The dress code is clear: Converse, jeans, printed tees and plaid shirts. Bushy-haired boys and girls with ponytails trickle into the lecture hall, some of them stepping on to the great big ETH Zurich campus for the very first time. Looking around to see if there are any familiar faces, the boys and girls timidly take their seats and quietly wait for the Prestudy event to begin. The general expression on the faces of these future students reveals excitement on the one hand, slight intimidation on the other.

The essentials

But there’s no need to worry; the Prestudy events (PSE) are detailed information sessions carefully designed by the Student Orientation & Coaching Centre (SoC) and the faculty departments with the intent to give freshmen students the basic essentials with which to successfully start. Through these initial orientations, ETH offers comprehensive support, making sure none of newcomers feel out of water.

“That young students approach ETH with a bit of uncertainty is well understood. Our services aim to bridge the gap between studying at a secondary school and attending the university by giving new students the essential tools that allow them to quickly concentrate on their studies,” explains Regula Christen, Head of SoC. “Simply knowing that there is a centre available to them, where they can ask confidential questions and seek advice, even on personal issues, is a huge relief.”

Courses in detail

The Prestudy events are specifically tailored to a particular field of study. Students registered for Architecture or Mathematics and Physics, for example, are invited to ETH for a detailed introduction to their subject area. Here they come into initial contact with SoC representatives, faculty professors, current undergraduates, professionals in their field of study as well as future classmates.

After relaying in-depth information about the curriculum, a professor may allude to career possibilities: a Master’s graduate of Mathematics, for example, may consider a job in software development or film animation, whereas a Physics graduate may end up in the banking industry.

First-hand tips

Finally, students are divided into small groups led by second or third-year students who can show them the ropes and give them insight into life on campus. “Clearly we want our future students to fully understand the basic curriculum and the overall structure of our Bachelor and Master’s programmes,” clarifies Christen. “But we also want to shed light on what lies ahead in their future, be it campus life, a semester abroad or career outlook.”

Since 2012, SoC has been organising Prestudy events for all departments with great success. According to survey results, nearly 90 percent of all new students have attended a Prestudy event, and nearly 100 percent had a "good" or "very good" overall impression. When asked if they felt more confident and better prepared after the event, almost all participants responded with a assertive "yes". The Prestudy events take place throughout the summer through to the beginning of the semester on, which starts on 16 September.

Orientation and Coaching

SoC provides a range of services to first-year students before and during their studies in various forms. From coaching to individual course planning and study techniques to time management and test preparation, students can get informed online, through orientation events, peer groups or individual consultations. More information available in German at: www.soc.ethz.ch