<p>So,
as many of you get ready to accept (or decline) admission to UT, I thought I might share a few of my tips for orientation.</p>
<li><p>Go to the earliest possible session.
I know this kind of seems silly, after all you’d much rather go after a few weeks off for summer. However, during UT orientation, ALL incoming freshmen register for their classes. This can prove to be a tricky process, since the rest of the student body registers in April, and has the option to ad/drop classes each time that registration is opened during the summer. As you might guess, it is much easier to get classes in the times/professors you want if you attend an early orientation. There are some courses that will remain closed until the final session of orientation to give those kids a chance, but don’t count on them being at stellar times or locations.</p></li>
<li><p>Bring your laptop.
If you are new to UT and don’t know your way around campus, it is very beneficial to have your laptop with you so that you have the opportunity to look up professors using the Course Instructor Surveys online. If you do not have internet access while on campus, it is a short walk to the drag where you can log on in almost all the restaurants. If you do not own a laptop, your other option is to use the computers in the FAC. (Your Orientation Advisor should instruct you how to get to this building while at orientation.) CIS sheets are awesome things to look at, because they are the result of actual students that have taken the course with that professor. They rate how the workload was and where their grades were.</p></li>
<li><p>Bring your own blanket.
You will be staying in Jester East during orientation, unless you opt to do the orientation w/o housing. I learned through experience, that the blankets and sheets provided tended to be a little on the uh…crusty side. So I would recommend something from home.</p></li>
<li><p>Bring some cash.
Although you will probably not use up all of your dining dollars on your orientation card on food, I would bring along some extra money to stock up on all the UT essential clothing/merch. (your dining dollars are good towards ut purchases in Jester.) I would suggest finding the co op (West Mall and Guadalupe…many of you probably visited this on your college visit.) Its always nice to leave with a souvenir. (Although you will be given a shirt from your respective college.)</p></li>
<li><p>Get your ID made ASAP.
Your UTID is pretty much your lifeline on campus. You will not only use it to register, but also to take tests and ride the Capital Metro busses for free. Make sure you get this done before you leave orientation. (Your OA should make sure that you do…) To get your UTID made, head to the first floor of the FAC through the double doors and up to the counter. Although you may want to look somewhat presentable for your picture, because it will be used for the next 4 years in all of your class’ photo-rosters!</p></li>
<li><p>Go check out the individual programs if you have time
Some schools require you to do special advising during the orientation period (business and engineering.) However, if you get the chance, go ahead and go to some of the little programs they have running throughout the day. (Especially the one at the gym, that place is pretty huge.) If nothing else, it will give you a good sense of which buildings are which on campus.</p></li>
<li><p>Purchase your LASP
LASP stands for Longhorn All-Sports Pass, and if you’re into football, it is a must have. The pass costs $70 and it will be added to your ‘what I owe’ webpage on utexas.edu. (So you don’t have to pay right then.) The pass allows you to attend all sporting events put on by the university, including football. However, this requires some clarification. For football, you must go to the stadium during ticket ‘draw’ days. The draws start at 8am, and depending on how popular the game, tickets may be gone fairly quickly. (i.e. UT vs TECH) After you receive your tickets, you are good to go and just need to show up on gameday. Basketball works in a similar way, only you draw your tickets the day of the event. You also have the option of purchasing Season Tickets to UT Football over the summer. These cost an additional $60 and in my opinion are well worth it. You are essentially buying seats to every home game during the season, and have the option to purchase UT/OU tickets ($90 each) during the wristband draw. (There’s a whole complicated system as to how that works that I won’t go into here.) The seats you receive are yours for the entire season and they are emailed to you, so you don’t have to wait in line. They have plans like this for basketball as well, if you are into that. However, you must purchase a LASP in order to be eligible for any season ticket package. (You can also create ‘seating groups’ so that you can sit with friends when you order season tiks.) Any other questions about tickets and draws, feel free to ask.</p></li>
<li><p>Have fun!
Aside from the boring (and at some points, almost offensive…) ‘multicultural tolerance’ seminars you are required to attend, (yeah yeah I know…) orientation is all about getting to know your way around campus. Try and get as comfortable with things as you possibly can, because when you come back in the fall…no one will be so kind as to stop and answer your question of ‘how to I get to Welch Hall?’ (well some people might…but they may also point you in the wrong direction…) My point is, when you come back for the start of your freshman semester, the atmosphere of UT can feel very overwhelming. So meet people, and definitely don’t feel afraid to ask your OA about any questions or concerns you may have.</p></li>
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<p>Hope these help! :)</p>