Get Excited for Grad School: Tips for Accepted Students

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Two Emerson students sit talking behind a window with "Emerson College" etched into the glass.

Congratulations on your acceptance to Emerson’s Graduate School!! Take a moment to reflect on your success and thank everyone who supported you in your application journey. In today’s blog, we’re offering some tips on how to prepare for this next step in your education and get into the grad school spirit.

Find Housing

If you are joining one of our in-person graduate programs, you’re likely wondering where to live in Boston. If you are new to the area, start getting a feel for Boston’s many neighborhoods by reading our Where to Live in Boston blog series. You might also take our quiz to find out which neighborhood is the best match for you.

Once you know the areas you’re interested in, head over to Emerson’s off-campus housing portal, where you can find roommates and apartment listings. I personally found both of my roommates through the portal. I know other grad students have had luck finding roommates using Emerson’s Admitted Graduate Students Facebook page. The majority of leases start on September 1 in Boston, so now is a great time to get a jump on finding a roommate and hunting for an apartment together!

Shop for  Some Merch

Show off your Lion pride by stopping by our college bookstore and checking out all the Emerson merch! Stocked with travel mugs, shirts, hoodies, accessories, and more, you’re sure to find something to strike your fancy. Plus, our bookstore is where you will pick up all your textbook orders for the semester, so it’s a great landmark to know. 

Explore Campus (and Downtown!)

Maybe it’s been a while since you visited campus, or maybe you’ve never been. Not to worry! You can always schedule a tour with our Admissions department, where you’ll get a personalized tour of all the buildings important to your grad program. 

The outside of Emerson's bookstore, with large windows displaying merchandise
Emerson’s bookstore, located on Boylston Street

Emerson’s campus is in the heart of downtown Boston, so after your campus tour, take some time to explore the city! Within walking distance is Beacon Hill, home to a 3-story bookshop, the North End, full of delicious Italian food, and plenty of greenspace at the Boston Common and Boston Public Garden. 

Browse Classes

Get excited for the start of classes by looking up the courses you might take your first semester. Our Course Catalog is a great place to find required courses as well as program electives. Your Graduate Program Director will email you about how and when to register for classes, so get a jump start by finding some classes you’re most interested in!

Stay Connected

Grad school is a great place to find lifelong friends with similar passions to you. Many of Emerson’s cohorts start a GroupMe, which is a nice way to stay connected with your peers in the program. Another place to get connected in grad school is to join one of Emerson’s graduate student organizations. Joining a club helps students feel more at home in Boston and develop a social support network.

Look for Student Employment

If you’re planning to work during graduate school, student employment at Emerson is a great option. Working at Emerson gives students more flexibility to prioritize their studies and build their work schedule around school. You can browse student employment opportunities on Workday and learn more about the types of student employment available on the Student Employment website.

A student using a planner and sticky notes to prepare for grad school
Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash

Read the Official Checklist

In addition to these fun ways to start your grad school journey, you’ll also want to make sure you are meeting important deadlines for health forms, enrollment, etc. For a complete checklist of the items you need to complete, visit our Accepted Students Checklist page. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Graduate Admissions; we’re always here to help! 

We are so excited to have you joining our Emerson graduate community! Hopefully these tips help you get excited for your first semester of grad school. To keep up with Emerson and your program, be sure to follow your grad program and Emerson’s Graduate Department on Instagram!

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Olivia is a second-year student in Emerson's Communication Disorders MS program. Originally from Ohio, she is loving Emerson and city life. When she's not writing for the Grad Life blog, she loves to read, bake, and crochet.

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