“What will my first year on campus really be like?”

Your first year at WashU will be extraordinary, and we will be here every step of the transition to help you feel at home.

Meet our Student Transitions team

Fall semester

The adventure begins. The fall is all about getting settled, jumping into classes, and finding your crew.

August: Welcome to your new home!

  • Move-In Day: This is it! You’ll roll up to campus (usually mid-August, but if you’re coming from another country, you might arrive a little earlier). Get ready to unpack and set up your room in the South 40, which is basically its own little college town.
  • Fall Welcome: This isn’t just a few hours – it’s several days of events to help you get comfy. Expect campus tours, info sessions on all the cool resources, and tons of social stuff to meet new people. You’ll also meet your academic advisor, who’s basically your personal guide for choosing classes and planning your academic path.
  • Convocation: This long-standing tradition is your official welcome to WashU. Get ready for for some school spirit!
  • Classes begin: We’re here to set you up for success— providing snacks, school supplies, and plenty of photo-ops at on-campus checkpoints to celebrate the start of a new semester.

Take a breather.

There’s a lot going on in the first week of college. Take a break with Meg, who has some helpful advice for incoming students.

Hear Meg’s first week advice

September: Finding your vibe

  • Student Activities Fair: This is HUGE. Our clubs and student-run organizations offer the chance to meet like-minded peers and build lifelong friendships. You’ll find your people here. Browse the full list of WashU’s 450+ undergraduate student groups.
  • Dorm life: Your Residential Advisor (RA) and Residential Community Director (RCD) will be throwing events to help you get to know everyone on your floor and in your building.
  • Symphony on the South 40: Come hear members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to perform in a small ensemble on the South 40. 
  • Parent & Family Weekend: Your family can visit and get a taste of what your college life is like. Show them your favorite spots on campus, like the renowned Kemper Art Museum! Preview the Kemper Art Museum’s collection.

October: Settling in and leveling up

  • Go, Bears! Go! As an official WashU Bear now, go cheer for one of our 19 varsity sports! Or if you don’t want to cheer, you can also join the Bear Nation Varsity Band.
  • Fall break: A short break from classes (usually a few days). Perfect for catching up on sleep or exploring St. Louis. Hear where sophomore Anika goes for the best ramen (and more) in STL.

November and December: Finishing strong

  • Thanksgiving break: A longer break to head home or hang out with friends.
  • Last day of classes: Time to wrap up the first half of the year.
  • Reading days: These are a few days before finals that are specifically for studying and getting ready.
  • Moonlight Breakfast: This is one of WashU’s most beloved traditions for a reason. Drop by Bear’s Den or The Village to load up on a free late-night breakfast spread – served by some of your own professors. Learn about more WashU campus traditions.
  • Final exams: You’ll have a concentrated period of exams, usually about a week long. You got this!

Closing out your first semester.

As a WashU student, you know how to work hard, study effectively, and ask for help when you need it. So, leave the stress, find a friend, and head over to Moonlight Breakfast for a much-needed break.

Priyanka dishes on Moonlight Breakfast

Spring semester

The spring semester is where you build on everything you learned in the fall. You’ll dive deeper into your studies, get even more involved, and start thinking about your future.

January: Back to it!

  • Classes Resume: After winter break, it’s time to get back in the swing of things.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday: A university holiday where there are no classes. WashU often has events and programs to honor MLK.
  • Sorority and fraternity recruitment begins: WashU is a delayed recruitment campus, which means that first-year students are eligible to join a sorority or fraternity after their first semester. About 18% of undergraduates participate in Greek life.

February: Deepening connections

  • Activities Fair (Spring): Missed out on a club in the fall? Here’s another chance to find your niche!
  • Cultural shows & performances: WashU’s student groups put on some incredible shows – think major productions for Lunar New Year, Black Anthology, and Carnaval.
  • Finding summer jobs and internships: Summer might feel far away, but this is the perfect time to schedule an appointment with one of our career coaches. As a WashU student–or alum!–you’ll have lifelong access to our career resources, planning tools, and global network of alumni connections. Learn more about the Center for Career Engagement.

Get involved locally.

The Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement helps students connect with the broader St. Louis community. Past spring break service outings include helping restore Greenwood Cemetery (a historic African- American cemetery in North St. Louis) and invasive plant species removal with Great Rivers Greenway.

Learn about the Gephardt Institute

March: Recharge and make plan

  • Spring break: A whole week off classes! Time for adventures, internships, or just chilling out.
  • Course registration: You’ll start picking classes for your sophomore year, again with guidance from your advisor.
  • Study abroad information sessions: WashU undergraduates study or work abroad in more than 50 countries each year. Find the option that’s right for you! Explore international programs across all four schools.

April: Your time to bloom

  • WILD (Walk In Lay Down): One of WashU’s largest (and loudest) university traditions, this free outdoor concert has featured some of the biggest names in music, including Flo Rida, Childish Gambino, T-Pain, and Carly Rae Jepsen.
  • ThurtenE Carnival: ThurtenE is the nation’s oldest and largest student-run carnival. Walk over to Francis Olympic Field to enjoy the thrill rides, live shows, and deep-fried delicacies.
  • First-Year Finale: A fun event to celebrate finishing your first year, reflecting on all you’ve accomplished and made memories with your classmates.
  • Last day of classes: Woohoo!

May: Wrapping up and looking forward

  • Reading days: Your dedicated study time before finals.
  • Final exams: The last round of exams for the year.
  • Commencement: While it’s for the graduating seniors, the whole campus buzzes with excitement as families celebrate their graduates. It’s a preview of your future!

Truths for any season.

  • Your advisor is here for YOU: Keep checking in with your academic advisor for all your class and major questions.
  • Res life will help you find your crew: Your residential community will keep hosting events to help you feel at home and connect with your neighbors.
  • Help is always there: If you need a hand with classes, writing papers, or even just need someone to talk to, WashU has tons of resources.
  • Explore St. Louis: Don’t just stay on campus! Go check out Forest Park (it’s huge!), cool museums, local neighborhoods, and all the delicious food.