Registration Day for the fall term at MIT is the day after Labor Day (the first Tuesday following the first Monday in September). Incoming students are strongly recommended to arrive at least one week in advance to settle living and working arrangements, to familiarize themselves with the MIT community, and to take advantage of orientation activities.

The English Evaluation Test (required of all non-native speakers of English even those for whom the TOEFL was waived as an entrance requirement) is scheduled early in the week before Registration Day. Pre-registration, ID photos, establishing computer accounts, interviews with the International Students Office, orientation sessions in the Department plus sessions organized by the Graduate Students Office and the Graduate Student Council all take place this week.

The Math Department schedules a number of informal events to provide faculty, continuing students and incoming students a chance to meet.

Although an orientation mailing goes out in June, most orientation information is only available when students arrive on campus. Each new student is assigned a faculty advisor to assist with registration and in setting up his/her individual academic program.