3. Orientation / Explore Housing
Graduate Checklist: Orientation and Housing
Summer Preparation Activities
-
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)
-
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
-
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
-
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.
2026 Case Interview Preparation Bootcamp: Top employers utilize case interviews to evaluate a candidate's ability to think critically, structure complex problems, and communicate logic under pressure. By simulating real-world business challenges, these interviews allow recruiters to assess practical problem-solving skills and mental agility beyond what a standard resume can reveal. Top employers will begin recruiting for summer 2027 internships during the summer and early fall event before your graduate classes have begun. We have partnered with the foremost speaker and trainer and case interviews, Marc Cosentino, CEO of CaseQuestions.com and author of the best-selling preparation program "Case in Point". This self-paced Intensive virtual workshop series is being offered to motivated students who want to get a head start on their readiness. The first of eleven live sessions begins on April 20. All eleven sessions will be recorded for available in the library through March 31, 2027. From fundamentals to advanced drills, this program equips students with the practice and coaching needed to prepare for consulting interviews.
Target Audience: Students seeking roles in the following fields: Strategy Consulting, Professional Services & Accounting, Internal Strategy & Operations, Mergers & Acquisitions, Product Management, Investment Banking, and Private Equity should consider participating.
Key Program Benefits
- Intensive Preparation: Eleven live, interactive virtual sessions focused on concept development and real-world application.
- Comprehensive Resources: All sessions are recorded. Plus, registered students gain immediate access to the complete 2025 recording archive for self-paced study.
- Competitive Edge: Learn how firms evaluate performance and how to deliver high-impact recommendations.
- No Cost to AGSM Students & Alumni
Session Schedule (All times in PDT)
Foundational Workshops
- Introductory Workshop: April 20 or June 29 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Live Case Walk-Through: May 11 from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Case Starts (Practice Session): May 25 from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Summer Intensive Series
- Concept Development (4 Sessions): July 13, 20, 27 & August 3 from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Case Competition Prep (2 Sessions): July 17 & August 26 from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Recommendations & Evaluations: August 10 from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
How to Register
To secure your spot and receive meeting links and archive success, you must register using your UCR email address.
Register Here: Link to be available April 1, 2026 (or sooner)
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.
Mandatory Student Orientation
-
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:
-
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
-
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
-
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.
