was the orientation worth going to?
I wanted to go but... did I miss anything important?

I would definitly buy the macpass.
Firstly you get things out of it:
- (as mentioned already) You get t-shirts that you wear to show support for your res/faculty.
- You get a laundry bag (which I found really useful and am still using it)
- A bunch of swag (based on your faculty/res (or SOCS)) in previous years things like waterbottles, post-its, bandanas, dogtags, sunglasses, hats etc...
- Access to a bunch of events ie. the hypnotist, concerts, kareoke etc.
(yeah some events are free ie. bed racers, shine-off etc.) but if a bunch of your res-mates want to go to an event that requires a mac-pass you don't wanna be left out. Also, all this "sneaking in is easy/people don't check your mac-pass" maybe in some cases... in my first year I went into kareoke I believe and they stopped me because my macpass accidentally ripped in 1/2 and I taped it back together to ask my what happened...

Everyone else gets things out of it:
People have mentioned concerts aren't that great blah blah blah - well they book bands based on how much $ they expect to make (which is based on early-bird sales, previous year sales etc.). If you buy a macpass, you're basically allowing them to spend more $ on the bands.
Also, swag that you get is also funded by the $ you spend and how many sales HPAs/SOCS WW planner(s) & Faculty WW Coordinators (sorry I don't remember actual titles) are expecting to get.

It's a win-win for all in the end. Yeah, you have to dish out a good amout of money ($125) but if you're planning on fully participating in welcome week I'd say it's totally worth it!

See our announcement about MacPasses last year here:
http://www.macinsiders.com/showthrea...7.html?t=21977

You can read the 300+ replies in the 2009 MacPass discussion here:
http://www.macinsiders.com/showthrea...hlight=macpass

Not ALL events require the MacPass... you can still attend Welcome Week and have fun without buying it. Last year here is a list of things that DID NOT require the pass. We'll keep you guys posted this year with what you can attend without the pass as soon as we're told. Check the MacInsiders homepage.

• MAC Connector (meet hundreds of fellow students all at once with icebreakers and games)
• Faculty Hollow Concerts
• TWO concerts, both are first-come-first-serve and will be two really well-known bands
• Airbands
• PJ Parade (travel through the streets of the McMaster community showing your spirit)
• Comedy Night (featuring a top comedian!)
• Late Night Movie
• Sidewalk Sale
• Hypnotist
• Clubsfest
• MSU Tent/Table - Pick up your FREE almanac and wall calendar!
• Maroons - look out for the Maroons, they'll want to see your Mac spirit!
• Shinerama
• Finale

According to the FYEO (FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE OFFICE) website here is what the MacPass this year includes:
http://fye.mcmaster.ca/wwevents.html

For $125.00 you get:

• Welcome Week Laundry Bag, filled with lots of cool and useful stuff
• Street Festival (New)
• MacConnector (FREE last year)
• Monday Night Social
• Faculty Welcome
• Shinerama Charity Casino and Hypnotist
• IRC Bedraces (FREE to watch)

However, I find it interesting as some of the events listed here are run by the MSU and were free last year. For example, MacConnector was free and open to everyone, Shinerama's Car Wash Competition was free, and the Bedraces are free to watch... they do them in the center of campus, anyone can walk up and watch them.

So assuming those are being run this year like they were all the previous years, then you're paying $125 for a BBQ and DJ event (which is new this year) called "Street Festival", Monday Night Social which is a networking event for residence/off-campus students where there will be swing, line or break dancing from professional instructors, Shinerama Charity Casino night, Faculty Welcome where you walk under the Arch on campus and shake the hands of the President/Provost/etc., and a bag of swag (res tshirt, mug, etc).

Last year the Shinerama Charity Casino was definitely MacPass only, I think it was the car wash competition that you didn't need a MacPass for.

A wristband you wear during welcome week that allows you access to macpass-exclusive welcome week events.

Originally Posted by cjdzl

was the orientation worth going to?
I wanted to go but... did I miss anything important?

AHH, honestly. it wasn't. we had three speakers who gave us the same spiel over again. I did enjoy Dr. Nick Bontis, but that's it. The campus amazing race was confusing!! lol. the best thing i got out of it was a free mac t-shirt and a day off from work....lol. sorry to sound so harsh but it wasn't all that amazing or informational.

Hey all

I will be talking with the Director of MSU Campus Events this week to get more clarification.

Please see this new posting on the homepage:
http://www.macinsiders.com/showthread.php?t=2954 2

Originally Posted by Chad

For $125.00 you get:

• Welcome Week Laundry Bag, filled with lots of cool and useful stuff
• Street Festival (New)
• MacConnector (FREE last year)
• Monday Night Social
• Faculty Welcome
• Shinerama Charity Casino and Hypnotist
• IRC Bedraces (FREE to watch)

Don't forget about:

• MacQuest*
• McMaster Expo*
• admission McMaster Marauders football game against Laurier
• admission to the Tuesday Night Concert
• Faculty Day & Lunch*
• MACademics*
• Faculty Night*
• exciting exclusive residence or off-campus programming*

These are also included with your MacPass!
*Exclusive to MacPass holders!
(Tickets can be purchased for the football game and Tuesday concert but admission is included with the MacPass!)

A MacPass will allow you to participate in the activities planned for your faculty and it is a great way to get to know your classmates and future study buddies.