What to Expect

In asking ARCH  students on campus what they would want to see on this blog, one individual wanted to see "What to expect."  Know that every college experience is different, but here at Wooster, this is a little something about what your first experiences on campus might be like*:

You arrive on campus, and everyone is waiting, JUST WAITING to moove (spelling intentional) in.  Last year, there were a LOT of freshman, and so we had "Moove-in" day, which will be happeneing again this year.  There were giveaways of laundry detergent, food, and Udderly Smooth lotion (are you sensing a theme here?).  The older students on campus helped carry in belongings and direct parents, Beall ave (pronounced like "bell") was LINED with cars.  They actually shut it down specifically for moove-in. This made the process much easier than my freshman year, which was just a chaotic mad rush into the dorms where we had to carry all of our stuff inside before the parents were scolded into moving their cars from the curb.

However you will not have to deal with that.  TIP: GET HERE EARLY! The sooner you get in line, the sooner your stuff will be inside and you can start collecting all the free stuff they give out. Also, you can start getting to know the people on your hall!


Additionally, if you are coming early for a sport or for band, you'll already be mooved in.  This is a good thing, because you get to sit back and watch while the chaos unfolds around you, which can be rather amusing. After moving in all your things, other orientation activities ensue.

Some orientation activities include a party in the UG (Underground, the campus club, which I'll describe in detail later), a swing dance lesson, seminars, Woo Idol (so bring a talent to share!!), and much more.

Also, we like cows. Just saying.

What to keep in mind for orientation:

Be Social, seriously:
There is a "friendly window" that happens at the beginning of freshman year.  During this magical window, it is not weird to go up to someone you don't know and introduce yourself. In fact, it is encouraged. Even if you're shy, this is a good time to start establishing a friend base.  Get numbers, meet up with people, go to meals with them. Even if you're shy, this is a good time to reach out for a little bit. Once you make one friend, it's easier to make more.

Something else to keep in mind: DON'T GET DISCOURAGED if you feel socially exhausted. I am an extreme extrovert, and I began to feel tired of talking to people a couple of days into orientation. Be sure to take some time to yourself in the midst of all the crazy to just relax too.  Remember that everyone is in the same boat, looking to make an entirely new group of friends, since no one knows anyone.

Any other questions about orientation or your first few days here? Post a comment and I'll be happy to answer!

*This is judging from my own experience as well as watching others moove-in, and may not be EXACTLY what your experience is like, but TIPS will appear throughout.