Attending your college Orientation program is, without a doubt, one of the most daunting tasks for a recent high school graduate. It’s foreign and nerve wracking and it’s absolutely terrifying, but I’m here to say that it doesn’t have to be! As a former first year student and a veteran Orientation Leader, I know a thing or two about making your first on-campus experience as successful as possible. If you’re attending your new school’s Orientation this summer, use these insider tips to have the best time imaginable.
Coming to Emmanuel for Orientation this summer? Meet your 2015 Orientation Leader team! Get to know their faces before you get to know their stories for an even better Orientation experience!
1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep the Night Before
Orientation is a non-stop, information-packed adventure. There will be seminars, games, surveys, discussions, workshops, fairs, tours, and so many other activities all crammed into a 36 hour window. You will be completely drained by the end of it; that’s almost a guarantee. Chances are, you’ll love every second of it, but it’s still important that you come as prepared as possible by getting a good night’s sleep (I’m talking the full 8 hours!) before you head off to school.
2. Be Positive
College is a scary thought, and I know how hard it may be to get yourself to relax and have fun while you’re there. Think about it though: the energy you give off is the energy you attract. So, be positive! If you go into Orientation believing that it will be fun and helpful and exciting, it will be. You’ll make new friends and, hopefully, be able to envision yourself on campus in the fall. Think about all the possibilities in front of you!
3. Introduce Yourself to Everyone
So. Many. New. Faces. To some people that is an exciting and exhilarating situation to be in, but for others, it’s completely terrifying. Regardless, try to put your best foot forward and introduce yourself to your future classmates. Your OLs will gladly help you out if you’re nervous, too! But, give it a shot: you never know who you could meet! So many people meet their best friends and potential roommates at Orientation, so be open to everyone.
4. Don’t Use This as a Time to Meet Your Future Roommate
That being said, don’t focus on finding a roommate at Orientation. Your school knows what they’re doing when it comes to roommate selection, so trust the system and don’t add any stress to your experience by searching for someone! If you meet your soul [room]mate at Orientation, that’s fantastic, but try not to let that take your attention away from everyone and everything else that’s going on around you.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Make a Fool of Yourself
It is a universal truth that ice-breakers are embarrassing and eating dinner with remote strangers is awkward, but don’t let that stop you from being yourself. Most likely, the students you meet at Orientation will remember your face more than your actions or words, therefore, you can feel free to stumble through small talk and feel confident in your dancing skills. Life’s always more fun when you don’t hold back!
6. Try Not to Get Overwhelmed By Your OLs
We dance, we sing, we get in your face and ask you a million questions, and wow, do we love ice-breakers! I know it’s hard to believe, but we OLs aren’t usually this energetic in our normal lives, we’re just really excited you’re here! The main goal of any OL is to support you, share information, and make you feel at home at your new school. They want you to see every reason there is to love your school, even if that means cheering in the middle of the dining hall or forcing you to meet the mascot.
7. Remember the People in Your Orientation Group
Trust me, you’ll want them later. They may seem like a random group of students– some you like, some you don’t– but it’s nice to have some familiar faces around when you move onto campus. Learn their names, get their numbers, and call them up if you need someone to grab dinner with during the first week of classes or if you need someone to help you find the mail room. Utilize the resources that Orientation is providing you!
8. Take it All In
There is no shortage of information sharing at Orientation. You will learn so much about the campus, staff, students, and resources at your school, and it’s all useful and important, so take part in as much as you can. Go to the Involvement Fair and sign up for a dozen clubs that interest you, talk to faculty members about getting a job on campus, ask your OLs where the best place to get pizza is. Do it all and experience it all.
9. Don’t Worry If You Can’t Remember Everything
Yes, there is a lot of information being thrown at you, and yes, it’s all important, but no, you aren’t expected to remember every detail! Chances are, you’ll forget half the information given to you at Orientation by the time you move back in in the fall, and that’s perfectly ok. Your OLs, new friends, and college faculty members are there to support you along your journey and they are more than willing to answer any question you have, whenever you have it. Don’t stress!
10. Have Fun!
Easily the most important factor in any New Student Orientation: have fun! Relax and enjoy your time at your new home! Above all else, your school wants you to fall in love with college life and feel integrated and connected within your community. Play games, meet new people, and allow yourself to have the best Orientation imaginable!