<p>I don't know about you, but I felt like orientation was completely juvenile. From the childish play put on by the student leaders to being forcibly shuffled around to pointless activities, I felt like my time and intelligence was being insulted. What was your experience?</p>
<p>Haha, oh you just wait…</p>
<p>Orientation sucked, but it’s only a day or so. The true “summer camp” feel comes at Welcome Week, which is (as the name suggests) a week long. They do some cool stuff during Welcome Week, like giant pep rally in TCF Bank Stadium, free stuff all over, and they rent out the Mall of American theme park for the freshman class. However, you basically have a week of mandatory sessions about adapting to college life and about the resources the U has to offer. I hated it because I felt like I was leaving home to go off to college…with freedom and independence…but instead I was being herded around like a 6th grader at camp. But just stay strong and use it as a chance to get to know campus and make friends. I promise it’s normal after that.</p>
<p>Sure, it may feel like a “summer camp”, but honestly it’s designed to help you. I don’t know about you, but I like learning about what everything the U has to offer before I’m officially “on my own.”</p>
<p>^ I guess that’s part of the “problem.” I’m glad they’re striving to help give students a better footing, but to me I was on my own and didn’t need to be shuffled around summer-camp style. In other words, I was ready to be left alone to fend for myself. But that’s my personality, so I can see why it’d be helpful for some.</p>