<p>I was looking at some of the Pre-Orientation Programs and Summer Programs offered at WashU (like ArtSci Weekend or LAUNCH) and I was wondering--what are the differences between the Summer Programs and the Pre-Orientation Programs? I know a lot of the Pre-Orientation Programs vary, so my question is asking for a general answer.</p>
<p>Also, both Pre-Orientation Programs and Summer Programs offer early registration for classes and early move-in, right? I know moving in early will be beneficial just because it's more convenient, but will my chances at getting into popular classes be shot if I don't do early registration? Will I still be able to meet with an academic advisor for regular registration? A WashU student was telling me that early registration was only beneficial for some courses...</p>
<p>I can’t answer every single question, but Pre-orientation programs do offer early move-in (Aug 21st vs Aug 25th), where as the ArtSci weekends don’t. These weekends are in June and July, so there’s no way you could move in that early.</p>
<p>On the flip side, only ArtSci weekends offer the opportunity for early registration; Pre-orientation programs don’t offer that benefit. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend doing both. Depending on your major, you might decide early registration is more beneficial. My guess would be that early registration is not as important for science majors and pre-med students, because you’ll almost certainly get into chem, physics, calc, although your lab times and recitation times may not be ideal.</p>
<p>Having done a pre-orientation, I can say with confidence that it’s a great opportunity to meet people before the craziness of orientation week, so that when you move in to your dorm you will have some smidgeon of confidence, since you will already have met and bonded with a small group of people from your pre-O. I think it made the transition way easier and more enjoyable.</p>
<p>What everyone said above is correct. Pre-orientation is just a chance to get to know people with some similar interest, get to know the campus early, etc.</p>
<p>ArtSci weekends, are weekends earlier in the Summer where you get to meet with advisors, register for classes, etc. The two are not exclusive, you can go to an ArtSci weekend and then go to Pre-orientation. </p>
<p>If you don’t go to an ArtSci weekend, and are in ArtSci you will register with others during the official freshmen orientation week.</p>
<p>(If you’re in another school, i.e. Engineering, you will register online during the summer, thus ArtSci weekends aren’t for you, but you can still do Pre-O.</p>
<p>Awesome, thanks so much! I’m going in the ArtSci school as an environmental studies major, and some of the classes are predetermined for me through the Pathfinders program. Based on that, if I can only do either ArtSci weekend or a Pre-O, which would you guys recommend? I’m not sure if early regis would be more valuable than early move-in (or vice versa).</p>
<p>^Is there a reason you wouldn’t be able to do Pre-O (is it financial)? You’re not doing any extra traveling with Pre-O, just arriving a few days earlier.</p>
<p>Pathfinder is friggin awesome! Some of my really good friends are in the program and love it; I was gonna do it myself but I would’ve have to make a lot of sacrifices since I’m in the engineering school, and I didn’t want to take 18 credits first semester freshman year. </p>
<p>Anyway, back on topic: Given that you’re gonna be a Pathfinder, so many of your classes are guaranteed, I would say choose a Pre-O, if you really only can do one. And since you’re interested in Pathfinder, I would HIGHLY recommend the Wilderness Project Pre-O. Again, I didn’t get to do it, but it’s an awesome program that’s almost entirely run by students. Plus, another really close friend of mine is one of the leaders, and she’s fantastic.</p>
<p>I guess my reasoning is kind of financial. My parents would be willing to pay, but I feel guilty with the amount of expenses I’ve needed for high school/extracurriculars/college stuff lately, so I wanted to keep it at a minimum. I’m also traveling for a majority of the summer so I wanted to have a little more time at home. I was hesitant to do Pre-O also because it tends to be more expensive, and I have trips to pay for with Pathfinders as well.</p>
<p>I’m so glad, I’ve heard from tons of people that Pathfinders is great and I’m really excited to be part of it! (: I think only 3 classes are guaranteed for my fresh yr (this is at least the impression I got from speaking with Prof. Arvidson)…so would I be at a disadvantage for choosing the other classes? The thing I’m most worried about is not having sufficient time to talk to an academic advisor that helps me pick out classes (if I don’t do ArtSci). I’m just wondering if anyone has done regular class registration and still gotten the classes they wanted/the help they needed.</p>
<p>Do you guys know about how many people do a Summer Program, Pre-O, or both? In case I end up not being able to one (or either of them), I don’t want feel like I missed out on something the majority of the class participates in.</p>
<p>My son (currently a freshman) didn’t attend any of the early registration programs, and registered when he arrived on campus in August. I had been worried beforehand that he might not get into the classes he wanted, but he didn’t have any problems, and got into all of the classes (even the times) that he wanted. I’ve heard that sometimes students have to get on wait lists, and can just attend class, and wait for other students to drop the class to get space. Apparently a lot of upperclassmen purposely enroll in too many classes and then decide which one(s) to drop after sampling all of the classes.</p>
<p>My son did sign up in advance for one of the first-year programs, but that was just done over the internet, and didn’t require attending anything on campus. Those are guaranteed small classes, so those who can’t attend a art-sci weekend or pre-O should consider signing up for one of these special programs. My son really got a lot out of the program that he attended.</p>