Pre-Orientation programs are a great start to your WashU experience. It is your opportunity to work closely with a campus organization or University department, gain valuable leadership skills, get a jump start on getting involved on campus, and meet other students with similar interests.

You also will be able to move in early and begin to learn the ins and outs of Washington University’s campus before Bear Beginnings.

2017 Program List

There are 16 different Pre-Orientation Programs.

• The Burning Kumquat: St. Louis Urban Farms by Bike
• Campus Y: L.A.U.N.C.H.: Learning and Understanding New Challenging Horizons – PROGRAM FULL
• Connect 4
• Connections in Research & Health – PROGRAM FULL
• EnDesign – PROGRAM FULL
• Freshmen Press
• Gateway to Global Citizenship
• Habitat for Humanity
• Innovation Nation: Social Impact through Design – PROGRAM FULL
• KWUR: Adventures in Radioland – PROGRAM FULL
• Leadership Through Service
• Raise Your Voice: Poetry and Comedy
• Start Up (W)U
• Student Union: Lead WashU – PROGRAM FULL
• Wilderness Project Climbing – PROGRAM FULL
• Wilderness Project Hiking – PROGRAM FULL
• World of Politics – PROGRAM FULL

Registration

Pre-Orientation registration for fall 2017 will open on May 1, 2017 at 3:00 PM CST.

Registration for fall 2017 will close on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 3:00 PM CST.

The Pre-O Registration link will be available on WashU Pathway on the Next Steps screen. Please make sure you have your login information handy. If you need assistance accessing your WashU Pathway, please visit the help page.

Before you register, you will need to submit your enrollment deposit.  Please have the following available:

• your WashU Pathway login information
• an email address
  • We strongly encourage you to avoid using a high school email account as they frequently expire between your high school graduation date and the start of the program. We will send all communication regarding Pre-O to the email address you provide on your registration.
• a secondary email address (optional)
  • When you register for Pre-O, you will have the ability to send a copy of your confirmation email to another person such as a family member or a secondary email account.

There are programs that will fill quickly, so register as soon as possible. Some popular programs will fill within the first hour. Please do not make travel arrangements to campus until you have received a confirmation that you have registered for a program.

Students may request to be on a waiting list for any program but may not be registered for a second program at the same time.

International students who are participating in the Explore program are expected to attend a Pre-Orientation program. You will register for your preferred program through the International Office when you register for the Explore Program for International Students. Please do not submit an application through the First Year Center. For more information, visit the Office for International Students and Scholars website.

Students who are participating in the Deneb STARS early arrival program are expected to attend a Pre-Orientation program. You will register for your preferred program through the Office of Student Success when you register for the Deneb STARS Program. Please do not submit an application through the First Year Center. For more information, email Tony Tillman, Assistant Provost for Student Success.

Fees & Scholarships

Fees
Pre-Orientation programs require a separate fee that is charged directly to your tuition account. The fees vary based on the program you choose and range from $235 to $400.

The Pre-Orientation fee related to each program includes the early arrival into Residential Life housing, meals, and all other program-related costs.

Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students with demonstrated financial need. Scholarships cover the entire program fee including housing, meals, and all other program-related costs. We are not able to cover the cost of travel to the Washington University in St. Louis campus.

All students are automatically considered for a scholarship upon registration for Pre-Orientation. There is no additional application or information needed for scholarship eligibility. The First Year Center works closely with the Student Financial Services to communicate about scholarship eligibility. To this end, if you are eligible for a Pre-Orientation scholarship, you will receive an email informing you of your eligibility after you register.  These emails are sent each Monday, typically 1-4 business days after you register.

Cancellations & Refunds

If you need to cancel your Pre-Orientation registration, you must send a written message to the First Year Center at firstyearcenter@wustl.edu by July 15, 2017 in order to receive a refund. If you choose to cancel after July 15, 2017, or do not attend Pre-Orientation, your student account will be assessed the full fee.

Arrival & Move-In Information

Pre-Orientation program participants will arrive on Sunday, August 20, 2017 and move into their assigned Residence Hall room for the year (*Except Wilderness Project, see below).

If you are arriving by plane, a free shuttle from St. Louis Lambert Airport will be provided every 30 minutes from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. First Year Center staff will be at the airport assisting with arrival.

If you are arriving by car, First Year Center staff will greet you at the entrance to the South 40, on Shepley Drive, and give you directions for check-in, unloading and long-term parking.

Pre-Orientation programs will begin between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM on Sunday, August 20, 2017* and will conclude on Wednesday evening. Please allow enough travel time for you to arrive on campus and settle into your residence hall room before you meet your counselors for welcome activities. The mail room will be open on Sunday from noon – 4:00 PM if you wish to ship your belongings ahead of time and UTrucking will be available that day as well.

Click for detailed, printable information about arrival to campus, including GPS information.

*Wilderness Project participants will arrive on Thursday, August 17, 2017. Students participating in Wilderness Project will not move into their assigned rooms that day. They will need to ship their belongings or have someone bring them on Move-In Day, Thursday, August 24, 2017.

Parent & Family Member Information

Students will be incredibly busy during the Pre-Orientation program. We encourage students to arrive with what they will need for the 3 1/2 day program and have family members bring or ship everything else to arrive on Thursday, August 24, 2017. You may choose to bring all of your belongings on August 20 if you are able; there will be move-in assistance on this date. Parent & Family Orientation is scheduled for Thursday, August 24 – Friday, August 25, 2017.