Bear Beginnings is our orientation program for all new students. The program consists of three parts.
Bear Essentials
Bear Essentials provides a brief overview of important to-do items for new students to complete over the summer, as well as key resources that will aid in their success at WashU.
Get Your Bearings
Get Your Bearings is an online orientation that will introduce you to key university resources.
Fall Welcome
Fall Welcome will begin on Move-In Day and continue until the start of classes. During Fall Welcome, you will meet with your WUSA small group, engage in academic experiences, explore St. Louis, and participate in a long-standing university tradition: Convocation.
Bear Beginnings objectives
Our objectives for Bear Beginnings are that new students:
| Connect with other new students and begin to identify a peer group | |
| Navigate the WashU campus and the opportunities offered by the St. Louis community | |
| Interact with faculty, staff, and an upper-division mentor | |
| Discover pride for WashU, their academic division, and their residential college |
Winter Welcome: Spring Transfer & Exchange Student Orientation
New transfer and exchange students admitted for spring 2025 will move in on January 8, 2025, and attend Winter Welcome from January 9 – January 12.
First-Year International Student Orientation
First-year International Move-In Day will take place on Wednesday, August 13 from 9am – 6pm CT.
Parent & Family Orientation
Parent & family Orientation is offered to help families learn about the university and how they can help their student transition to WashU.