New Students

First-year international students are invited to attend International Student Orientation (ISO). ISO participants include F-1 visa holders and U.S. citizens living abroad. ISO is independent of Customs Week and will not conflict with those events. Any questions? Please contact Natasha Weisz.

• Orientation Information
• International Student Support

ISO Program Dates: ISO is confirmed for August 23-28, 2024. Participants will be able to move into campus (into their academic year dorm room) between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on August 23. Logistical information will be communicated by the International Student Support Office via email to confirmed ISO participants.

Applications for Haverford’s Pre-Customs Outdoor Program (PCOP) are now open! To apply, please fill out this application by midnight on Saturday, June 15. Our June 6th information session recording can be found at this link, and accessed using the password tp76$EE*. A recording of the information session will be made available on this page afterwards. We encourage you to email hc-pcop [at] haverford.edu if you have any questions!

What is PCOP?

The Pre-Customs Outdoors Program (PCOP) is a student-run outdoors orientation program that takes place the week before Customs, Haverford’s official orientation. Groups of incoming students will go on backpacking or camping trips led by experienced student leaders. The program provides first-years with the opportunity to begin the transition into the Haverford community earlier by making new friends before the official start of school, meeting current students, and having an all-around awesome time in the great outdoors. Even after the trip ends, the experience and friends gained during the trip will stay with the students as they start their college journey. PCOP is free of cost for all incoming first years and interested students apply and are selected for the trips. All required gear is provided. No outdoor or backpacking experience is necessary and all are welcome to apply.

What do PCOP trips look like?

More specifically, PCOP trips last 4 days and 3 nights and are centered around backpacking and hiking. Each trip is composed of 9 first-year students and 2 trip leaders, who are current students at Haverford with extensive outdoor leadership experience. There are 4 PCOP trips in the summer; 3 backpacking trips with varied routes and 1 camping trip where students will sleep at the same campsite every night and do different day hikes and activities each day.

What if I can’t attend PCOP because of another summer orientation (Chesick or ISO)?

Chesick and ISO students can still apply to PCOP! There is a fall break PCOP backpacking trip specifically for Chesick and ISO students. Students can apply to this trip in the general PCOP application.

What’s the timeline?

Students accepted for Summer PCOP will move into their student housing earlier. All PCOP trips involve orientation activities the day before departure, and occasional reunions throughout the year.

Summer PCOP

• June 15: Applications due
• June 25: Applicants notified of application status
• August 23: PCOP participants arrive on campus for early move-in and trip preparation
• August 24: Trips depart
• August 27: Trips return to Haverford
• August 28: Customs program starts

Fall PCOP

• June 15: Applications due
• June 25: Applicants notified of application status
• October 11: PCOP participants meet and prepare for trip
• October 12: Trips depart
• October 15: Trips return to Haverford

PCOP Deadline: June 15, 2024

The Summer Social Justice Institute (SSJI) is best described as a retreat and intensive workshop experience to help first-year students enhance both their leadership skills and their individual/group identity issues within the context of exploring issues of gender, race, sexuality, socio-economic class, spirituality, power, and privilege through the framework of storytelling. Any questions, please email hc-sdea [at] haverford.edu.

SSJI Program Dates: August 23 - 26, 2025. Participants will be able to move into campus on August 22.