation every summer.

In working with the Office of Parent Services, I get to witness the wide-eyed parents, students, and siblings as the Colonial Cabinet, CI Staffers, CIHQ, and administration “perform” an award-winning orientation. I can see the excitement in their faces! Even still, I will never forget my own CI experience back in 2010 with my group leader Aubrey, who actually inspired me to minor in creative writing! At CI, students gain resources, knowledge, and friends. I know this first-hand and, honestly, wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.

If you are a member of the class of 2016, be sure to look out for Alyse, who is one of our wonderful admissions bloggers and an excellent addition to the thirty-four member Colonial Cabinet. If you still have yet to come to GW, I don’t want to spoil all of the surprises, but, if you visit www.ci.gwu.edu, you can see for yourself just what CI has in store!

We’ll see you at CI!

Sincerely,

Matt

mtscott@gwu.edu

#Summer2012

Hey y'all

This past week on Monday I began my marketing internship at GlobalGiving. With a mission that "catalyzes a global market for ideas, information, and money that democratizes aid and philanthropy" I know I can feel good about my work everyday. At our downtown DC office I'll be posting to Facebook, Tweeting, and blogging for our project leaders while also learning more about the interntional development sector. The work enviornment has been fantastic so far with 17 other interns, ice cream socials, and free t-shirts! I'll make a special photo post about the GG office soon.
My job this summer is in the GW School of Business as an Admissions Assistant for MBA Programs. With nearly 3 years of experience in the Office of Undergraduate Admissons it's a very different experience now working with graduate students. This offers a new perspective on the University and has provided me with a great insight into what it takes to be a successful candidate for grad school.

While I do have my days planned 9-5 Monday through Friday I'm pysched to be spending my time in our nation's capital! I'll be able to explore the city more freely knowing that I don't have essays or reading to be done. And with all the interns coming from across the country it's great to meet new people who are doing amazing things at other schools. But most importantly the most energy will be coming in three day spurts from all the CIs! This time of year is always special as our next class of eager Colonials learn what G dubs is all about while also experiencing the mass volume of free food that is GW. I'll take some pictures of the CI session 1 that is this week to show y'all what it's like!


All the best,
Oscar
@myworthynotes | oscarn@gwmail.gwu.edu 

Cab Doz Getaway

So if you haven't noticed, I've come from underneath my rock and you'll be hearing from me a lot  over the next couple of days as I avoid studying (:

Over this past weekend, I was kidnapped by my Colonial Cabinet fam (just kidding!). But all of the Colonial Inauguration staff (Colonial Cabinet and CI Staffers) went on a spring retreat/leadership getaway over the weekend. Although I can’t really say much about the retreat because its a surprise and a little bit on the down low, I can say it was an awesome bonding experience and although we left tired and smelly, we came back on Sunday loving each other more than we did when we left. 

Despite the fact that our more time intensive job commitments begin this summer, throughout the second semester we have weekly trainings, office hour commitments, and other events we have to attend including basketball games, April visit days for prospective students, and two retreats. We had our winter retreat towards the beginning of the spring semester and in past years this retreat is usually held the last weekend in the semester. But, because of some changes in schedule, we had it a bit earlier this year. 

Spring Retreat (:

At our winter retreat!

Chilling during GW's Spring Fling

Buff Out Basketball Game

Stuck together in a random elevator lol

With two trainings left in the semester and one more week of office hours, my cab fam and I  are getting ready to meet all the amazing incoming students. As a result of our overwhelming excitement for the summer, we have given ourselves the name “Cab Doz” which you may often hear us drop from time to time. 

If you are a prospective student-- GET READY!! This summer/fall is going to be exciting and fun but be sure to register for CI! I may have briefly mentioned it in an earlier post but once you register for CI you will be placed in a small group. Each Cab member is a small group leader. We will be there to make sure everything runs smoothly for you, and to also answer any and all questions you may have. The faster you register, the faster you hear from us, and get some Cab Doz lovin (: 

Until next time: if you have any questions, comments or just want to chat-- always remember I am only an email away! anstone@gwmail.gwu.edu

Stay Classy Colonials,

Alyse

Wassup Current (and Future) Colonials!

My name is Alyse Stone! I am a sophomore Mechanical Engineering major in the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). 

Although born and raised in New York, I rep Los Angeles and frequently identify myself as a California beach girl since I attended high school there. On campus, I am an engineering mentor, formally known as SEAS Student Peer Advisory Network (SEASSPAN) and live in the sophomore SEAS living community. I attend the Engineering Council meetings, I am a Colonial Cabinet member, and I work in the undergraduate engineering office as a personal assistant to the advising staff, tour guide, and receptionist. Off campus, I am a Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar, and I am sponsored by and intern at the Northrop Grumman Corporation. I guess you could say I like to keep myself busy. 

Although my schedule is a lot of times, jam-packed, this week acceptance letters went out to the Class of 2016. (Congratulations by the way!) So, at the beginning of the week, we had an Engineering Open House so prospective students would have the opportunity to meet faculty members and current students. As a staff member of office and an engineering mentor, that is one of our major events for the school year. In addition to the open house, the Colonial Inauguration website went live. http://ci.gwu.edu/students/

2012 Colonial Cabinet Members

For all you prospective and recently admitted students out there, the Colonial Inauguration Program (CI) is GWU’s orientation program for incoming students. That student can be a freshman, a transfer, or an international student. There are four different orientation sessions during the summer that are designed specifically for incoming freshman students, and then there is a fall session in August specifically for incoming transfer and international students. My job as a Colonial Cabinet Member is to run the orientation program (along with other CI staff), and mentor incoming students to assure their transition to GW runs smoothly. Definitely check out the website as it gives more specific details about the programs, students and faculty involved, and other pertinent information. Each colonial cabinet member also has a video that is designed to introduce, what we felt, were important aspects of the university that should be highlighted. I know that my position for CI is definitely going to be the highlight of my summer and school year. (I am so excited for it!) For all of you declared 2016‘ers, I am so looking forward to meeting you!

Until next time: if you have any questions, comments or just want to chat-- I am only an email away! anstone@gwmail.gwu.edu

Stay Classy Colonials,

Alyse