Orientation is your official introduction to Washington University in St. Louis. Some of you may have explored campus through various early arrival programs but every student will expand his or her knowledge of campus and WU through the Orientation program that begins on Thursday, August 20. Washington University Student Associates, along with upper-class volunteers and Residence Life Staff, will be on hand to help you move into your room and get settled for a great start at Wash U.
Orientation is designed with you, the new student, in mind. You will be busy attending presentations and meetings to familiarize yourself with the academic procedures and expectations of your individual College or School, social events to get to know other new students, and additional sessions to acclimate you to the WU and St. Louis culture. Some events include the Freshman Reading Program Discussion, Academic Open Houses, meetings with your Academic Deans, the Club 40 Dance, Choices and The Date, and other great All-Freshman Events!
Move-in day is Thursday, August 20. All new students will move in on this day, which is the first day of Orientation. Some students may be permitted to move in earlier if they are participating in the Explore or Discover Programs for International Students, participating in a scholar program such as the Ervin or Rodriguez Scholars, participating in a Pre-Orientation program, or if a student is moving in early for Varsity Athletics. Students participating in these programs should contact their individual program for more information regarding move in.
Regarding logistics, both of you should discuss what appliances each of you are bringing for the dorm room. Make sure that both of you aren’t bringing duplicate appliances, which can take up unnecessary space. Also, remember that a freshman roommate might very well be your first experience sharing a room. When talking to your roommate, ask questions that can help you get a feel or him/her as a person. Getting in contact with your roommate/suitemate before coming to Washington University will definitely aid in your transition from high school to college.
There are several options. You can use a traditional shipper like UPS or the US Postal Service.
Many students use UTrucking, which is a student-run business on campus. UTrucking will store your belongings and deliver them right to your room on Move-In Day!
Residential Life has an area to store students’ belongings that is air conditioned but not climate controlled. You should not send belongings that will arrive more than 2-3 days prior to the student’s arrival. Check out shipping information for more information.
Go to the registration information page »
Yes, Washington University allows students from any school of the University to take classes that are in a different school. This allows students to expand their horizons and open themselves up to new ideas in an educational environment. Make sure to discuss these choices with your Academic Advisor, who can help you plan a schedule that meets your individual needs and interests.
Class sizes vary depending on which level of class you are in. Many introductory classes range in size from 60-100 students in the class. Once you leave the 100 level courses and start attending higher level classes, the class size diminishes to about 20-40 students per class. Language classes, freshman focus programs, and freshman seminars have class sizes of about 12-16 students. Even in large classes, however, there are always plenty of resources for more personal teaching to make sure you don’t get lost in the crowd.
Each student receives an Academic Four-Year Advisor before their freshman year begins. Your advisor is there to guide you in deciding which classes to take and to answer any questions you may have about courses and your course load. This is a great opportunity to talk with someone who knows a lot about the Washington University curriculum. You will meet with your advisor at least once a semester to plan the courses you are thinking about taking for the next semester. However, advisors are not limited to this one meeting. Take advantage of meeting with your advisor when you have any question regarding academics at school.
In addition to your Four-Year Advisor, each student has a multitude of other academic resources. Your Washington University Student Associate (WUSA) is an upperclassman who can answer questions regarding Washington University’s academic life. As you begin to pick a major, you will receive a Major Advisor, who is a professor in your major field. A Minor Advisor is also available to students who decide to pursue a minor. Advisors are also available for pre-health, pre-law, and graduate school preparation.
There are many opportunities to receive academic help outside of class. Most professors offer review sessions once a week through the teaching assistants. The material covered in these sessions is determined by the professor. Plus, in this smaller group, you really get a lot of personal attention from the teaching assistants. Many professors also have office hours each week. This is a time slot in which the professor is available to talk with students and answer questions the students may be having about the course. It’s a good idea to go to both review sessions and office hours, not only to clear up any questions you may have, but also to get to know the professor and teaching assistants on a more personal level.
You can declare a major at any time you choose, but WU encourages students to declare a major by the end of their sophomore year. Many freshmen take their time mulling over different major and minor options. Your Academic Advisor is an excellent resource for help in making this decision.
With your WU Student ID Card and your PIN number (issued by the Office of Student Records and mailed to you over the summer) you can access WebSTAC, a computer database for students at Washington University that is accessible via the Internet. On WebSTAC students can access their academic records, register for classes, review class and final exam schedules, view grades, request transcripts, and design a plan for classes for future semesters.
You can also review current tuition charges and bills, view FACES (a Washington University directory), and update your address and phone numbers. This information is used by the University for official purposes, so it is important to keep your information current. You also have the opportunity to indicate how much of your personal information you wish NOT to be made public under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
When you check in on Move-In day (either at your Residence Hall or at the Commuter Meeting) you will receive lots of important information, including your Washington University student ID. Later, if you lose your ID or need it to be replaced, visit the Office of Student Records in the lower level of the Women’s Bldg, Room 53 or contact them at (314) 935-5959.
Your student account can be viewed from WebSTAC, Washington University’s online database. Simply log on to https://acadinfo.wustl.edu/ and enter your ID and Password (you will receive these via mail in July). Once you are logged in, you can click on My Records, Account (Snapshot) to view your Student Financial Account. Also, if you ever have financial questions, you can always contact Student Financial Services at (314) 935-5900 or sfs.wustl.edu.
