By: Samantha Thompson, Summer 2022 Marketing Intern
The events hosted for students in the first couple of weeks of school are a great way to become acclimated with campus and meet tons of new people. Here is a list of some important Welcome Back traditions and a few tips for when you arrive on campus.
WEEKS OF WELCOME - August 11th to August 28th
UNC Weeks of Welcome, more commonly referred to as WOW, is an annual two-week-long event with daily programs, activities, and experiences meant to help new and returning Tar Heels feel welcomed into the Carolina community. Featured events invite students to talk with professors, learn more about campus & Chapel Hill, as well as meet other students.
NEW STUDENT CONVOCATION – Sunday, August 14th | 5PM to 6PM
New Student Convocation commemorates the beginning of your journey at UNC, hosted annually in Kenan Stadium. Speakers, including the student body president and Chancellor Guskiewicz, fill students with inspiring words and well wishes for their school.
FALL FEST – August 14th | Immediately following convocation
After convocation, head over to Fall Fest! It gives the students the chance to learn more about the organizations and academic departments on campus. With fun games, performances, free swag, and even free food, Fall Fest is the perfect event to start off the school year. Fall Fest is another great opportunity for you to find other students who have similar interests.
DRINKING FROM THE OLD WELL BEFORE YOUR FIRST CLASS
If you see a long line in front of The Old Well on your first day of class, you should join it---well, if you have time, wait! Drinking from The Old Well is known to bring students luck throughout the semester.
TIPS! TIPS! TIPS!
There are many helpful apps you should download before you get to campus. CarolinaGO gives you access to tons of useful resources, Coursicle helps you keep track of your classes, GET Mobile gives you digital access to your OneCard, and Transloc and NextBus track the bus routes so you’re always on time.
Walk your classes before the first day! Finding buildings and the best ways to get to them can take some time. I recommend using Google Maps to find buildings because it's more walker friendly. And if you don’t have time to walk your classes and you’re having difficulty finding where you need to be on the first day, don’t be afraid to ask someone. Everyone is very understanding and willing to help!
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Now that you know all the big back-to-school traditions at UNC and a couple of helpful tips, you can rest assured that you won’t miss out on anything once you arrive on campus. I hope you have fun in your first couple of weeks on campus!