NEXT STEPS

At Ball State, we are committed to making your transition to graduate school as easy as possible. 

• Register today for a pre-arrival orientation -- Life at Ball State: Tips for Being Successful in Your Graduate Study at Ball State University, on Tuesday, July 16, at 6 pm. This webinar will provide the information you need to know before you arrive on-campus, as well as a live "question and answer" session including current students. 
• Register today for Graduate Assistant Orientation on Thursday, July 11 at 6 pm.  
• Register today for On-Campus Orientation on Thursday, August 15. 

If you have any questions regarding your transition to Graduate School, please contact Stephanie Wilson, Graduate School Recruiter.  

Suggested next steps are detailed below to help you prepare for graduate study. 

BEGIN.  

• Check your Ball State e-mail account frequently. You should receive a letter from Ball State with your login information for your Ball State e-mail account.
• Learn about services for current students. Get your computer ready for the school year and check out hardware and software discounts available to students.
• Visit our housing page or watch our university housing video.
• Complete vaccination and medical history requirements with the Health Center. You may also want to apply for student health insurance, if you are in need of health insurance.  Watch a 2-minute online video about immunization requirements and health center services. 

CONNECT.

• Become aware of the resources available to you on campus - like our wonderful library!
• Link up with others through Facebook pages: Graduate School, Black Graduate Student Alliance (BGSA), Continuum: A Graduate Student Association for LGBTQIA, and Online and Distance Education. 
• Explore Muncie.
• Be aware of what's going on. Sign up for Ball State's Emergency Response Text Messages.

PLAN.

• Contact and work with your advisor or program director to develop your academic action plan. Be sure to review the academic calendars.
  Not sure who your advisor or program director is?  Find out here! 
• Gain an understanding of relevant academic policies. Review the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and student code.
• Watch a 2-minute online video about insurance options available to you. 

FUND.

• Investigate ways to fund your graduate study, including scholarships,  financial aid and employment and assistantships. You may also want to review costs.  Review our Fees FAQ.
• Need to open a bank account? Check out the Ball State Federal Credit Union.

ATTEND.

• Jump-start your first semester by attending the graduate school orientation.  Many academic programs also hold orientation or welcome activities, so check with your program or department for specifics.If you are online student, check out the resources for you through the Online and Distance Education or call 800-872-0369 or 765-285-1581.  We have many resources online to help answer your questions too!
• Get to know Muncie.  Check out the Ball State map  and live campus webcam. Ball State offers a campus shuttle and students can ride the MITS city buses for free.

Remember your Ball State ID!