What's Ignite?

Ignite is an immersive and interactive 5-day, optional experience for incoming students dedicated to building community prior to the start of Orientation. Through both large and small group activities, incoming students set goals for the upcoming academic year, explore Atlanta, engage with faculty and staff from different areas on campus, and grow a sense of belonging through social opportunities and peer-to-peer mentorship. 

Ignite Tracks

Ignite includes multiple tracks focused on areas of interest. Incoming students are placed into cohorts led by upper-division student mentors. In 2023, Ignite will offer 7 different tracks in the following areas: 

• Ignite Community Engagement: Develop and apply your skills to foster a kinder and more socially just world! Hosted by Emory's Center for Civic and Community Engagement (CCE), this track offers ways to learn more about the communities around us, including programs that help members of the Emory community channel their passion for social justice, education, healthcare, and more into purposeful impact in the metro Atlanta community and beyond.  
  
  
• Ignite Creativity: Explore your creativity as Emory Arts welcomes you into the fold with activities in the visual, performing, and literary arts. Get hands-on experience both on campus and in Atlanta, where you will discover all that your new creative community has to offer. Any level of arts and creativity experience welcome. 
  
  
• Ignite Intersections: Explore topics such as intersectionality, social identities, and inclusive leadership! Hosted by Belonging and Community Justice (BCJ), this track is a great option for students interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  
  
• Ignite Sustainability: Part of what allows us to thrive as humans is the interconnectivity we share with each other and with the natural world. Interconnectivity is also at the root of sustainability, which we will explore in the Ignite Sustainability track. Join us as we explore the ways Emory connects food and water to community. 
  
  
• Ignite Leadership: What does it mean to be a leader? Dive into Atlanta’s rich history and culture as we explore learn about prominent community and worldwide leaders whose legacies continue to develop our understanding of leadership. Together, we’ll examine where leaders come from, where leaders go, and how leaders can make an impact on their communities. Hosted by the Office of Student Involvement, leadership, and Transitions (SILT), this track is a great option for students looking to reflect on the way they shape and are shaped by their communities to create a roadmap of their journey as a leader at Emory.

Please note: Ignite tracks provide opportunities to engage in smaller, interest-based cohorts throughout the week during Pre-Orientation. You will spend a few hours on Tuesday and Thursday in these cohorts learning more about opportunities to engage in interest areas on campus and in Atlanta communities, while other days of the week will provide opportunities to engage in activities with students across all Pre-Orientation programs. While we can’t guarantee you will receive your top choice, we will do our best to place you into an Ignite track you are interested in. 

The following tracks are invite-only and based on eligibility criteria:

• Ignite Athletics: A pre-orientation program supporting varsity student-athletes in their transition to Emory. Participants will learn what it means to be a student-athlete at Emory and how the Emory Eagle values can help student-athletes make an impact during their college experience. Student-athletes will explore campus and Atlanta to learn more about how to maximize their athletic experience. Students who qualify will receive an email invitation to participate. 
• FirstSTEM: A pre-orientation program providing support to natural science and mathematics students who are the first generation in their families to attend college, or are in identity groups underrepresented in STEM fields. Students who qualify will receive an email invitation to participate. 

The first round of registration opens on May 14th at 5:00PM EDT. To register for Ignite, click here.  

Cost: $225 

Financial aid is available for Ignite, which would cover the full cost of the program for eligible participants. If your application fee was waived when you applied to Emory, you automatically qualify for a pre-orientation fee waiver. 

We will work with each student on a case-by-case basis to ensure all students have equal access to the program. If you did not receive an application fee waiver when applying to Emory, you may still receive a full waiver for the Ignite pre-orientation program. You can request a waiver when completing the registration form. 

When is the program? 

• August 14 – August 18 
• Ignite participants will move-in early on August 14 between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. 
• Official programming will begin at 3:00 PM on August 14. 
• Once fully registered, participants will receive more information from Emory Housing regarding move-in.
   

Who is eligible to participate? 

All incoming first-year students are eligible to participate (except for students on an F1 visa). 

• Students may participate in only one pre-orientation program. 
• Students on an F1 visa are required to participate in the International Student Welcome Pre-Orientation Program. 

How do I register? 

Ignite registration opens in May. There will be two rounds of registration for Ignite:  

• Round 1 will open on May 14th at 5:00 PM (Eastern Day Time) 
• Round 2 will open on May 21st at 5:00 PM (Eastern Day Time) 

To register, click here! You will need your Emory NetID (i.e SWOOP24) and password to login.  

Ignite is full but I still want to participate in a Pre-Orientation Program! What should I do?  

• Add yourself to the Ignite waitlist by filling out this form! Students who place themselves on the waitlist will be enrolled into Ignite on a first-come, first-serve basis, as space becomes available.  
• Check out the other pre-orientation programs that Emory offers: 
  • Welcoming Interfaith and Spiritual Exploration (WISE) 
  • Summer Outdoor Adventure Retreat (SOAR) 
  • Invite-only programs: If you qualify, be on the lookout for an email invitation from Ignite Athletics or FirstSTEM!  

Questions? Contact preorientation@emory.edu for more information!