Nineteen finalists of the UGRAD program spent a productive three days in Kyiv for their pre-departure orientation. On the first day of July, the fellows arrived and were congratulated by the Public Affairs Officer from the U.S. Embassy, Chris Fitzgerald. Following the introduction, the finalists reviewed the program rules and regulations through an interactive quiz. Throughout the day, IREX Education Programs staff members presented about American culture, the U.S. academic system, and how to manage one's personal finances while in the U.S. For the final session of the day, IREX staff and UGRAD fellows made their way to Trukhaniv Island in the Dnieper River, where they worked in small groups to compose a realistic budget for a month. After presenting these budgets, the day finished with a dinner of shashlyk and plov at an outdoor café on the island. On the second day, finalists attended their J interviews at the consulate and then returned to the IREX office for presentations by three UGRAD alumni. The UGRAD alumni shared their country presentations and their insights on community service, the internship search, and extracurricular activities. Following dinner on the second day, finalists were able to relax with some popcorn and snacks while watching a movie in the IREX reception area.

On the final day, IREX staff concluded presentations on medical insurance and travel preparations. The new UGRAD finalists were then joined by ECA alumni for a special, American trivia activity in honor of July 4^th. Alumni were mixed in with new UGRAD students, and answered trivia questions on U.S. history, presidents, cities, and pop culture. Following the contest, alumni, new UGRAD fellows, and U.S. Embassy staff were able to network in the IREX reception area.