First Year Programs

Mandatory Advising & Orientation (A&O) Requirement

The University of Washington requires all first-year (freshman, international, and transfer) undergraduate, degree-seeking students enrolling on the Seattle campus for the first time to attend a full Advising & Orientation session. The A&O requirement must be completed for a student to be eligible to register for classes. Students who do not complete all aspects of the A&O session will have a registration hold placed on their student account for the following quarter and will be required to attend another session. Parents, friends, or family members may not participate in place of the student.

Students have the opportunity to reserve a session date before the quarter begins. Students should choose an A&O session date that does not conflict with events.

If you have a registration hold on your account because you did not attend A&O, please do the following: 

  1. Contact First Year programs to schedule your Advising & Orientation session. 
  2. Once your session is scheduled your registration hold will be removed. 
  3. Attend your A&O session. 

Review additional program information about required content for first-year students.