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Summer Advising & Orientation
The complete summer orientation experience is expressly tailored to fit the needs of the diverse group of students admitted to the UW. Occurring in two steps, it facilitates the academic and social transitions that are critical to the beginning of a successful first year:
Step 1 - Summer Advising and Orientation: An advising and orientation session in June, July, August or September. You'll meet with an academic adviser, learn about options for study at UW, and begin making connections with student leaders and other new students. You cannot register for autumn classes without signing up for a Summer Advising and Orientation session sometime throughout the summer.
Step 2 - Dawg Daze: Campus-wide events and activities expressly for new students, September 21st- September 27th (classes start Wednesday, September 24th). Along with your fellow new students you'll meet in small groups with a faculty member, begin to learn about expectations as a UW student, learn about the vast array of programs and opportunities on campus for students, and make connections with the kind of groups & organizations who have interests similar to your own. You might find this community by connecting with faculty through undergraduate research, by enrolling in a Freshman Seminar, or by involving yourself in an out-of-class activity such as student government or being a tutor at a local middle school. There will also be a wide variety of live music, food and entertainment.
General Questions
Your UW Orientation session consists of a two-step introduction to college life and includes all the necessary components to ensure you get a head start on your first quarter, and beyond. You have paid for the services you receive during Summer Advising and Orientation, as well as Dawg Daze, in your NSEOF. You will register for autumn quarter classes when you come to your assigned Summer Advising session. You will have the opportunity to meet with your assigned faculty member during Dawg Daze, and take advantage of a wealth of social and extracurricular opportunities outside of academics.
All new students take advantage of Summer Advising and Orientation, as well as Dawg Daze, and both serve as the first steps to a successful career here at UW. Participation in both a Summer Advising and Orientation session and Dawg Daze requires openness to new experiences, intellectually demanding discussion, and willingness to learn from your fellow new students. At the Summer Advising and Orientation sessions, students have the opportunity to learn about the academic aspects of UW by talking to advisers and registering for their autumn quarter classes. Dawg Daze includes a wide variety of events that introduce students to Student Life at UW.
Summer Advising and Orientation Sessions include workshops about requirements and how to register for classes. Advisers will lead small group sessions where students plan their course schedules. Sessions in computer labs offer the opportunity for students to enroll online for autumn quarter courses with individual help from advising staff. During both Summer Advising and Orientation sessions and Dawg Daze, advisers are available for individual consultations. Past freshmen report that the guidance they received from advisers during both of these times was critical in finding the best classes and building a good schedule of classes, particularly as classes fill.
Facilitated by student leaders and professional academic counselors, your Summer Advising and Orientation session will include a variety of workshops and small-group discussions that will help you match your interests and goals with areas of study available to you at the UW, and to help you find a community on campus. Student leaders at these sessions will share their own college experiences with you, assist you in mapping out your own, acquaint you with graduation requirements, and help you register for classes. Along the way, of course, you'll always be able to make connections with other new students!
Renew the friendships you made at Summer Advising and Orientation while you begin to find your place in the UW community. Having already registered for your classes, you'll be able to take advantage of the multitude of activities during Dawg Daze to make connections with the people and places that will be a part of your college experience.
The UW community is known for its cutting-edge research and scholarship. During Dawg Daze, sit down with a UW professor to discuss current issues in a field of interest to you from psychology to music to oceanography — and everything in between.
At Dawg Daze you'll also have the opportunity to explore new opportunities with student leaders and University staff as your guides:
Interested in student government? Or how about a student club?
Learn about the multitude of student organizations at UW.
Would you like to be involved outside campus?
Find out how you can volunteer in Seattle area schools or community agencies.
Is a campus job in your plans?
Discover opportunities across campus and discover your place in it.
Advisers will be available to discuss last-minute fall quarter questions. Departments across campus will open their doors to you to showcase undergraduate majors and strategies for success in your fall courses.
As a special celebration of UW scholarship and community share Freshman Convocation with your friends and family. Hear one of UW's top professors set the tone for the class of 2010.
Save some time for fun!
Fall Fling - food, games, prizes and a few surprises
UW football game
Evening activities
Meeting fellow UW students
Additional information about Dawg Daze will be available at Summer Advising and Orientation.
Dawg Daze includes something for everyone! Arrive a few days early — from September 21st through September 27th — and get your UW experience off to a good start. There is no need to sign up in advance — all students are welcome. You will need to check-in during your dormitory move-in day or at a check-in booth located around campus.
Staying on Campus Overnight
For each two-day Summer A&O session, students have the option to stay overnight in the campus residence halls. Students find that the overnight component of the session-evening activities facilitated by student leaders and exposure to residence hall living-allows them the opportunity to make connections with new and different groups of students and to feel more comfortable on campus. Space is limited. If you would like to take advantage of this option, you can add this to your A&O session when you register.
We strongly encourage all entering students to participate in Overnight Housing during the A&O program. Beside those students who require local accommodations, we invite students who live locally, are intending on living in a fraternity or sorority, and those who are planning on commuting to campus to stay overnight. Advising and Orientation is more than just selecting your classes — we also want you to be comfortable with the campus and to relax with other new freshmen. Staying overnight is the best way to experience the UW campus at your own pace and get a sense of what residence hall life is like. Overnight Housing is also a sensible way to participate in your A&O program: spending the night on campus is less expensive than a night at a hotel, it saves you from making the early commute back to campus for the second day of the program, you'll learn what life in the residence halls is all about, and the fees include breakfast on the second day of the A&O program. Overnight Housing students are paired with another entering student for their stay. Each room is fully furnished with standard residence hall furniture, including two twin beds and the necessary bedding. All you need to bring are your personal belongings. You'll have the opportunity to register for Overnight Housing while you are selecting your A&O program date online.
