<p>What does the orientation/the first week of classes look like? I'm worried it will be awkward because professors won't assign work and superficial friendships will have to be formed.</p>
<p>There are some things which it makes sense to worry about - orientation / first week of classes is not one of them. Yes, you’ll make “friends” with students on your floor who you won’t talk to after freshman year. Professors will have a syllabus day the first day of class, but from that point on, it is regular class. It may be awkward, but I’m pretty sure that anytime you are thrust into a new situation, it will be awkward at the beginning. Don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Depending on how much time the professor takes to go over the syllabus, you may have actual “class” by the end of the first lecture. You will never need to worry about not having homework at Wash U, believe me.</p>
<p>I am more concerned about the attitude being displayed by christine. I understand being nervous about something that is both new and relatively big deal, but be positive!! You are going to one of the best universities in the country, with lots of other great young adults, on a beautiful campus. Nothing but opportunity.</p>
<p>Besides, you don’t have to form any friendships you don’t want to, superficial or otherwise. It is better to at least be polite to everyone you meet, but the friendships will come naturally, if you want any. One thing about going to highly selective private schools like WUSTL is that while there will certainly be all kinds of different people, the process they go through to select the students that attend insures there will be a large number you should find interesting and fun to be with. Going into this with a negative attitude doesn’t strike me as particularly productive or useful.</p>