Degree programme choice orientation
The SOrT is Sapienza's integrated orientation service. The service has a central office in the University City and offices located at the Faculties. At the SOrTs, students can find more specific information about the Faculties and degree programs, as well as support in making their choices. The central office and faculty professors coordinate incoming orientation and tutoring projects, maintain relationships with secondary schools and with the teachers responsible for outgoing orientation, propose support during the delicate transition from school to university, and provide support to current students. They also provide information on the course offerings and administrative procedures for accessing courses.
Orientation Initiatives and Projects:
1. "Open Doors at Sapienza"
This initiative, held annually at the University Campus, is the most important event dedicated primarily to new students. During the three-day orientation event, you can meet faculty and other students, receive information, and attend presentations in the Aula Magna about the program offerings of all the University's faculties. The initiative is aimed at all those intending to enroll in Sapienza's Bachelor's, Master's, and Single-Cycle Degree programs, with a particular focus on students in their final years of secondary school. The event provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to learn about Sapienza, its educational offerings, its places of study, culture, and social life, and the many services available to students (libraries and study rooms, museums, university residences, sports facilities, and the University theater). In addition to information on teaching, during meetings and at Faculty stands along the University avenues, as well as at virtual stands, students can obtain information on both general administrative procedures and, more specifically, on enrollment procedures for the various degree programs. They can also obtain specific information on calls for admission to the program entrance exams.
Furthermore, to foster inclusive environments and access to university education, the Department for Relations with Students with Disabilities and Learning Disabilities (DSA) promotes discussion spaces for career management through personalized and individualized study plans, activating educational, financial, and/or logistical support available for vulnerable students. Finally, the Department guides students on the procedures for requesting support, including the clinical certifications required.
2. "Orientamento Sapienza" Portal
To assist with choosing a degree program, the University has created an online portal (https://orientamento.uniroma1.it/index.html) that offers an immersive and anticipated experience of university life. It offers navigable images and videos of the campus, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, theater, and music and sports spaces; access online learning modules on the main course topics; and assess and improve your preparation for admission tests or knowledge assessments.
Furthermore, the portal is the main point of contact for information on orientation events scheduled by the various Faculties and Departments throughout the year. It hosts videos presenting the Faculties, Bachelor's Degrees, Single-Cycle Master's Degrees, and Master's Degrees, particularly those recently launched. All orientation initiatives are promoted on the University's social media channels to capture the attention of potentially interested students.
The portal also includes an English version to promote orientation among international students.
3. "A Bridge between School and University" Project
The project was created with the aim of promoting a smooth transition for students leaving high schools to the university world and facilitating their subsequent integration into the new world.
The project is divided into two initiatives:
a) Sapienza Introducing itself - Faculty presentations and sample lessons led by Sapienza professors for secondary school students on topics related to each academic area;
b) Sapienza for Students - School presentations aimed at presenting the services offered by Sapienza and recounting their university experience by specially trained "mentor" and "senior" students.
4. Self-assessment tools (developed by Sapienza experts and scientifically tested)
a. "Know thyself": effective in guiding the decision-making process for choosing an educational path. Once completed, the tool provides a personality profile, an academic profile, and a professional profile.
b. "Me, Myself, and Others": This project measures soft skills, i.e., the aptitudes needed for integration into society and the world of work.
5. "Orientamento in Rete" Project
This project focuses on orientation and realignment of the minimum knowledge required to successfully complete the entrance exams for biomedical and psychological courses. The initiative involves a preparatory course, consisting of an initial phase of distance learning and a second phase of intensive in-person courses, for admission to the limited-access faculties in the biomedical, healthcare, and psychological fields. This course is intended for students in their final years of secondary school.
6. "Paths for Transversal Skills and Orientation – PCTO" (formerly school-work alternation)
This is a teaching method that, through practical experience, helps high school students consolidate the knowledge acquired in school and test their aptitudes in the field, while enriching their education and guiding their study path.
7. "Next Generation Orientation (NGO)"
This is a joint project of all universities in the Lazio Region, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, designed to help students in our region make informed choices about their post-school education path, as well as define their personal and professional trajectory.
The project involves the delivery, by Sapienza University teachers, of a 15-hour training program, available in person and as part of the curriculum. The program is structured into five three-hour modules, delivered over five days, preferably consecutive, unless otherwise agreed with the schools. The program covers the following topics, for example:
- Module A - Why is studying important?
- Module B - How do you study at university?
- Module C - How can I best prepare for university?