Within two weeks of your Advising and Orientation session date, housing fees cannot be refunded. Once you are within two weeks of your session, the housing fee is both non-refundable and non-transferable. Additional information is available on the First Year Programs website and in the email confirmation you will receive once you have registered for your A&O program.
Yes, definitely. While beds will be filling up, if you change your mind and want to stay on campus (all the way up to when you're on campus, too!), we will do our best to find a space for you to stay overnight. Please log back onto the registration online system to change your reservation or add housing or you can call us at any point to sign up: (206) 543-4905.
Even if you live within easy driving distance of the UW, we recommend you stay overnight. You will get a room in the residence halls, evening activities tailored to help you meet other new students and familiarize yourself with fun campus locations, and you will be nearby in the morning when it's time to get up and register for classes! Oh, and you get breakfast, too!
If you are coming a significant distance to attend your A&O program you may want to consider staying on campus the night before (early arrival) or after (late departure) your program. Separate fees apply for these additional overnight accommodations and meals are not provided, but early arrival and late departure are highly economical ways to stay at the University before and after your A&O program. You can register for these accommodations by visiting the First Year Programs registration system and selecting the date(s) that you wish to stay.
Outdoor Adventures
Outdoor Adventure is consistently one of the most highly rated of all our programs. Whether you're an experienced trekker or have never spent a night outdoors (but would like to give it a shot) we've got the A&O program fo r you! The Outdoor Adventure adds a two-day off-campus expedition to your A&O program. Each Outdoor Adventure includes a day of low and high ropes course initiatives, and a night of camping on Whidbey Island. This is followed by a day of coastal hiking that will take you from pristine beaches to old growth forests. As fun and involving as the expedition is, students often say that getting to know everyone on the expedition is even better. With no group larger than 25 students, we purposefully keep the group size small so that everyone can get acquainted. First Year Programs staff will provide all of the planning and logistics for each Outdoor Adventure, including transportation and meals. If your trip includes a ropes course, the facilitators that we use are fully trained and certified. If you select an Outdoor Adventure A&O, you will receive a confirmation which includes a personal packing list and all the details of your expedition. Since the Outdoor Adventure is not a required part of your transition to the UW, extra fees do apply.
When you visit our registration system and choose an academic area of interest, Outdoor Adventures will be one of the A&O options presented to you. There is typically a waiting list for Outdoor Adventures so we recommend that you register early for the best selection of programs and dates. Space is very limited; if you have been confirmed into an Outdoor Adventure, First Year Programs will contact you with additional information about your participation.
Registration
After you have received confirmation of your NSEOF payment, create a UW NetID and log onto the registration system, choose the session that best fits your schedule and needs. Be sure to check your UW email account for an email confirmation with information about your session.
There is no need to officially sign up for the Dawg Daze part (although you must sign up for a particular Summer Advising and Orientation date). Why? Well, because we expect everyone to be here, there's no need to let us know you're coming. We will simply be expecting you. When you do arrive on campus we will have check-in booths setup so that we may give you your Dawg Daze materials.
You DO, however, need to make arrangements to be sure to arrive on campus on or by Sunday, September 21st. This will be when the kick-off for Dawg Daze will begin, and there will be a LOT happening on campus that you'll want to be a part of.
If it is not possible for you to attend the A&O session that you originally selected, please return to the A&O registration website to make the necessary adjustments. Please make any registration changes as early as possible to assist us in the planning of A&O programs. If you are enrolled for Early Fall Start, please schedule your A&O session before your Early Fall Start classes begin. Any changes made within two weeks of the program are subject to a $20 change fee.
Challenges
Attending both days (for freshman, transfer students attend a half-day session) of your A&O program is a requirement of all entering students. If you fail to arrive for your scheduled A&O program, you are subject to a $20 change fee. If you miss part of your session, you must return to the First Year Programs registration website and select a new A&O date. The University expects that you will make every effort to attend your scheduled program. Rescheduling to a significantly later date will affect the class availability when you are selecting courses.
If you decide not to attend the UW and need to cancel your A&O registration, please contact the Office of Admissions (206.543.9686 or admit.washington.edu/ Contact/Students) to inform them of your decision. You should also inform First Year Programs so our staff can update your student account. Please make any registration cancellations as early as possible to assist us in the planning of A&O programs. Any cancellations within two weeks of your program will result in a $20 cancellation fee.
If you have registered for any optional programs (i.e., Family Orientation, Outdoor Adventure, or Off-Site Orientation) you MUST contact First Year Programs so that we can cancel your registration. Failure to cancel these registrations may result in program fees remaining on your student account for which you will be billed. Also, please be aware that if you decide not to attend the UW, your $250 NSEOF confirmation fee will not be refunded.
Arriving late for your A&O program will cause you to miss essential advising and course registration information. If you arrive more than 60 minutes after the program begins, you will be required to reschedule your A&O date. Our staff will assist you in rescheduling your program when you arrive. You will also be charged a $20 change fee if you need to be rescheduled.
Students register for their autumn quarter classes at their Summer Advising and Orientation session therefore, if you don't reschedule you will have to register for courses on the first day of class (Wednesday, September 24th). It is in your best interest to reschedule your Summer A&O session.
We recommend that students make arrangements to ensure they can in fact attend one of the Summer Advising and Orientation dates throughout the summer. Our sessions are offered from mid-June through late September. However, we recognize that in rare occasions some students will be unable to attend any of the summer sessions. In this case, you should contact First Year Programs at (206) 543-4905 to make arrangements.