#orientationexplore

[jessievngo-blog]

Making New Friends at WAC

The transition to college can be super scary, so here are some tips for making new friends here at WAC:

1. Sign up for Orientation Explore!! This is a great chance for you to move in to your dorm before orientation starts (this was called pre-orientation during my freshman year), get a head start on familiarizing yourself with the campus, and get to know other freshman students with similar interests. Since I was coming from Florida and I didn’t know anyone on campus, I decided to sign up for a pre-orientation group called “Capital Crawl” because of my interest in traveling. During pre-orientation, I got to tour DC, the National Mall, Annapolis, the Maryland State House, go paddle-boarding on the Chester River, and so much more!  I cannot recommend signing up for Orientation Explore enough - I had a blast and actually met one of my closest friends through my Pre-Orientation group, and I’m sure you will, too!

2. SEB Events! During the first week of classes each semester, or “Welcome Week,” the Student Events Board (SEB) will put on a series of events designed for you to make new friends and have fun. These events can vary, but some memorable ones include free snow cones, a Pinterest party, Taco Tuesday, Waffle Wednesday, a mentalist, DIY snow globes, and Bingo!

3. Join a club! Club fair is usually happens during the first few weeks of classes fall semester, and as you can probably guess, it is when all of the clubs on campus are showcased in Martha Washington Square so that you can decide how you want to get involved on campus and which clubs you want to join. WAC has a variety of clubs - personally, I am a member of the Psychology Club and Health Occupations Students of America - and in the rare event that you don’t find one that suits your interests, you can start a club - even as a freshman! To find out how, head over to fellow blogger Holly’s blog HERE!

A picture of my pre-orientation group at the White House: