Meet your 2023-2024 Orientation Leaders. We're excited to welcome you to the UW!
Make sure to have some relaxation strategies in college to deal with stress. I also recommend trying to be involved in some sort of RSO to find a community of similar people. There are so many available to join!
UW football games. It is a great way to spend time with others while also getting to cheer on amazing UW sports! The stadium is always packed!
What advice do you have for first-year students?
Don't be afraid to try out new things. Be open-minded and you'll never know what opportunities and new experiences you could find out there.
What should every first-year student experience at UW?
Convocation ceremony and Husky Kickoff! It's a one-in-a-lifetime experience for any college student which you'll remember for a lifetime.
Your mental health matters just as much as your grades do. Do not sacrifice your health just to get a few extra hours of studying in. Spend that time relaxing, hanging out with friends, or getting involved in whatever way creates the best environment for you!
Every first year NEEDS to experience a post-first finals celebration. However that may look like to you, there is no greater feeling than finishing all of your finals and doing whatever you want, knowing you have the next two weeks for break after autumn quarter is over.
Reach out and make connections with communities about things your passionate about. It will really help you connect with like minded students and create community as you get started at UW!
Watch a performance at the Meany Center!
Get involved! Utilize the HUB's list of RSOs and find ones that interest you, and reach out! I know it can feel scary, but taking that leap of faith opens you up to so many different opportunities that you wouldn't have known otherwise.
Taking a FIG during your first quarter!
Prioritize your wellbeing and not be afraid to reach out or ask for help. This new environment will allow you to grow in many ways, so take advantage of this new era and have fun!
Dawg Daze
Be prepared to put yourself out there. The more you are willing to try the more you will get out of college!
Husky Football games! I am not much of a football fan, but Husky games have so much energy and are super fun to attend!
Get involved in every campus activity youfind interesting. College has a endless supply of opportunities.
Family weekend—it is fun to show off campus to loved ones and take pride in the UW community as a whole. It is also always fun to cheer on the football team at the end of the weekend.
Get a planner! Whether it be digital or a physical notebook, it is a good habit to write commitments down so you don't forget or get overwhelmed last minute.
Dawg Daze! My friends and I went around collecting bags of free t-shirts, pullovers, snacks, merch etc :)
Take advantage of all of the resources and events provided on campus; there are a lot of great opportunities to meet new people and explore new interests!
Late Night Carnival during Dawg Daze! It's a great introduction to events at UW and opportunity to meet new people while exploring some of campus (plus there is free food!!).
Take it day by day and have a great day everyday. There's a pressure to become an 'ideal' college student fast. Understanding yourself in a new setting takes time and it's beneficial to take that time to understand what your UW experience can be. And hey, it's a unique experience! Also walk to your classes the day before your classes start, it makes the actual day way easier!
Attend the Husky Kickoff and be in that W photo (I can spot myself). It's a great experience to be in Husky Stadium and see your incoming batch! Do attend the RSO fairs and find some really cool clubs to get involved in here on campus.
Be willing to put yourself out there. It can be scary, but people are so willing to meet you and the relationships and things you learn is pretty much always worth the risk.
Movie on the quad and the Late Night Carnival!
Don't be afraid to talk to each other! There's so many students on campus so you should never miss out on any opportunity to get to know someone! You're guaranteed to meet people with similar interests.
Student convocation—I initially hesitated to go, but after attending, I can safely say that my ambitions at UW were reignited!
Work hard, but don't forget to enjoy yourself sometimes. While learning class material is important, it is also really important to learn more about yourself while you're here. It may be the last time where you can experience life behind the veil because once you graduate and join the workforce, everything is as real as it gets and for some that may be a challenge.
Gaming Community Night! For those of you who are gamers, or maybe not, it's a fun way to meet people who are mostly just there to relax, have a good time, make friends, and play video games.
Don't take any classes that don't interest you. Sometimes people may tell you to take a class that are seemingly easy, however if you aren't interest in the concept, there is no point sitting through a subject you're not interested in.
The pep rallies through greek row are a must-experience. You get to groove to music provided by the marching band and there's always a fun theme corresponding to what team our football team faces.
Don't be afraid to try new things and meet new people. Make as many connections as you can and step out of your comfort zone.
Tours around Seattle during Dawg Daze! As an out-of-state student, these were extremely fun and helpful experiences to explore and get to know the city.
Front load your work at the beginning of the quarter when you have more energy, so you're not as stressed out at the end.
PSYCH 210
Reach out to your classmates and get to know people. Not only can assignments become more manageable with a study group, but it can be really nice to have friendly faces to pass on campus.
Husky Football game—the environment inside such a large stadium is like no other.
Reach out to communities that share your interests (or interests you’d like to explore) as soon as possible.
ASTR 101 with Professor Chris Laws.
Do not be afraid to talk to people as soon as you first arrive on campus. It’s when I met some of my closest friends here at UW.
The football games are a must-experience. Its where I would say I personally had the most fun during my first quarter at UW.
Don't be afraid to take some time for yourself to discover who you are. You don't have to fully know what you want to do or who you want to be for the rest of your life right now—use this new university setting as an opportunity to listen to yourself and learn a few things along the way!
By far the most unforgettable Dawg Daze event is the movie night hosted in the Quad! Everyone cheers, claps, and cries together and it's so nice to feel connected to so many people at once.
Create healthy habits that balance your academics, social life, and mental health. But most importantly, commit to them! Striving to keep these good habits will keep you on track for a smooth transition into college life and adulthood!
Late Night Carnival! There is nothing like meeting so many new people that are the same boat as you, arriving to campus looking to make connections while the Husky Band is rocking out on the steps of Suzzallo Library.
Do not hesitate to join clubs and groups that cater to your interests. RSOs are crucial to school-life balance.
Try new things during Dawg Daze!
University is a long process, so don't be in a rush to get through it! Try an interesting class, go to some games, join some clubs or organizations, and just enjoy the college years that you've worked so hard to have.
Dawg Daze and Husky Hangouts are a great way to hang out with people with similar interests.
Don't overload yourself first quarter! Take it easy enough that you will have time to find resources. Once you know how to get help if you need it, taking more classes will be easier.
At least try going to an RSO!
Don't stress so much about your classes! Try to find your own pattern of learning. Enjoy the view of UW and Mount Rainer. There are always help centers for most of classes in UW, and you can always go to Mary Gates Hall when you are lost; you will always find what you need over there!
Red Square Concert at the beginning of each school year, and also the Cherry Blossoms during spring!! That is a true bravo!
Never pass up an opportunity because you think you might fail. One of the requirements of growing up is making mistakes and learning from them. Hard times are never fun, but when you reach the other side you'll look back and realize how much you've grown from it!
I joined my dorm's hall council my first quarter at UW. It really helped me create community and go to fun events I wouldn't have otherwise.
Go to class! You learn best when you can ask your professors questions in the moment and can meet others in your field of study.
Fall Fling! Even if you go alone, it's super fun to listen to the live music.
Try as many new things as you can, even if you have to do it alone, you never know what is going to click and be a fantastic opportunity for yourself!
Immersing yourself in Dawg Daze events and having as much fun as you can with them, and going to different clubs.
I know it can be overwhelming and you think that you must have a plan but know that it is okay to take things one step at a time.
The FIG is definitely a must for any freshman that can fit it into their schedules.
120 Mary Gates Hall Box 352825
Seattle, WA 98195-2825
Mary Gates Hall 120
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