Graduate Checklist: Orientation and Housing
Summer Preparation Activities
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Business Ready
Incoming students are required to attend ONE of the following Business Ready virtual sessions. This 90-minute event covers essential information to help you prepare to navigate your graduate program and help you register for your fall quarter classes. Whether you are a returning UCR student or new to our beautiful campus, Business ready is a great opportunity to connect with our team and get your questions answered before the quarter begins. We look forward to getting off to a great start!
Please select your virtual Business Ready session from the following dates (all pacific Daylight Time) and register:
- Monday, May 18, 2026 - Two separate Sessions are offered at different time slots for your convenience: 9:30-11:00 AM, and 12:00-1:30 PM - These two sessions are being offered exclusively to current UCR enrolled students.
- Monday, June 29, 2026 - Three Sessions 8:00-9:30 AM; 12:00-1:30 PM; 5:00-6:30 PM
- Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 12:00-1:30 PM (PT)
- Tuesday, July 21, 2026 - 8:00-9:30 AM (PT)
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - 6:30-8:00 PM (PT)
- Thursday, August 27, 2026 - 12:00-1:30 PM (PT)
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Career Week
Your Graduate Student Success team looks forward to partnering with you to achieve your past-graduation career goals. Internship recruitment at the graduate level begins in the summer. This is a great time to focus on your personal goals and to prepare for the very competitive internship recruiting process.
To "jump start" your personal career planning process, all incoming students are required to attend ONE of two Career Week virtual bootcamps. These one-hour sessions delivered across four consecutive days are the critical "building blocks" where you will learn about the career path opportunities offered to graduate business students, what needs to be done to prepare, and when it needs to be done. Each session covers a different topic and builds on the previous one. Please choose one of the following Career Week schedules and plan to attend all four sessions in that week (all times Pacific Daylight Time):
Career Week #1
- Session-1: July 13, 12:00-1:00 PM
- Session-2: July 14, 12:00-1:00 PM
- Session-3: July 15, 12:00-1:00 PM
- Session-4: July 16, 12:00-1:00 PM
Registration Link: https://ucr.zoom.us/meeting/register/Pe965rukSTGm7L1QTliRMQ
Career Week #2 (Repeats all four of the Sessions presented in July)
- Session-1: August 10, 5:00-6:00 PM
- Session-2: August 11, 5:00-6:00 PM
- Session-3: August 12, 5:00-6:00 PM
- Session-4: August 13, 5:00-6:00 PM
Registration Link: https://ucr.zoom.us/meeting/register/F_PhBf15QOiU2za5D98emQ
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CareerElevate
We've created ELEVATE: a 5-day intensive to help you master the U.S. job market before the rigor of the classroom takes over. Think of it as a professional 'head start'—you’ll walk away with your employer-ready materials finished and a clear plan in place. You'll be ready for recruiting season before your first assignment is due.
What you'll gain:
- New connections with classmates, alumni, and industry professionals
- Practical tools for career development and job search strategy
- A polished resume, LinkedIn profile, professional cover letter, and networking roadmap
- Interview skill-building activities
- Exclusive access to conference and networking events
- In addition to daytime workshops, you'll enjoy casual early evening socials — perfect for
expanding your network and getting to know your new community.
Event Dates & Time
- Wednesday, September 9th through Tuesday, September 15th
- Sessions will be held daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, with early evening socials to follow.
Location
- School of Business Building, Classroom 280 and Multi-Purpose Room
Housing
- Arrange with your off-campus housing provider a move-in date by September 4.
- Contact Steve Chen, Director of Graduate Program Admissions, to arrange early move-in with your on-campus housing provider if applicable.
Registration
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Pre-Fall Programs
The AGSM Graduate Student Success team will share throughout spring and summer a variety of business-enrichment, career-education, and early-internship employment-recruiting opportunities available to admitted students.
Coming Soon - "Earlier Access" Employer Hosted Opportunities
You will also have access to many 2027 Internship job postings before the quarter begins. Graduate Student Success will share throughout the spring and summer. We encourage you to take advantage of these early Pre-Fall events.
For incoming MBA students, taking advantage of Pre-MBA opportunities is a strategic move that can significantly de-risk the intensive first-year internship recruiting cycle.
Why Pre-MBA Opportunities Matter
Participating in these programs—hosted by top-tier firms allows you to establish direct relationships with recruiters before your first quarter even begins. For the Summer 2027 internship cycle, these early touchpoints serve as a "fast track," often granting you priority access to interviews, specialized skill-building workshops and exclusive networking with future peers and mentors. By engaging now, you not only validate your career interests in a low-stakes environment but also signal to elite employers that you are a high-initiative candidate, positioning yourself at the very front of the talent pipeline.
2026 Case Interview Preparation Bootcamp: Please see below for details.
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2026 Case Interview Preparation Bootcamp
Pre-Fall Opportunity: 2026 Case Interview Preparation Bootcamp
Are you preparing for early recruiting or looking to sharpen your problem-solving skills for top-tier consulting and business roles? AGSM Graduate Student Success is proud to offer our students and alumni exclusive access to the 2026 Case Interview Training Bootcamp. This intensive, virtual program is designed for highly motivated students who want to master the art of the case interview and succeed in upcoming case competitions.
Key Program Benefits
- Intensive Preparation: 12 live, interactive virtual sessions focused on concept development and real-world application.
- Comprehensive Resources: All sessions are recorded. With your UCR email address students and alumni will have access to the 2026 and 2025 workshop recording library, for self-paced study. Log in with your UCR email address and click "Join Now". https://learning.casequestions.com/offers/JSkugoQb
- See 12twenty Events for additional details (Career Workshop filter)
Led by Marc Cosentino, author of Case in Point, you will be joining students from other schools during these live sessions.
