The Transition to WashU

THE SUMMER BEFORE WASHU

Your student’s last summer at home before college is a special one for your family. We hope you will have the opportunity to reflect and create memories. It can also be a busy time as your family prepares for your student’s arrival at WashU. Your student needs to accomplish many tasks before they move to campus in August. Please remind your student to complete the new student summer checklist that will arrive at their permanent address in June, July, and August. We’ve identified a series of tasks with suggested completion windows throughout the summer.

The summer months are also a good time to make sure your student is prepared to live more independently. If your student is not already doing so, please have them begin doing their own laundry, cleaning their own living space, and cooking some simple meals.

It’s also a good time to talk about things like managing their own money; learning to advocate for themselves; and setting expectations about how (e.g., phone, texts, video calls), how often, and when they will be in contact with you. Your student’s college record, including academic and health information, is their own and is not shared by the university with parents and family members. Plan to talk to your student about information you expect them to share with you, such as grades and academic progress. Lastly, please speak to them about your family’s values and expectations around alcohol use, relationships, and decision making. The companion “Parent & Family Guide to Habif Health & Wellness” provides tips on how to start these conversations. BEFORE YOUR ARRIVE CHECKLISTS

The checklists can also be found at newstudents.wustl.edu under the Before You Arrive tab.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Families of transfer students, please reference the transfer-specific checklist in your students’ copy of “New Bearings.”

MOVE-IN DAY AND BEAR BEGINNINGS

Bear Beginnings is the official welcome for new students and their families to the university. As you begin making plans for your new student’s move to WashU, we encourage you to visit newstudents.wustl.edu and families.wustl.edu for the most up-to-date information about what to expect and how to prepare. Your student will also receive the “Residential Life Move-In Guide” with detailed instructions and information about the logistics of Move-In Day.

During Bear Beginnings, your student will engage with faculty, staff, and fellow students connected with their residential college to learn about the experiences they will have within their academic division. They will also participate in social activities, programs, and events to encourage new friendships and prepare them for the first week of classes. Details about Parent & Family orientation are still being developed. Updates will be posted to families.wustl.edu.