Whether you live in a traditional or a modern style Residence Hall, the RAs make it their goal to promote floor unity and a social environment, for a great first year!
View the various room dimensions »
The University provides each residence hall student with a bed, a desk, a dresser, a chair, and blinds. The University also provides a telephone (Telephone Service information will be mailed in mid-July) and a data jack complete with a cable television connection and an ethernet connection. Voice Mail is provided with the telephone service.
Beyond these basics, you are permitted to personalize your room as long as you leave the walls and furnishings in good condition and you respect the wishes of your roommate(s). It is usually helpful to communicate with your roommate before you arrive so you do not bring duplicate items. Once you have contacted your roommate, discuss your needs and make a list of who will bring which items. The Housing Office will send your room assignment, the name and address of your roommate, your University mailing address and some other helpful information in early August.
Student Technology Services has recently unveiled a new in-room technology package that will be available for the first time this coming fall semester. Please see http://sts.wustl.edu for more information on the new package.
No. Your housing contract includes a University phone and voicemail system. Your phone number will be listed in your student record, which university personnel and your professors will use to contact you.
Many of you may already have cell phones, in which case you should make sure your provider has coverage in the St. Louis area.
If your cell phone is your primary means of communication, please make sure to update your personal information on WebSTAC.
Not necessarily. Computers are available for all students to use in each Residential College on the South 40, as well as in computer labs in every college and school.
If you do decide to purchase a computer, follow the link below for the school in which you are enrolled to see any recommendations they may have for you. Your school may even be able to provide you with student discounts for certain manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, and Apple. If you are enrolled in the Art or Architecture schools, please contact your major’s department to ask for their computing requirements.
One major question that many students have is PC or Mac? If your major doesn’t require one or the other, then just go with what your are comfortable. Keep in mind that there are many applications, especially in the business school, that are either only available for the Windows platform or are considerably more expensive for the Mac platform. While there are emulators to enable the running of Windows programs on a Mac, there are some performance degredations to consider.
The Campus Bookstore has sections in-store for Apple and Lenovo, as well as student discounted versions of popular software suites such as Microsoft Office. Check with the bookstore (call because the website does not have a complete inventory) before choosing to include such suites with your computer purchase.
There are a number of food options on campus from the Danforth University Center, The Village Café, and even Subway which is right by Mallinckrodt Center. Holmes Lounge and is also very popular during the day. In the evenings, Ursa's offers an alternative to the rest of the food on the 40. Find out more about eating on campus »
If you want to get off campus, Delmar Blvd, known as “The Loop,” has numerous restaurants including the famous Blueberry Hill and Fitz’s American Grill. Find out more about The Loop »
Washington University now offers a free Universal Pass (U-Pass) to all eligible members of the University community, including full time students. The U-Pass will allow those eligible to travel on all MetroLink trains and MetroBuses around the St. Louis area at no cost, providing service to places like Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, the Galleria Mall, the Loop, Schnuck's, and many others. Make sure to sign up for your spring semester U-Pass online at parking.wustl.edu. For routes and more information, check the website or call (314) 935-4140
If you can't find a way to get where you need to go via MetroLink or MetroBus, try the WeCar. WeCar is a car sharing program that you enroll in. Once enrolled, you can rent a car by the hour whenever you need one! If you're under 21, you'll need a parent or guardian to sign the form and have it notarized, so check out the details ahead of time online.
With so many different ways to get involved on campus, there is bound to be a student group that interests you. If for some reason you don’t find what you are looking for, you can start your own group! At the beginning of each semester there is an Activities Fair where all the WU student groups get together and have information on activities they plan, what they do, and sign up sheets for interested students. You can put your e-mail down to receive information on how to get involved. You might go to all the meetings that interest you, then, once you get to know the groups better, you can decide which ones you want to visit more regularly and which ones you don’t.
For more information online, check out getinvolved.wustl.edu
The answer to this question is yes! We have two types of sports you can be involved in outside of the varsity level: club and intramural sports. Both are available for most sports. Club sports generally practice two to three times a week and compete against schools that are near Washington University. Sometimes they travel to other schools, ranging in distance from half an hour to five hours away. Intramural sports, on the other hand, are a little less serious. You can form your own team of interested students and compete against other teams formed from Washington University. Teams generally practice about once a week. Games occur every week or every two weeks, either during the week or on the weekend. Intramural sports are a great way to get to know other people with similar interests, while not requiring too much of a time commitment. Club sports are a little more serious and require a little more of a time commitment, but they are incredibly fun too! I encourage you to try both out and see which one fits your personality and your schedule!
For more information on Intramural Sports, look here.
About 25% of Wash U students are involved in Greek organizations. So, while Greek life plays a role in the social life at Wash U, it does not dominate it. There are plenty of opportunities for students to have fun with or without joining a Greek organization.
For more information check out glo.wustl.edu.
Wash U is as diverse as you make it! The campus itself provides many opportunities for you to foster diversity, with numerous groups and cultural activities that all students are encouraged to attend. The level of diversity that you personally experience is based on the level of diversity that you pursue.