As a new grad student, you’ve probably got a ton of questions ranging from where to get career help to how can you meet other students. Thankfully, the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS), a unit of the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Faculty Development, is here to help.

 “We serve students from the moment they consider applying to a graduate program until they graduate,” said Nazanin Tork, the assistant director of Graduate Studies. “Our office also serves as a hub for connecting students with the units across campus that support them including the Counseling Center and Graduate Career Development.”

Here are some of the ways the office’s team is here to assist during your time at Georgia Tech:

• Orientation and Grad EXPO. To get a better understanding of all that Tech has to offer, be sure to attend one of the OGS institute-level orientation sessions. These are held each Tuesday and Thursday from Aug. 8 to 20. For more in-depth information on student organizations and offices around campus, you can also drop by the GradExpo on Aug. 15 at Clough Commons. For more information, contact James Black, special projects coordinator.
• Grad Groups. OGS also offers an extended orientation course, known as “Grad Groups.” This one-credit hour, pass/fail course is available to new grad students during the first eight weeks of the fall semester. Classes are led by senior grad students and help you get to know other new students. You’ll also learn strategies for managing work and stress, creating a degree completion plan, and developing career goals. Questions? Contact Black.
• Fellowships. If you’re looking for funding assistance, check out the list of fellowships on the OGS website. OGS can also assist with various Tech fellowships (like President’s Fellowships and Georgia Tech Institute Fellowships) that supplement other funding you might receive. Incoming students are nominated by their programs for these awards, and then OGS awards the funding. For more information, contact Jacquelyn Strickland, fellowships coordinator.  
• Career and professional development. On the OGS site, you’ll also find resources to help you with career planning. For example, there is a Career Roadmap for both master’s and Ph.D. students that features tips on how to improve professional skills, information on where to look for jobs, and more. You can also enroll in programs to improve skills like the one for the Communication Certificate. Contact Robbie Ouzts, career development advisor, for more information.
• Thesis and dissertation support. Once you’re working on your thesis or dissertation, OGS is available to answer questions. There’s a video on how to complete each step on the OGS website, and you’ll also find resources including Tech policies related to theses and dissertations, thesis templates, a list of deadlines, and contact information for subject librarians. For more information, email thesis@grad.gatech.edu.
• Events for grad students. OGS hosts events for grad students throughout the year. For example, the office supports Tech’s annual Three Minute Thesis Competition and Grad Student Appreciation Week. For more information, contact Nazanin Tork, assistant director.

For more information about OGS, visit grad.gatech.edu. Also, be sure you like the Grad Studies Facebook page for the latest grad student-focused news and events.