The Fall 2024 semester has officially begun at Graduate Medical Sciences!
This semester, we are thrilled to welcome 469 new students to GMS, including 422 master’s students and 47 PhD students. These students represent 16 master’s programs and five PhD programs. The cohort comes from 34 different countries and 38 states. They attended 223 undergraduate institutions.
The majority of our new GMS students arrived to campus on Friday, Aug. 30 for a full day of Orientation activities, where they learned more about GMS and other campus resources, met leaders from across the Medical Campus and connected with peers, faculty and administrators in their programs.
The day began with a Main Orientation Session, which introduced students to members of the GMS, Medical Campus and Boston University community. Associate Provost and Dean of GMS C. James McKnight, PhD and BU Medical Campus Provost and Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Dean Karen Antman, MD addressed the students, along with leaders and representatives from other offices and centers across campus.
Following the main session, students were invited to attend the GMS and BU School of Public Health Resource Fair, which included tables from GMS and BU-wide organizations, groups and resources, like the Community Catalyst Center (C3), Student Wellbeing, the Newbury Center, the Alumni Medical Library, the GMS Student Organization, and more.
Throughout the afternoon, students also attended program-specific orientation sessions with their cohorts.
We wish you a smooth start to the semester and are looking forward to seeing you on campus this year! We encourage you to attend the social, academic, and professional development events and opportunities available here at GMS and widely across campus.
To start, check out our list of GMS events happening this September below.
Thursday, Sept. 7: New Student Welcome BBQ
Talbot Green, 4 to 6 p.m.
Kick off the new semester with your peers and enjoy lawn games, music and some good food! This event is co-sponsored by GMS and BU School of Public Health and is open to new students.
Sept. 16 to 20
Sponsored by the GMS Community Catalyst Center (C3), Gear-Up Week is full of food, fuel and fun to help you get the semester started. Check out the full event schedule below:
Monday, Sept. 16: Thriving, Not Just Surviving in Graduate School: Guide to Effective Studying
L-311 | Noon to 1:15 p.m. | Register here
Join Dr. Aaron Young, C3 Faculty Mentor and Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics faculty to learn strategies for making the most of your time in Graduate Medical Sciences. Lunch will be provided for this event!
Click here to register by Sept. 13.
Tuesday, Sept. 17: Swag & a Snack
L-306 (C3 Suite) | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Stop by the C3 Suite to pick up some brand-new C3-themed swag, enjoy a quick snack and mingle with your GMS peers!
Wednesday, Sept. 18: International Student Meet-Up
L-306 (C3 Suite) | Noon to 1 p.m.
International students: Meet your peers in the C3 Suite for a coffee and tea hour and opportunity to chat! Light refreshments will be provided.
Wednesday, Sept. 18: GMS, BU and Boston Trivia Night
L-203 | 4 to 6 p.m.
Enjoy an evening of friendly trivia competition with your GMS peers! Questions will include Boston, BU & GMS, and general themed topics. Bring a team or join one at the event! Light refreshments will be provided.
Thursday, Sept. 19: Campus Resource Expo & Raffle
L-401/403 | Noon to 2 p.m.
Meet representatives from offices and resource centers across the Medical and Charles River Campuses, and participate in a raffle to win a Barnes & Noble or Peet’s Coffee gift card!
Friday, Sept. 20: Fall Kickoff Pizza Party & Visit from Bean
Talbot Green | 1 to 2 p.m.
Close out Gear-Up Week, spend time with your classmates and get ready to take on the semester with pizza, games and music on the lawn! Bean, the BU Campus Comfort Dog, will visit from 1:30 to 2 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 26: Disability Advocacy Lunch & Chat
L-202 | Noon to 12:50 p.m.
Share your thoughts and experiences about Medical Campus accessibility, accommodations, and advocacy in a students-only space. Facilitated by student mentors from the Community Catalyst Center Disability Advocacy Group (gDAG). Lunch will be provided!
Check out the GMS Calendar to learn more about our semester events, and don’t forget to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, The GMS Press, by filling out this form.
Finally, stop by the C3 Suite in L306 for swag and resources or visit the GMS team in L-317 to say hello!