APPLY TO BE AN ORIENTATION STAFF MEMBER
Orientation Staff Members (OSMs) are responsible for welcoming new students and their families to our campus community. There are three unique roles within Orientation that serve new students: Administrative Assistants, Orientation Counselors, and Transfer Counselors. We encourage you to apply!
APPLY TO BE AN OSM!
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE SUNDAY, FEB. 4 AT 11:59 P.M.
NEW APPLICANTS
Attend an information session
Review the position descriptions and Orientation staff member expectations. You can only apply for one position.
Work on the application questions in a separate word document before clicking the "Apply" button above to submit your application.
Submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, February 4.
- Sign up for a Level I interview. You will be emailed information regarding sign-ups after submitting your application.
- NEW applicants must be on-campus this semester to interview in person. Returning applicants may be abroad this semester and still apply.
- If you are going abroad Fall 2024, you may only serve as an Administrative Assistant (AA). Orientation Counselors must be on-campus (not abroad) in the fall semester.
- You will be notified if you are selected to continue into the Level II interview process before Spring Break.
Must remain in good academic and disciplinary standing.
Staff members must return to campus for mandatory training on Tuesday, August 13. This is a full-time commitment and you must be present and available from August 13 through the end of the Orientation program on August 25 with no exceptions. During training, you are expected to follow all community standards and refrain from drinking even if over 21 years of age.
- Help new students connect with the resources they may need on campus during the program and beyond and share with the Director or Assistant Director if a new student is struggling with an experience of sexual assault or abuse.
If you would like to apply but feel you cannot meet these expectations, please email orientation@villanova.edu to meet with the Director or Assistant Director to discuss further.
Administrative Assistants (AAs) support the logistical needs of the Orientation Program, assist the Orientation Counselors in building a positive group dynamic, and help facilitate the Moments that Matter conversation. AAs go through the same training as OCs but do not lead their own group during the four-day program. Working behind the scenes of the 4-day Orientation Program, AAs should be comfortable supporting the program by performing physical tasks like lifting, moving, and transferring materials. The Orientation Program seeks leaders who emphasize teamwork and collaboration while being a helpful, friendly guide to students and families throughout the program.
Application Questions:
1. What are your reasons and motivations for wanting to be an AA? How will you apply your personal strengths and past experiences to this role?
2. A pillar of the Orientation Program’s mission is to welcome New Students from different socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. In what ways do you feel prepared to welcome students from backgrounds different than your own? What skills do you want to develop to be more successful at welcoming students from backgrounds different than your own?
3. This year’s theme for Orientation is: Imagine Where These Moments Will Lead You…The Journey Awaits. How does this theme relate to the new student experience? How will you embody this message through your role as an AA?
4. You are soon to embark upon an epic cross-country journey circa 1830s (think Oregon Trail). On this daring journey, you can call on 2 celebrities or fictional characters to help you. How will your trio successfully traverse the rugged landscape of these unexplored frontiers? The Journey Awaits!
New students are divided into groups of 20 and led through the four-day program by an Orientation Counselor, commonly referred to as an OC. These upperclassmen student leaders participate in extensive training related to the New Student Experience. OCs build relationships with both New Students and their families during the 4 days of Orientation and throughout their time at Villanova. The Orientation Program seeks effective leaders with strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills who can manage their group through an intensive 4-day schedule.
Application Questions:
1. What are your reasons and motivations for wanting to be an OC? How will you apply your personal strengths and past experiences to this role?
2. A pillar of the Orientation Program’s mission is to welcome New Students from different socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. In what ways do you feel prepared to welcome students from backgrounds different than your own? What skills do you want to develop to be more successful at welcoming students from backgrounds different than your own?
3. This year’s theme for Orientation is: Imagine Where These Moments Will Lead You…The Journey Awaits. How does this theme relate to the new student experience? How will you embody this message through your role as an OC?
4. You are soon to embark upon an epic cross-country journey circa 1830s (think Oregon Trail). On this daring journey, you can call on 2 celebrities or fictional characters to help you. How will your trio successfully traverse the rugged landscape of these unexplored frontiers? The Journey Awaits!
Students who have transferred into Villanova are encouraged to apply to be a Transfer Counselor. Transfer Counselors share similar responsibilities to Orientation Counselors but through a slightly different lens since transfer students already have college experience. The Orientation Program seeks effective leaders with strong interpersonal and communication skills, who are motivated to build a 4-day program with an emphasis on the unique needs of transfer students.
Application Questions:
1. What are your reasons and motivations for applying to be a Transfer Counselor? What do you anticipate transfer students might need while going through the four-day program and their first semester? As a TC, how would you respond to these unique challenges?
2. A pillar of the Orientation Program’s mission is to welcome New Students from different socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. In what ways do you feel prepared to welcome students from backgrounds different than your own? What skills do you want to develop to be more successful at welcoming students from backgrounds different than your own?
3. This year’s theme for Orientation is: Imagine Where These Moments Will Lead You…The Journey Awaits. How does this theme relate to the new student experience? How will you embody this message through your role as a TC?
4. You are soon to embark upon an epic cross-country journey circa 1830s (think Oregon Trail). On this daring journey, you can call on 2 celebrities or fictional characters to help you. How will your trio successfully traverse the rugged landscape of these unexplored frontiers? The Journey Awaits!
