My college posted the fall welcome week schedule and it looks exhausting. They have things scheduled for every minute of the day from 7:30am to 2am each and every day. Some of the things say optional and some of the things say required. What about the other ones that don’t say anything? Was your fall welcome week so jam packed that you have absolutely no down time (other than lunch, but even that is hassle based on schedule)? I feel so overwhelmed just looking at the schedule. I understand that some of the things on the schedule are necessary, but the things that end at 2am seem a little unnecessary. Despite being rushed from activity to activity, the schedule makes it very clear that students will make friends immediately. That in itself is unsettling. There is no time for that lol. The schedule is so full that there is almost no time for the bathrooms lol. Back to question… was your fall welcome week so jam packed?
I’d imagine the large majority of the events are optional. Which ones are required?
Our Fall Welcome Week is just a bunch of activities and events put on by various organizations… no one is expected to go to most of them, let alone all of them. The ones that you say are required might be required events for freshmen - orientations, convocation, etc. - but I really doubt you’re supposed to go to all the events you’re looking at.
Well some of the things considered “optional” includes church services. There are three of those. I’m attending just a regular state school. The majority of the rest of the schedule doesn’t say optional, so that’s one of the reasons I was asking. Why would church service be “optional”, but 1am get to know your hallmates games are not listed as such? One of the days during the week is all about helping the community. There are a few options (like raising money for cancer, cleaning up the streets, etc.). Based on the lunch schedule for that day, students have lunch based on how they were helping out. The regular schedule doesn’t say the activities are required, but the lunch portion of the schedule makes it seem otherwise. I wasn’t going to do any of those activities (had other plans), but the lunch schedule made me concerned.
Update: website says freshman must attend all activities not listed as optional.
I imagine they’re trying to keep freshmen so busy that they don’t have time to feel homesick!
Back in the dark ages, your parents just dropped you off to a silent dorm room. I remember sitting on my bed, crying. So it could be worse!
My daughter’s school has made it clear that parents are to leave immediately after the convocation ends at 4 pm. I noticed they have stuff scheduled for the kids from 4:30 pm until late that night.
Or in my college’s case, 2am. So much for going to bed at a decent time. Want to get as much sleep in as I can before having to study late at night haha.
I totally sympathize with you; my own was absolutely exhausting (and I was too homesick to care about any of it), but at least it was only three days. I definitely see no problem with skipping the optional events if none of them interest you.
Look at it this way - never again are you going to have such a whirlwind opportunity to get to know so many people in such a short amount of time. You have four years to figure out a schedule, sleep, and do work. This is the one week where it’s designed to get you moving and having fun. And if you need to skip a few of the activities that are not optional - no one is going to be checking on you, it’s college. If you’d rather sleep than play board games, I don’t see anyone taking notice or caring.
Mine is six days. They continue even after classes have begun. They have things for us to do when we don’t have class.
@whitespace Eeh, that really depends. One of the worst parts of my welcome week was the 5-hour long alcohol safety lecture we had, and they took attendance for that. OP should be really careful before skipping anything that’s required.
@Philpsych Yes, of course there are things that shouldn’t be skipped - but I would think those are mostly common sense. Obviously information sessions, convocation, etc. are important. I would just say that maybe skipping the night pickup volleyball game or similar activities might be alright.
Oh, sure. Those kinds of things generally aren’t required anyway though.
“Generally” being the important word here. According to schedule, all activites that aren’t labeled as optional are required.
Wow, you wern’t even going to participate in your designated freshman day of community service. What better things do you have to do at that time?
In a few months you will be complaining about not knowing the requirements and opportunities that the college offers. “No one told me!”.
Orioles13, I canceled my plans for the day so that I can participate in the community service.
TomSrOfBoston, your reply was unnecessary.
If it’s anything like my orientation week (at a dorky, non-party school), they’re trying to keep you out of trouble.
Knittergirrl, my school is a party school, but I am not a partier. I am probably one the most boring humans ever lol.
Look at this as an opportunity to meet lots of people, make friends, and learn about your college.