International Student Orientation
Orientation for new degree-seeking international students beginning Fall 2022. Click on the arrows below to expand and view. Additional details will be added as the program is finalized in the coming months.
Pre-Arrival Sessions and Recordings will be updated and uploaded here.
- Meet Ilana Smith, Director of the International Offices at Caltech and JPL.
- Meet Laura Flower Kim, Associate Director of ISP. Explore ISP's signature programs.
- Meet Daniel Yoder, International Advisor at ISP. Hear about ISP's immigration advising.
- Meet Carrie-ann Pishnak, International Case Coordinator at ISP. Learn about ISP Check-In for new students.
- Meet Charisma Bartlett, Staff Psychologist at Student Wellness Services; SWS Liaison to ISP. Check out avenues for emotional well-being.
Video recordings are best accessed through Firefox, IE, or Chrome. Caltech VPN required for Safari.
ISP staff and Orientation Leaders will be available throughout the day to provide a helpful hand, referrals to campus resources, and refreshments as you arrive and settle in.
Snacks and Drinks provided.
Cultural Transitions
Whether you are new to the United States or just new to Caltech, cultural transitions come with ups and downs. We will discover and discuss together with a little humility and a lot of humor.
Caltech Scavenger Hunt
A wacky journey through campus. Join teams, meet friends, and explore. This game will help you discover the secrets of Caltech and help you navigate your way around campus.
Cookout on Campus
A classic American tradition with food and outdoor games.
Lunch and Dinner provided.
Immigration Basics with ISP
What happens when my visa expires? Will I be eligible for a summer internship? What documents do I need to travel with? Can I ever take a term off? Your ISP advisors, Laura and Daniel, will help you understand your rights and responsibilities under F-1 and J-1 status, review documents, and answer your questions so that you can feel more in control of your own U.S. nonimmigrant status. Immigration Basics Comic Strip.
Peer Panels
Meet in assigned small groups facilitated by Orientation Leaders. Orientation Leaders are current Caltech international students who have been enrolled at Caltech for at least one academic year. They are ready to help you get to know each other, to share stories from their own cultural transitions to Caltech, and to offer peer-to-peer advice.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner provided.
Meet Ups with Orientation Leaders
A day of student-led activities, both on and off-campus, from morning to sunset. Past activities have included walks to City Hall, shopping through Old Town Pasadena, music jam in Caltech's music studio, coffee or dinner out, and more.
Breakfast provided.