My College Orientation Experience

I think this whole college admission and acceptance process is one of the most drawn out things. I applied back in October, I received my acceptance in December, I committed to the University of South Carolina back in May, and now, in June, I went to college orientation!

Orientation began bright and early Monday morning at 7:45.

Campus was full of a nervous but exciting energy, and the orientation leaders were extremely peppy. I dropped off my stuff in the dorm where I would be spending the night, and then my dad and I headed off to the breakfast that they so graciously provided. They had quite the spread; pastries, granola and yogurt, bagels, and more. After breakfast, I went to go get my student ID. My official ID. My college ID.

I’m still having a hard time processing that I am actually going to college. Luckily, they gave us the option to upload our own picture so I was please with my appearance.

They loaded all 800 of us on buses and took us to the campus arena. We were greeted by more enthusiastic orientation leaders  and headed in to take our seats.

Let me just say, orientation can be summed up as going to meeting/lecture after meeting/lecture. My dad and I sat through lectures about dining, parking, housing, study abroad, etc. After a day of sitting in freezing cold rooms, parents were dismissed and the students and orientation leaders got to hang out.

We were all divided into what they called small groups. I was in group 15, coincidentally my lucky number. There were about 20 of us and 2 orientation leaders. We played ice breaker games and got to know each other better. By the time we ended with that, it was 9:30, and I was ready for bed. It had been an exhausting day, and I was not up to socialize any more. But no, they had other plans for us. We boarded buses and headed to the university’s most amazing wellness center.

I met some new people, played some board games, and luckily called it a night. We headed back to the dorms, and it was the weirdest thing. There were no dorm checks or anything. They treated like adults. I think I was so screwed up because I was so used to having dorm checks and being treated like children at Governor’s School. It was such a nice refresher. Because we were staying in dorms, everyone had a roommate. Mine was super cool! She’s from South Carolina and is part of the honors college. That night I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

The next morning, I gathered my things, and they immediately shipped us off back to the arena. Breakfast was served, and guess what!? More meetings. My dad and I were in meetings until lunch, and that’s when things got real. I had to register for classes. All of the engineering and computing students headed to the engineering and computing building, and each person met with an academic adviser. After meeting with my adviser, I headed to the computer lab to register. My schedule is actually pretty awesome. I don’t have class on Friday and my class doesn’t start until 1:20 on Mondays. I will gladly welcome a long weekend. Every week.

Well I was done. Orientation was over, and my dad and I could start our four hour journey home. Orientation made me super excited for the fall, and I can’t wait to start my new life. I can’t wait for the friends, the football games, the freedom.

-Abigail T.