An AOP leader gives a tour of MSU to a group of incoming students and their parents July 7, 2015 on Chestnut Road. Catherine Ferland/ The State News
One of the most monumental events throughout the duration of a student’s time at MSU is their pre-admission Academic Orientation Program. AOP is designed to give incoming students knowledge on majors, college academics and general college life.
Although the experience focuses primarily on incoming students, many current MSU students benefit from the process as well.
These enrolled students have the opportunity to apply to work full-time during the summer as a Resident Assistant or a member of the Office Staff within AOP.
All full-time positions within AOP are salaried, with free room and board. Having a job so closely affiliated with MSU is something many students strive to obtain. However, the preparation for AOP is another story.
“It took a few months after applying to find out,” chemical engineering sophomore Steven Jansen said. “I applied online and got selected for a group interview. After the group interview I was selected for a private interview. The two positions offered were RA and Office Staff. I interviewed for Office Staff. After the interview I was selected for the Office Staff position. Then there were 10 weeks of training up to the summer.”
Student applications to work for AOP are due in late January, and training is conducted February through April. In addition, students are not allowed to enroll in summer courses while working and training for AOP.
Media and information freshman Kyle Killeen said his goal is to become an AOP Small Group Leader before his sophomore year.
“Although it is a lot of work, I think it is a great way to learn more about our school,” Killeen said. “I am nervous and excited to apply within the next month.”
For accounting junior Brian Grimmer, AOP was an experience he will never forget.
“My favorite part of being a group leader was leading a small group in a diversity discussion,” Grimmer said. “It highlighted how we all stereotype people and the importance of recognizing this in order to overcome it. I loved how the concepts I was teaching these freshmen coincided with an anthropology class I had taken.”
For the freshmen attending the program, AOP’s main goal is to work with incoming students and provide support and help through their transition into college. With this goal at hand, there is a substantial amount of organization required in the preparation process.
“I worked to prepare for AOP all the way from February to June,” Jansen said. “I was in charge of the work behind the scenes. ... As members of the Office Staff, my group and I created welcome packets for each student and made sure everything went smoothly in the process.”
For now, AOP staff and directors prepare for incoming applicants. The applications are available November through January.
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