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Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Advising & Orientation.
For more information, contact us at fyp@uw.edu.
After reserving your spot at A&O, you will receive a reservation confirmation email with a link that will take you to the page where you will access a detailed agenda specific to your A&O session. This detailed agenda will become available to you at least 24 hours before your A&O session and will contain all the Zoom links you will need to fully participate during your scheduled time. View our sample agenda pages to see timing and activities.
Review our Technology Instructions for A&O to learn more about the technology and supplies needed during your A&O as well as detailed Zoom instructions.
If you do not have access to a laptop/tablet to participate in Advising & Orientation, please go to our Pre-A&O Requirements page to begin the process of requesting technology. Review our Technology Instructions for A&O to learn more about the technology and supplies needed during your A&O as well as detailed Zoom instructions.
Please Note: for access to technology throughout the academic school year, you will need to complete a separate request before the start of the quarter.
Zoom is a free online video and chat platform that will be used during your remote A&O. If you are able, please click here to download. Zoom will automatically be downloaded when you join your first Zoom meeting.
Review our Technology Instructions for A&O to learn more about the technology and supplies needed during your A&O as well as detailed Zoom instructions.
Yes. Online pre-A&O modules are still a requirement before attending an A&O session. These modules serve to provide you with foundational information that you will continue to explore throughout A&O.
Reserving your spot for a session allows us to create groups so that you are able to establish connections with staff, faculty, and peers. This also helps us manage our reservation system to make sure that you are attending the correct session based on your program.
While the format of A&O is different from previous years, the required information related to a two-day Freshman A&O will remain the same.
Please note: you will not be sitting in front of a computer the entire two days, you will have dedicated time with your A&O connection group and adviser. For more information please view our Freshman U.S. and Freshman International sample agenda pages.
The NSEOF is still a mandatory fee associated with confirming your enrollment. In light of an unprecedented health crisis, we are moving to alternate means of engaging with students so everyone is able to stay safe, healthy, and our students are able to continue their educational journey with minimal disruption.
We understand that for some, there is an initial sense that a financial adjustment is warranted because of these adaptations to a remote environment. We hope, upon further reflection that you will understand that we are actually increasing our investment to support student needs. We continue to pay staff and student employees for their work, and at the same time are making existing and new services available online. We are also investing in new technological capabilities as we serve students remotely. The NSEOF remains integral in continuing our work to provide students with remote services.
For more information about the NSEOF, please visit our New Student Enrollment & Orientation Fee website.
Yes. Advising & Orientation is required of all first-year undergraduate students (not required for graduate, exchange, post-baccalaureate, re-admits, or online integrated social sciences students). A failure to attend a full A&O session will result in a hold on your course registration.
Parents and family members are encouraged to attend Family Orientation. Students can reserve a spot for guests while making an A&O reservation.
Please contact us immediately at fyp@uw.edu or text us at
206-207-5564. It is possible that you may need to reschedule your A&O if you miss more than 30 minutes of your session. Review our policies, changes, & cancellations website.
No. A&O will be your dedicated time to meet with an academic adviser. They will not be available to meet with you until then, however, you can begin asking general questions by emailing advice@uw.edu.
Students attending earlier A&O sessions will have a wider variety of courses. However, regardless of when a student attends A&O, we guarantee access to a schedule with courses that count towards full-time status as well as graduation requirements. Advisers and current students will be available for questions about registration throughout the entire summer.
If you are living on campus through Housing & Food Services, learn more about 9-month and 12-month move-in dates.
Information about the first day of class can be found on the University's Academic Calendar. Throughout the summer, there will be opportunities for you to engage with in-person Husky Hangouts and attend Dawg Daze in the fall.
If you are experiencing difficulties with your NetID, please go to UW-IT's About UW NetID's website to learn more about setting up your NetID, resetting your password, and ways to contact UW-IT for additional help.
If you are a transfer or running start student, please have an unofficial copy of your most recent transcripts from all previous institutions of higher education on-hand during your A&O. If you are a Freshman student, your unofficial transcript will be helpful to view how some of your credits may transfer to the university.
Please Note: Every student is required to submit final transcripts to the University of Washington. You will need to submit final transcripts from any and all previous higher education institutions that you may have attended, including while you were in high school.
All first-year students will work with an academic adviser.
- Pre-major students (not in a major): You will work with UAA or OMA&D Advising and be assigned a few weeks after your Advising & Orientation session
- Declared Major: You will work with your departmental advising office and the major adviser in your major department.
- Engineering Undeclared: You will work with your assigned Engineering Adviser. Log into MyENGRUD to see who your specific adviser is. Call
206-543-1770 or reach out to engradv@uw.edu for additional help.- UW Bothell or Tacoma: There are separate advising offices at UW-Tacoma and UW-Bothell.
Assignment process
No matter your major you will work with an adviser (usually in a small group) during your Advising & Orientation session. If you are a pre-major student you will be assigned a few weeks after your Advising & Orientation session.
When reserving a spot at Advising & Orientation, you will have the option to provide a mobile number and opt into messages from First Year Programs staff, Orientation Leaders, and your assigned Academic Advisor. These messages offer intentional updates and information about the first-year experience.
If you no longer want to receive these messages, please email fyp@uw.edu, and we will opt you out of future messages.
Don't miss out on important university information. Faculty and staff will respond to your emails coming from your "@uw.edu" address.
Follow these steps to activate your email.
Actually, the University "hour" is 50 minutes, and you have 10 minutes to get to the next class if you're taking courses one right after another. Some classes meet for longer than 50 minutes, though - especially labs. And some classes meet for two long sessions each week instead of five hour-long sessions.
You can locate the distance between your classes by calculating the walking time on google maps. Just enter the building name, and "UW" and the building will appear.
If you have a walking time longer than 10 minutes, communicate (email or canvas) with your professor before the quarter begins. Express to them that you might be a few minutes late to class due to the walk time.
No. Family Orientation is not required for parents and family members, but we recommend making a reservation to gain access to a variety of resources and learn more about ways to engage with the university. Learn more about Family Orientation on our Program Overview page.
No. There is no additional charge to access any Family Orientation or on-going opportunities resource.
Students are responsible for registering parents and family members when making a reservation for an Advising & Orientation session.
Access to Family Orientation resources can be found by selecting the link in the confirmation email that is sent to parents and family members after being successfully registered.
Learn more about Technology Instructions for Family Orientation.
120 Mary Gates Hall Box 352825
Seattle, WA 98195-2825
Mary Gates Hall 120
Academic Year: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.
Summer: Mon-Thurs 7:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Fri 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Commuter and Transfer Commons (HUB 141)
Academic Year: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Breaks & Summers: Closed
Closed during University holidays.
206-543-4905 (Voice)
206-207-5564 (Text)
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First Year Programs fosters a successful undergraduate student experience through strategic programming that focuses on positive academic transitions and the development of learning communities. Through partnerships with faculty, staff, alumni, and student leaders our programs create the space for students to define how they will engage, learn, and thrive at the University of Washington.
