Preview Days: July 17–18

Students gather on the beach during sunset

We’re opening our doors just for you. Join our open-house event.

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Join us for our summer 2025 Preview Days, July 17–18, 2025. Experience firsthand how our master’s programs transform our students’ global careers. Explore our beautiful Monterey, California, location and meet the faculty, staff, and students who will help you achieve your professional and personal goals.

Please note that this is an in-person event.

Who Should Attend Preview Days?

The Middlebury Institute Preview Days is an open-house event for prospective students at any stage in their graduate school search, whether they are already admitted, just starting to consider graduate school, or anywhere in between.

We are also excited to welcome staff from our partner organizations and staff/faculty from colleges and universities. We know that your students, employees, and participants often come to you for advice on graduate school—our Preview Days are the perfect opportunity to get meaningful insight into our programs.

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Thursday Schedule (July 17)

10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Check-In 

McCone Building

Connect with the admissions team to learn about the application process, scholarships, and more.

10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Advising Sessions

Various locations

Meet one-on-one or in small groups with various departments to learn more about their resources for students including opportunities for campus jobs, fellowships, and funding.

  • Career advising: Your program’s career advisor can help you develop and manage your professional skills and competencies while targeting your job search to meet your career goals.
  • Student Financial Services: better understand, manage, and finance the costs associated with your graduate program. Discuss loans (federal and private), work-study, and veteran’s benefits.
  • Munras student housing: learn about our campus housing. Make sure you also check out the tour of Munras (see below).
  • Experiential Learning: Unlike other classroom-based graduate programs, these immersive experiences allow you to apply practical skills in your field of study before you graduate. Not only do you gain professional experience, but you are also exposed to relevant networking opportunities that often lead to jobs after graduation.

2:00–3:00 p.m. Student Life

McCone Boardroom

Join our Student Life team to learn about life outside the classroom, from health and wellness to student organizations, and off-campus housing.

3:00–4:00 p.m. Expert Discussion 1 of 2

McCone Boardroom

4:00–5:00 p.m. Campus Residential Hall Tour

Location: The tour will leave from the McCone building and walk to our residence hall at 787 Munras Ave.

After the tour, we will show you several great locations for dinner and evening exploration.

Friday Schedule (July 18)

8:30 a.m. Check-in and Continental Breakfast

McCone Atrium

9:00 a.m. Welcome

McCone Atrium

We will welcome you to our Preview Days and share key insights on how the Middlebury Institute will help you launch or accelerate a career with purpose.

9:30–10:25 a.m. Program-Specific Sessions (1 of 2)

McCone

Faculty and advisors (enrollment and career) will guide you through the curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and career outcomes for your program of interest.

  • Translation, Translation and Interpretation, Conference Interpretation, Interpretation for Diplomats and Executives (V499 CNS Video Conference Room)
  • Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies (McCone Boardroom)
  • Environmental Policy and Management (McCone 238)
  • International Education Management (McCone 127)

10:25–10:30 a.m. Short Break

Transition to your next session.

10:30–11:25 a.m. Program-Specific Sessions (2 of 2)

McCone

  • Translation and Localization Management (V499 CNS Video Conference Room)
  • Threat Intelligence (McCone Boardroom)
  • International Policy and Development, Global Governance and Policy (McCone 238)
  • TESOL (McCone 127)

11:25–11:30 a.m. Short Break

Transition to the expert discussion in McCone Irvine Auditorium.

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Expert Discussion 2 of 2: Working in the U.S. Government to Eliminate Syrian Chemical Weapons (Professor Philipp Bleek)

McCone Irvine Auditorium

In 2012-13, Professor Philipp Bleek took a leave from his faculty position at the Middlebury Institute to serve as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs, where he staffed an interagency task force focused on Syrian chemical weapons. In this expert discussion, he will reflect on that experience—including negotiating with Russian policymakers as part of a White House delegation—and his continuing work to address this reemerging threat. 

Syria’s chemical weapons are back in the news. A few decades back, the country was one of the few to retain a robust chemical weapons arsenal. During the civil war that began in 2011, those weapons were used domestically. After a particularly horrifying attack, and under intense international pressure, Syria reluctantly agreed to disarm. But it never fully complied, and the threat festered. Now, after the collapse of the Assad regime and the emergence of a successor government in Damascus, there is renewed hope about finally conclusively addressing the issue, but also fears about what might otherwise happen.

12:30–1:30 p.m. Lunch 

Samson Student Center

1:30–3:00 p.m. Campus and Library Tours

Leave from the Samson Student Center

Take a tour of our downtown campus and the library.

3:00–4:00 p.m. Closing Reception

Pierce Street Promenade

Meet current students from your program and hear about a wide range of classroom and extracurricular activities. 

Please bring your ID if you plan to drink alcohol during the reception.

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Open Gallery | 12 images

Preview Days Highlights

Accommodation

There are many great hotels in the Monterey area. Here are a few convenient options: 

Parking

You will see signs for parking at the following locations:

Directions

The Institute is located in central California in the city of Monterey, approximately 130 miles (210 kilometers) south of San Francisco and 350 miles (560 kilometers) north of Los Angeles. 

Get directions.

Things to Do in Monterey

Visit SeeMonterey.com to learn more things to do in the area before or after Preview Days. Some of our favorites are below:

  • Hiking trails: Point Lobos, Garrapata, Jacks Peak
  • Old Monterey Wharf
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Cannery Row
  • 17 Mile Drive
  • Nightlife: Alvarado Street, Downtown Carmel
  • Beaches: Del Monte Beach, Lovers Point, Asilomar, Carmel Beach
  • Wine tasting in Carmel Valley: Folktale, Georis
  • Whale watching

Campus Map

Please use this interactive campus map to help orient yourself.

Download or print a PDF of the campus map (updated April 2023).

Future Preview Days

Save the date for future Preview Days events

  • Spring: early April 2026 (exact dates TBC)
  • Summer: mid-July 2026 (exact dates TBC)

Why Preview Days?

Check out these quotes from past attendees:

“The faculty and current students were so welcoming and informative. It definitely solidified my decision to apply.”

Ashton D.

“It was a great way to get a taste of what it’s like to be enrolled in a program. We met faculty and staff and newly graduated students in our field of study.”

Heejung L.

“Attending Preview Days moved the Institute to the top of my grad school preferences. The faculty and students did a great job differentiating it from other programs.”

Sam H.

“This is a great opportunity to network with faculty and staff and to meet fellow potential students.”

Cameron H.

“My session with the advisor was great! She thoroughly explained what I wanted to know about my degree of interest and answered all my questions.”

Julio T.

“I was on the fence about applying and whether or not the Institute was a good fit for me, but now I’m ready to apply. I want to be part of this community of world changers!  

Emily J.

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