The Transition to WashU

Your student’s last summer at home before college is a special one for your family. We hope you will have the opportunity to reflect and create memories.

It can also be a busy time as your family prepares for your student’s arrival at WashU. Your student needs to accomplish many tasks before they move to campus. We’ve identified a series of tasks with suggested completion windows throughout the summer. Please remind your student to complete the Before You Arrive Checklist before they arrive on campus in August.

The summer months are also a good time to make sure your student is prepared to live more independently. If your student is not already doing so, please have them begin doing their own laundry, cleaning their own living space and cooking some simple meals. It’s also a good time to talk about things like managing their money, learning to advocate for themselves and setting expectations on how, how often, and when they will be in contact with you (e.g., phone calls, texts, video calls).

Your student’s college record, including academic and health information, is their own and is not shared by the university with parents and family members. Plan to talk to your student about the information you expect them to share with you, such as grades and academic progress. Lastly, please speak to them about your family’s values and expectations around alcohol use, relationships, and healthy decision-making.

Move-In Day & Fall Welcome

Move-in days for first-year students will be Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17. Students will select their move-in date and time after they receive their housing assignment in July.

Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome will take place Saturday, August 17 through Sunday, August 24. The weeklong event is the official welcome to the university for new students and their families. During Fall Welcome, students will engage with faculty, staff, and fellow students and learn about the experiences they will have within their academic division. They will also participate in social activities, programs, and events to encourage new friendships and prepare them for the first week of classes.

Parent & Family Orientation will include an opportunity to hear from Chancellor Andrew D. Martin and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Anna Gonzalez, as well as the dean of your student’s academic division. Sessions will be live streamed and recorded for families who are unable to join us on campus. A detailed schedule is available at families.washu.edu.

Your student should also read the Residential Life Move-In Guide which contains detailed instructions and information about the logistics of move-in.

Shipping items to campus

Mail services

USPS, UPS, FedEx and other parcel services deliver to your student’s WashU campus address. Packages are accepted starting 14 days prior to your student’s move-in date. Your student can find their mailing address through their WashU Housing Portal after their housing assignment is released. Ensure that you address packages using the student’s MSC number rather than room assignment.

Important reminders about shipping items to campus

• DO NOT use your students’ residential building as a delivery address.
• Use special instructions for same-day deliveries from services like Walmart, Whole Foods, Doordash, and Grubhub.
• For same-day deliveries, have your student retrieve the order from the specified location.
• Mail Services does not assume responsibility for unattended items, including perishables. Any same-day delivery orders left unattended will be discarded for safety.
• Specify your deliveries to arrive during the business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.