First Year Journeys at University of Redlands
I think it is included in the tuition! The school’s tuition is on paper expensive, but I don’t know anyone going there who isn’t on a very good scholarship. Like “Centenary is cheaper than LSU” good. It’s also a really tiny school (around 500 students) so it’s not as expensive as bringing thousands of students to Paris like it would be for LSU or something.
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I am pretty sure that my older daughter went on a university sponsored camping / hiking trip as a sort of orientation right before starting at UVM. This was a while ago (way before COVID). I don’t know whether we paid for it, but I do not think that it was expensive at all.
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American University offers a weeklong program during move in week for students to do volunteer work throughout DC.
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S24 is participating in the TREK pre-orientation trip. Cost is about $1000: TREK Cost | Department of Student Life | The University of Vermont
Perhaps a perk, an early move-in date just for TREK participants.
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Colby’s are required as part of orientation. Lots of options, but they are outdoors adventures. Our tour guide said the goal is for everyone to have a few familiar faces by the time classes start. It was a while ago, but DS had a fun time backpacking a little part of the AT. The trip happened when returning students had move- in. (Freshmen had moved in first. )
My S24 is going to Denison and there are about 16 pre-orientation choices. What I liked about the choices is the recognition that not everyone wants to go hiking or kayaking. His choice is going to a larger city in the area, and going to a MLB game, an amusement park and some other fun things. Orientation choices also included service opportunities, a weekend with the arts, and a few days doing Dungeons & Dragons.
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Don’t most of them (except maybe some state funded schools)?
Certainly all three of my kids colleges did. Two of them required it, and one “strongly encouraged” it. Bowdoin did it just before Freshman orientation started and it was several days, during which they were without devices. Davidson “strongly encouraged” and it was a separate trip during the summer not connected to the start of school. Columbia it was only 2 days/1 night and while there was a rafting option away from campus they also had the option to do things based in the city like see a bunch of shows or tour the city. Bowdoin and Columbia both have “service based” options as well where you volunteered in small groups.
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The options and variety of options (if any) seem to vary by school. I’m pretty impressed at the number and variety of options at my D’s small school.
I agree that most schools have some sort of orientation and that they are a value add to transitioning to college life.
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My son did the orientation program at Trinity College where he hiked through the Appalachian mountains for a few days. You could choose 3-7 days. Students could also choose less outdoorsy options if they wanted, as it was an included part of their freshman orientation: Pre-Orientation and Orientation NEXT Programs - New Students
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