Bear Beginnings

Bear Beginnings consists of three parts:

  • Bear Essentials
    • Bear Essentials provides a brief overview of important to-do items for new students to complete over the summer, as well as key resources that will aid in their success at Washington University in St. Louis.
  • Get Your Bearings
    • Get Your Bearings is an online orientation that will introduce you to key university resources. 
  • Fall Welcome 
    • Fall Welcome will begin on Move-In Day and continue until the start of classes.  During Fall Welcome, you will meet with your WUSA small group, engage in academic experiences, explore St. Louis, and participate in a long-standing university tradition – Convocation.  

Bear Beginnings Objectives

Our objectives for Bear Beginnings are that new students:

  • Connect with other new students and begin to identify a peer group
  • Navigate the Washington University campus and the opportunities offered by the St. Louis community
  • Interact with faculty, staff, and an upper-division mentor
  • Discover pride for WashU, their academic division, and their residential college

Parent & Family Orientation

Parent & Family Orientation is offered to help families learn about the university and how they can help their student transition to WashU.