RETURNING APPLICANTS
Review the position descriptions and Orientation staff member expectations. You can only apply for one position.
- Work on the application questions in a separate word document, and have your video completed, before clicking the "Apply" button above to submit your application.
- To be considered a returner, you must be applying for the same role you had on Staff last year. If you're interested in applying for a new role, please apply as a NEW applicant and go through Level I interviews.
- Returning applicants may be abroad this semester and still apply.
- If you are going abroad Fall 2024, you may only serve as an Administrative Assistant (AA). Orientation Counselors must be on-campus (not abroad) in the fall semester.
- Once you complete your questions, submit your application, including the completed video prompt, by 11:59 p.m.on February 4.
- The video you submit is the Level I process for our returning OSMs. You will be notified if you are selected to continue into the Level II interview process before Spring Break.
Must remain in good academic and disciplinary standing.
Staff members must return to campus for mandatory training on Friday, August 13. This is a full-time commitment and you must be present and available from August 13 through the end of the Orientation program on August 25 with no exceptions. During training, you are expected to follow all community standards and refrain from drinking even if over 21 years of age.
Help new students connect with the resources they may need on campus during the program and beyond, and share with the Director or Assistant Director if a new student is struggling with an experience of sexual assault or abuse.
If you would like to apply but feel you cannot meet these expectations, please email orientation@villanova.edu to meet with the Director or Assistant Director to discuss further.
- Returners play a vital role in the Orientation experience for new students and new OSMs. Share your motivations for applying to be a part of the Orientation Program again. What did you learn in your past year(s) on staff and how will you apply it to this year’s program?
- A pillar of the Orientation Program’s mission is to welcome New Students from different socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. What kinds of experiences have you had that increased your ability to connect to New Students from backgrounds different than your own? What skills do you want to develop in this area?
- This year’s theme is: Imagine Where These Moments Will Lead You...The Journey Awaits. Reflect on your experience as an OSM to describe how this theme relates to new students. How will you apply this theme to support new students through the 4-day and beyond?
- Using concrete examples from your year(s) on Staff, what strengths have you displayed in the roles you held in Orientation? How do you plan on improving upon one area of growth?
- You are soon to embark upon an epic cross-country journey circa 1830s (think Oregon Trail). On this daring journey, you can call on 2 celebrities or fictional characters to help you. How will your trio successfully traverse the rugged landscape of these unexplored frontiers? The Journey Awaits! Please choose your own adventure to creatively answer this question -- either in 350 words or less OR through a 1-2 minute video.(The video you submit is the Level I process for our returning OSMs. You will be notified if you are selected to continue into the Level II interview process before Spring Break.)
- Returners play a vital role in the Orientation experience for new students and new OSMs. Share your motivations for applying to be a part of the Orientation Program again. What did you learn in your past year(s) on staff and how will you apply it to this year’s program?
- A pillar of the Orientation Program’s mission is to welcome New Students from different socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. What kinds of experiences have you had that increased your ability to connect to New Students from backgrounds different than your own? What skills do you want to develop in this area?
- This year’s theme is: Imagine Where These Moments Will Lead You...The Journey Awaits. Reflect on your experience as an OSM to describe how this theme relates to new students. How will you apply this theme to support new students through the 4-day and beyond?
- Using concrete examples from your year(s) on Staff, what strengths have you displayed in the roles you held in Orientation? How do you plan on improving upon one area of growth?
- You are soon to embark upon an epic cross-country journey circa 1830s (think Oregon Trail). On this daring journey, you can call on 2 celebrities or fictional characters to help you. How will your trio successfully traverse the rugged landscape of these unexplored frontiers? The Journey Awaits! Please choose your own adventure to creatively answer this question -- either in 350 words or less OR through a 1-2 minute video.(The video you submit is the Level I process for our returning OSMs. You will be notified if you are selected to continue into the Level II interview process before Spring Break.)
- Returning TCs play a vital role in the Orientation experience for new transfer students and new TCs. Share your motivations for wanting to be a TC again. What did you learn in your past year(s) as a TC and how will you apply it to this year’s program for transfer students?
- A pillar of the Orientation Program’s mission is to welcome New Students from different socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. What kinds of experiences have you had that increased your ability to connect to New Students from backgrounds different than your own? What skills do you want to develop in this area?
- This year’s theme is: Imagine Where These Moments Will Lead You...The Journey Awaits. Reflect on your experience as an OSM to describe how this theme relates to new students. How will you apply this theme to support new students through the 4-day and beyond?
- Using concrete examples from your year(s) on Staff, what strengths have you displayed in the roles you held in Orientation? How do you plan on improving upon one area of growth?
- You are soon to embark upon an epic cross-country journey circa 1830s (think Oregon Trail). On this daring journey, you can call on 2 celebrities or fictional characters to help you. How will your trio successfully traverse the rugged landscape of these unexplored frontiers? The Journey Awaits! Please choose your own adventure to creatively answer this question -- either in 350 words or less OR through a 1-2 minute video.(The video you submit is the Level I process for our returning OSMs. You will be notified if you are selected to continue into the Level II interview process before Spring Break.)
Orientation Resources
Our mobile apps and publications will help lead you and your family through the Orientation experience and beyond.
