What Exactly Happens At Freshman Orientation At Emerson College

If you're a student at Emerson College then you understand the struggle of seeing the same types of people every day. Read and relate with these points!

So you’re all moved in to your dorm, you’ve hugged your mom and dad goodbye, and now you’re officially at Emerson College. What’s next? Here are the ten things about what exactly happens during freshman orientation at Emerson College.

1. Download Guidebook!

One of the first things you have to do after you’ve moved in to Emerson is to download the app. Guidebook is basically the bible for freshman orientation; it shows when and where certain events, assemblies, and informational session are held throughout the campus. It might do you some good to go the Iwasaki Library open house or check out the Emerson Center for Health and Wellness (ECAPS).

2. 8AM Assemblies

Spoiler alert: they’re all mandatory. Yes, you’re going to have to wake up early even though classes haven’t officially started in order to sit through speeches given by alumni, professors, and other school officials. They all have the same thing to say and you have to sit through their enthusiastic attitude even though all you really want is a large coffee.

3. (Awkwardly) Meeting the people on your floor.

The RAs on your floor will host a mandatory meeting in which you will have to get used to going around the room and telling everyone your name, your major, where you’re from and what you identify as (“she/her/hers”, “he/him/his”, “they/them/theirs”). You’ll also learn to leave your door open and write welcoming words on your white board to invite your floor mates to walk in and say hello.

4. Learning what pronouns to use.

You’ll be going around the room during your floor meeting and first day of class talking about what pronouns you prefer to use (“she/her/hers”, “he/him/his”, “they/them/theirs”). High school didn’t teach us this but with the maturation that comes from entering college this is another you also have to learn to get used to gender inclusive bathrooms and being careful with pronouns.

5. Going to the DH for the first time.

At first, the amount of food at your disposal will be overwhelming. You’ll feel like a little kid again as you walk around at all the options for dinner. But soon you’ll come to be sick of the DH’s cheese quesadillas and miss your mom’s home-cooked meals. Also you’ll probably be calling your mom and dad asking for more meal swipes and board bucks.

6. Hooray!

Lots of running around, loud music, screaming, sweating, and a hula hoop contest. Hooray! Is an event where you’ll run into some familiar faces and bump into some new ones. You’ll be participating in silly games and other activities that help you get to know the person next to you.

7. Learning about consent.

While some of us might find this lesson a bit strange and one of common sense, you’d be surprised how needed this conversation is. We’ve all heard about the ugly side of what happens at colleges and staying safe is at the upmost importance of your college experience.