- Module D - Who am I and who will I be when I grow up?
- Module E - What professions can I aspire to?
8. Preparation for entrance exams
Sapienza University offers the use of the CISIA Online Entrance Tests (TOLC), which can be taken by high school students through the CISIA portal, which also allows test preparation through the Student Positioning Tests (PPS). The PPS are real tests, which allow students to have immediate feedback on their level of preparation, based on comparison with the answers given and the scores achieved on the same questions by participants in the same TOLC in previous years
9. "Minimum Knowledge"
This project, dedicated to realigning minimum knowledge, i.e., the basic knowledge required to successfully complete the chosen degree program, includes lessons recorded by university professors with the specific goal of strengthening entry-level knowledge and enabling a more informed and motivated university career.
10. "Of@Sapienza"
To increase preparation for entrance tests and prevent the assignment of Additional Learning Requirements (OFA) in the subjects of Italian and Mathematics, the Of@Sapienza e-learning channel is available. Students will find useful tools here for independent training and to enhance the minimum knowledge required for degree programs in the humanities, engineering, and architecture.
11. "Orientation Events"
All orientation events organized by the University, its Faculties, Departments, and the CAD/Course Programs are listed in chronological order at https://www.uniroma1.it/it/node/347362.
Furthermore, to support students with disabilities and learning disabilities (LD) in choosing their study program and to illustrate the services available to students with disabilities and learning disabilities (LD), Sapienza organizes meetings with schools and individual orientation sessions with secondary schools.
The University subsequently supports students with disabilities and learning disabilities (LD) in the delicate and crucial process of orientation, assessment, and admission selection.
The "Students with Disabilities and Learning Disabilities Sector" evaluates which individualized methods of completing the entrance exams are necessary, taking into account the certifications presented by students.
For enrollment in local or national limited-access programs requiring a selective entrance exam, individuals with disabilities may request a series of compensatory measures (e.g., a dedicated classroom; additional time; a tutor; an accompanying tutor; a sign language interpreter; a calculator) following the application procedures indicated in the program admission notices. Similarly, for enrollment in programs requiring TOLC-type entrance tests administered by the CISIA Consortium, whether in person or remotely via the TOLC@CASA method, individuals with disabilities and/or learning disabilities (LD) may request support measures in accordance with the procedures and deadlines established by the administrative procedures for exam registration.
Finally, the "Students with Disabilities and LD" Sector is responsible for welcoming new freshmen who find themselves in vulnerable situations with the support of specialized tutors, peer tutors, and sign language interpreters.
***Degree Activities***
The Degree Program, in collaboration with the Faculty, offers prospective students a wide range of communication channels to learn about the program offerings. The joint work of the University, Faculty, and Degree Programs is structured around several orientation events organized annually, such as:
The "A Bridge between School and University" project, aimed at promoting and organizing meetings to present the program offerings (entrance tests, prerequisites, and starting in 2021, also on career opportunities) to facilitate the student community's transition to the university world. The meetings take place at the beginning of the calendar year;
The "Open Doors at Sapienza" event, consisting of a conference presenting the Faculty's program offerings, information stands in person within the University Campus, and in-person activities in individual Departments, by reservation, according to the program available online.
Participation in the "Student Salon," an event aimed at students in their final years of secondary school. Participation is structured with in-person stands and the distribution of orientation materials.
A SOrT help desk is also available, both in person and online, to provide information on educational activities offered, such as:
information on the degree programs; access to services offered by the Faculty's teaching facilities; the admissions test procedure (registration procedures for the Tolc-S and Tolc-B tests, test preparation methods, and presentation of the "Train with Of@smfn" platform); the procedure for recovering OFA (Additional Learning Requirements);
The degree program also participates in the National Scientific Degree Plan Project for the L-32 degree class (PLS), whose first action is dedicated to "Enrollment Guidance, Promoting Gender Balance." As part of this project, orientation activities are organized at secondary schools in Rome and the surrounding province or at the Environmental Biology and Earth Sciences departments.
Additionally, several faculty members of the Degree Program are involved in PCTO projects, some of which involve experimental work in the laboratory and experimental garden of the Department of Environmental Biology. In recent years, these projects have been followed, and greatly appreciated, by numerous students from schools in Rome and the provinces of Lazio.
Finally, the Sapienza Orientation Portal (also in English) offers an immersive and preview experience of university life through videos and photos of the facilities, including the Degree Program presentation video: https://youtu.be/CY1J4tZOjUI.