Two separate 2-hour introductory workshops will be offered to “kick off” your self-navigated training experience.
Date & Time: Monday, April 20, 4-6:00 pm PDT.
Introductory Case Interview Workshop for the Driven. We start with the basics, demystifying the process, then quickly ramp up developing hypothesis-driven structured problem solving.
Register with your UCR email: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6xqgIMkVQHCgJHUQS8nm5w
Repeat Session (for those who missed April 20)
Date & Time: Monday, June 29, 4-6:00 pm PDT
Register with your UCR email: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89487518533
Live Case Walk-Through – Interactive walk-through of a case interview.
Date & Time: Monday, May 11, 5-6:00 pm PDT. Register with your UCR email: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/844NADltRKmx5_f9LsfYaQCase Starts – Walk-through of several case starts. Students will then be given a case prompt and the opportunity to ask clarifying questions. Participants will then be given 90-seconds to lay out their problem assessment structure.
Date & Time: Monday, May 25, 5-6:00 pm PDT.
Register with your UCR email: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/RXFqtoRSSrOUJi5czr8q6w2026 Summer Class Sessions – Four classes, 90 minutes each, concept development and training with each session that builds on the previous one. Learn to communicate like a consultant. Concepts include the identification of high-impact issues facing the client and learning how to evaluate charts and data provided by the client. We will discuss how to develop and “sell” your recommendation(s) and potential solutions.
Dates: Mondays, July 13, 20, 27, and August 3 Time: 5-6:30 pm PDT
Register with your UCR email (same registration link for all four sessions): https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mgS3M-J5S9mhDotsSi2NZA2026 Case Competitions – This session is offered to students who want to participate in various opportunities sponsored by universities, employers, and associations, and the benefits of participation. Marc will discuss the different types of competitions, emphasizing the skills gained and opportunities they provide, such as networking with judges and preparing for consulting interviews. Marc stressed the importance of presenting well-thought-out, low-risk, high-impact solutions and highlighted the value of case competitions for developing skills used throughout a career.
Session #1: Wednesday, July 15, 4-5:30 pm PDT
Register with your UCR email (same registration link for both sessions): https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/84Rs1x5nTa22I6ItSNE1Kg
Session #2: August 26, 4-5:30 pm PDT https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/84Rs1x5nTa22I6ItSNE1KgRecommendations, Signposts, and Interview Evaluation Forms - This session focuses on the importance of making a strong recommendation, how to deliver it, sell it, defend it, and close the deal. How to identify signposts, verbal cues or transitions used to guide the interviewer through your thought process. They act like a roadmap, signaling exactly where you are in your analysis and where you are going next. The session concludes by informing students how firms evaluate a student’s case interview performance.
Date & Time: Monday, August 10, 5-6:00 pm PDT
Register with your UCR email: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/J77cuzcCTUeOBdFtfOmNUgHow to Stand Out in a Case: Whoever gives a case looks basically for the same four things: structure of thought, confidence, communication skills, and creativity. This session will explore how to become a standout candidate in a high-pressure interview.
Date & Time: Monday August 17, 5-6:00 pm PDT
Register with your UCR email: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1_eYHRzKRPSXXGfOHmhIuwFor questions about the program, please contact:
Lori Babigian
Director of Student Success
lori.babigian@ucr.edu
Mandatory Student Orientation
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AGSM Student Orientation: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Date & Time: Saturday, September 19, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM PDT
Location: UC Riverside Campus & School of Business
Begin your journey at the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM) with an orientation designed to build your professional foundation and your community. This immersive experience goes far beyond the basics, offering a unique opportunity to engage directly with faculty to explore specialized concentrations, industry expectations, and career trajectories. You will gain a competitive edge through technical onboarding for our core platforms and a comprehensive deep dive into university-wide advising resources to support your academic success.
Beyond the logistics, this is your first step into a lifelong network .You'll have the chance to meet your future colleagues through team-building exercises focused on workgroup dynamics, get involved with student leadership during our Club Rush, and even sharpen your professional brand with complimentary headshots. We are excited to help you bridge the gap between begin a student and becoming a business leader. We are looking forward to seeing you at Orientation! We can't wait to meet you!
Registration:
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International Student Orientation
International Students will need to attend two orientations. The AGSM new student orientation and the International Student Orientation (ISO). ISO is designed specifically for international students and will cover important information about your immigration and SEVIS status, employment opportunities, academic success in the U.S., and other cross-cultural information. These items are not covered in AGSM Student Orientation which is why all international students are required to attend ISO. Attending ISO is mandatory for all international students and fees will be applied to the student’s bill. Visit the International Student Orientation page for more information and to register:
international.ucr.edu/students/orientation
Housing at UCR and Beyond
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Finalize Your On-campus Housing
UCR has several options for housing close or on campus. For more information about on-campus housing options:
Helpful Tip: While applying and finalizing the confirmation for UCR housing, we encourage you to consider external housing options simultaneously. Exploring all avenues and housing options will ensure peace of mind and allow for flexibility in options and in the decision making process. -
Discover Off-campus Housing Options
UCR Off-Campus Housing Website
If you would like to talk with current students about the area around UCR, contact a student ambassador:
business.ucr.edu/graduate/ambassadors
Please make sure to read all contracts carefully as they are legally binding documents even if you have not arrived or viewed the property.
Student Disability Resource Center Accommodations
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Submit Documentation to the UCR Student Disability Resource Center
Do you have a documented physical or learning disability, testing anxiety, or other challenges that are impacting success? You can work with the Student Disability Resource Center to see if you are eligible for accommodations and ensure that you have equitable access in the classroom.
