New Student Weekend
"It's a great start to your college experience. It's about meeting new people and learning what to expect when you get back to campus."
Imagine beginning your college experience brimming with confidence, surrounded by familiar faces, and armed with a know-how attitude. Students at the University of Minnesota are bringing this dream to life by attending New Student Weekend--a three-day off-campus retreat for first-year students--held at four summer camps around the state of Minnesota.
New Student Weekend (NSW) prepares students for life at the university before they ever step inside a classroom. During the program, students discover new friendships, explore campus leadership and involvement opportunities, and begin on the path to success at one of the nation's top public research universities.
"The biggest thing that we hear from students is that they are much more confident about beginning classes..." says New Student Weekend Assistant Director Jenny Rachmaciej. "It's a great start to your college experience. It's about meeting new people and learning what to expect when you get back to campus."
Between beach volleyball games, bonfires, and late-night bonding sessions, students learn about setting goals, achieving personal and academic success, and finding their place on campus. Students engage in energetic games, activities, and small group discussions that provide invaluable interaction with other new students.
During the retreat, students discuss everything from student organizations and getting around campus to diversity with current U of M student leaders, who offer their personal campus experiences and advice for making a successful transition into college life.
"It's a huge tradition, and shows that the U of M really values helping new students adjust to college life," says Jenny. "Our goal is for students to leave the retreat feeling that they belong to the U of M community."
New Student Weekend is just one of the great first-year experiences offered by Orientation & First-Year Programs, an award-winning office on the U of M campus dedicated to helping new students transition smoothly and successfully into college life. In fact, U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" listed the University of Minnesota as one of the nation's top colleges for outstanding first-year experiences.
Want to find out how you make your first year incredible? Explore orientation and first-year programs at the University of Minnesota!
-Chelsy Quiram
