Your Strixhaven Orientation & What to Expect: A Letter from Dr. Mavinda Sharpbeak

As you prepare to choose your college, consider carefully where you belong:

• Silverquill: The College of Eloquence
  • Silverquill students are masters of both words and wit. They use language as inspiration and weaponry and imbue confidence and a little dramatic flair.
• Prismari: The College of Elemental Arts
  • For students who see magic as expression, Prismari blends elemental forces with artistic performances.
• Witherbloom: The College of Essence Studies
  • Witherbloom students explore the delicate balance of life and death. These mages draw power from living essence both for healing and harming.
• Lorehold: The College of Archeomancy
  • For scholars who value the past. Lorehold students uncover history’s secrets through artifacts and ancient magic, proving that the knowledge of what was, can shape what will be.
• Quandrix: The College of Numeromancy
  • Quandrix students study the mathematics of reality itself, manipulating patterns, equations, and natural laws to reshape the world through logic and possibility.

Each is more than a school. They represent different perspectives, philosophies, and the beginning of your bright new future. 

With each college offering something unique and exciting, you may find it difficult to find where your passions align. Fortunately, you need not choose blindly. The Strixhaven Personality Assessment will be available within the MagicCon: Las Vegas mobile app starting April 17. This brief quiz will help guide you toward a college that best suits you.

Once you have activated your badge and MagicCon: Las Vegas begins, the app will also serve as your portal to a larger intercollegiate competition, where you can participate in activities and games to earn points for your chosen college.

You will need an activated badge to participate, so do come prepared and download the app today. 

Ah, orientation! A day this office eagerly anticipates and has spent many months preparing.

Your return to the MagicCon: Las Vegas campus will begin with an immersive experience at the steps of the Biblioplex, where a student guide (approved by the Admissions Office, of course) will welcome you and lead you inside.

You’ll pass through the halls of Strixhaven before arriving at our Activities Faire, where each college is actively recruiting. Speak with student representatives, explore your options, and choose your school carefully. Should you remain uncertain after going through the app or reviewing their pamphlets, our Magic Mirror will also be available here to offer some honest insight.

Once you have declared your college, you will face a brief entrance exam based on what you have learned. Pass, and you will earn a pin for your college, a meaningful symbol of your commitment and a fine addition to any uniform or set of feathers.

Afterward, you are free to spend time in the Biblioplex or visit the Student Store (Show Store) for proper academic attire and supplies. I hope that you will take time to explore all that Strixhaven has to offer. After all, discovery is the heart of education.

As you continue your time within the Biblioplex, do take note of its vast collection of stories and tomes. Within this great library, we are pleased to welcome Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestseller and award-winning author for Strixhaven: Omens of Chaos. Throughout the weekend, students may encounter her here for book signings, whether you arrive with a well-loved copy of the book in hand or choose to purchase one on-site.

Strixhaven: Omens of Chaos marks the return of Magic to novels, and it is a rare opportunity to meet a scholar of storytelling in the very halls that inspire such tales so I strongly enoucrage you to stop by. 

Be sure to also collect your College Ribbon. an essential addition to your Con: Las Vegas badge. Ribbons may be obtained at the Fan Flair counter, located in the concourse area outside Hall C. Wear them with pride as these ribbons will help you display your chosen affiliation to fellow students, faculty, and other observant owlings such as myself. 

While I cannot officially endorse every extracurricular activity, I am aware that not all learning happens within the classroom. On Friday evening, all students are invited to attend a Strixhaven party and supervised field study.

I am told a lost Archaic eye has surfaced, and we will be relying on you and your fellow students to work together to uncover its secrets by following clues and facing unexpected challenges. There will also be music, dancing, games, karaoke, and a live performance from Echoes Over Ashes, for those inclined toward celebration and a bit of responsible libation consumption.

Tickets are required. I strongly suggest securing yours in advance.