Electrical Engineering Department Welcomes MS and PhD Students on Orientation Day

This year’s EE and CE Graduate Student Orientation at Columbia’s historic Low Library was full of enthusiasm as students heard welcoming presentations and interacted with current students, faculty, and staff.

Specifically, these new students learned more about student life at Columbia, career services, academic advising, and the myriad of opportunities open to them. This included exploring the diversity of courses offered by the Electrical Engineering Department across multiple engineering research areas.

The Orientation program also included presentations by faculty about academics and research, as well as opportunities for newcomers to meet and make personal connections with current students and staff.

“The incoming graduate students are curious, well prepared, and eager to start the semester,” said Zoran Kostic, Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Director of the MS Electrical Engineering Program. “They appreciate the flexibility of the program and large selection of courses at Columbia.”

Peter Kinget, Department Chair and Bernard J. Lechner Professor of Electrical Engineering, encouraged students to pursue knowledge without limits, to take initiative and go after opportunities, and to make meaningful connections as they embark on their electrical engineering education.

The new graduate students also met with student leaders from IEEE and GEEC (Graduate Electrical Engineering Student Club). Collectively, the student leaders provided general advice about the first year, including creating balance between academics and social activities.

During lunch, the new students had the opportunity to get to know each other.

The Orientation program concluded with one-on-one meetings for new students and their faculty advisors—as well as the opportunity to see the electrical engineering labs.

Welcome new graduate students!

Visit the EE Flickr page for more photos of Orientation Day.

Photo Credit: Sirin Samman