You worked really hard throughout high school and applied to numerous colleges senior year. Sure, there were some rejections (or maybe there weren't) but you managed to narrow it down to the letter in the purple and gold envelope. This was it. You decided to become a Catamount.
Now you may be wondering what you should know before you come to Western Carolina University for orientation? What should you do at orientation? What events should you go to? This list was made exactly for that!
1. Post to Your Class Page
Okay, so we all know how outdated Facebook is. It's the grandfather of social media outlets at this point. Even so, the class Facebook page is actually a really good resource where a lot of information is posted. By making a short post here stating your major, where you're from, and some of your hobbies can connect you to others with similar interests and backgrounds. I actually met my suite mate through our class page and managed to avert one of the infamous freshman roommate/suite mate horror stories that I'm sure we've all heard. As painful as it may be, I strongly suggest sucking up your pride and creating a Facebook account if you don't already have one. Who knows what you might miss out on if you don't!
2. Talk at Orientation
As horrifying as those three words strung together in a sentence may seem to some people (I'm looking at you, fellow introverts), orientation is the perfect time to connect with your peers. Everyone there is either a freshman that's just as scared as you or an adult that wants to help you. I mean it when I say that literally no one will judge you for trying to make friends with others. If you overhear someone talking about something you like, see if you can join in on the discussion. The worst thing that can happen is for them to not allow you into the conversation and at that point that would be their loss. There are so many people at orientation and you may just make a friend or two before classes begin in the fall.
3. Take Advantage of Summer Programs
One of my biggest regrets from this past year was not getting involved in any of the summer programs Western Carolina offers. WCU offers summer programs that range from leadership to outdoor activities. These programs are a fantastic way to make new friends before fall semester begins. The experiences that you have and connections you make will last a lifetime -- and I'm not just saying that. Although I was never personally involved in these programs, many people I know were and none of them would trade the adventures they had for the world.
4. Go to Valley Ballyhoo
For those of you that don't know this, Valley Ballyhoo is Western Carolina University's giant "club fair" of sorts. So if you've ever seen Pitch Perfect where clubs are lined up to recruit new members, it's similar to that. Even though it will take place on a hot, August day, going to Valley Ballyhoo is incredibly important in getting involved here on campus. If you don't attend, how will you know what clubs WCU is currently offering and when they meet? I'd also recommend taking a chance by signing up for a club or organization you don't know much about. Last semester I got involved with WCU's radio station -- something I knew nothing about and had never thought about joining before -- and found it to be really enjoyable. You never know if you'll like something if you don't try anything!
5. Don't Stress Over Professors
When I came to WCU last semester, I was extremely anxious about professors. I had seen movies, read articles, and scrolled past reviews that portrayed professors in a bad light. While there are a few less than ideal professors here at Western, most of my professors up to this point have been phenomenal. If you are looking at your course schedule and stressing out because one of your professors has a 3.0/5.0 rating, you are probably fine. Most professors won't have a problem with you if you just show up to class, do your assignments on time, and participate if/when it's required.
Good luck, new Catamounts! Wear that purple and gold with pride!
