FSU hosts largest graduate student orientation amid record enrollment

By: Hillary Speed | Published: | 3:12 pm | SHARE: Share on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on X

A male student in a black shirt reaches for an item on a table in a crowd of people.
FSU Graduate School's New Graduate Student Orientation gave students the chance to learn more about FSU and the greater Tallahassee community. (Brittany Mobley/Undergraduate Studies)

Florida State University hosted its largest ever New Graduate Student Orientation on Aug. 18 at the HCB Building, welcoming more than 500 new students pursuing professional certificates, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Students spent the morning learning about various resources available to them on campus, including information about the libraries, safety protocols, health services and opportunities for teaching, professional and career development.

“Graduate student orientation is a critical part of the graduate student’s journey,” said Greg Bell, the new dean of FSU’s Graduate School. “We connect them with those resources now so that they know that they’re there in the future.”

 

Greg Bell, the new dean of FSU’s Graduate School, speaks to students at the New Graduate Student Orientation. (Brittany Mobley/Undergraduate Studies)
More than 500 new graduate students attended this year's orientation. (Brittany Mobley/Undergraduate Studies)
A student listens and takes notes during the New Graduate Student Orientation. (Brittany Mobley/Undergraduate Studies)
A student raises their hand for a question during the New Graduate Student Orientation. (Brittany Mobley/Undergraduate Studies)

For the first time this year, the New Graduate Student Orientation included a Tallahassee Community Fair, where students could meet with local organizations and government representatives to learn more about the city and Leon County.

“Success in graduate school is strongly correlated with students’ sense of community and their sense of belonging,” Bell said. “This was an opportunity to come and find people like you, people you can count on as you continue your graduate career.”

 

New Graduate Student Orientation provided students with information about the various resources available to support them on their academic journey. (Brittany Mobley/Undergraduate Studies)
A new graduate student poses for a photo during the New Graduate Student Orientation. (Brittany Mobley/Undergraduate Studies)

Record graduate student enrollment

The Graduate School enrolled this year for an expected total of more than 11,000 students across all programs, including those in law and medicine. Official numbers won’t be finalized until after the drop/add period ends Aug. 27, but this is expected to be the second year in a row with enrollment above 11,000 and the first time FSU has had consecutive years of enrollment above that number.

Sixteen FSU graduate programs and specialties ranked in the Top 25 among public universities, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report edition of Best Graduate Schools. Six graduate programs placed No. 1 in Florida.

 

Graduate students had access to the new Tallahassee Community Fair, where students could learn more about the greater Tallahassee comunity. (Brittany Mobley/Undergraduate Studies)
Following the presentation, new graduate students had the opporutnity to visit the Tallahassee Community Fair. (Brittany Mobley/Undergraduate Studies)

FSU has placed special emphasis on enhancing doctoral education, pledging to invest $10 million toward that goal over five years. The Graduate School is part of FSU’s newly established division of Student Academic Success, which coordinates and develops initiatives that help the university maintain and grow its national stature as a leader in student success.

To learn more about The Graduate School at FSU, visit gradschool.fsu.edu.