Getting Ready

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Washington! Now it's time to start preparing for your arrival in Seattle! We've included a checklist to help you prepare for your time as a UW student. These are just a few general resources that are intended to give you an idea of what to expect when you arrive in Seattle. For more more in-depth information, please sign up for our Orientation email list or review our past Orientation emails below.

Preparation Checklist

Checking in -- Depending on your department and status, you may be required to attend several check-in sessions or orientations in addition to the FIUTS International Student Orientation. Be sure to read any messages you receive from the University very carefully and check in with your department before you arrive.

• If you are a freshman or transfer student, you will need to attend an Advising and Orientation (A&O) session with First Year Programs.
• All international students must attend a check-in session at the International Students and Scholars (ISS) office.
• In the month of September, all ISS check-in sessions are ticketed - pick up your ticket from FIUTS.

When to arrive -- We usually advise students to arrive at least one day prior to Opening Day (in September) or scheduled Orientation date. To find out when your Orientation is scheduled, see our Student Orientation Schedule.

Where to live -- The UW and city of Seattle provide a wide range of housing opportunities for students. Here are a few suggestions for finding a place to live:

• UW Housing and Food Services (HFS) can answer all your questions about on-campus living. Space is limited, so it's important to registered as early as possible if you are interested.
• Off-Campus Housing Affairs (OCHA) is a service provided by the Associated Students of UW (ASUW) that helps students find affordable off-campus housing in the Seattle community.
• Craig's List is another very popular way to find available apartments, houses, or rooms for rent.
  

Learning about Seattle -- This city is a diverse, international community with many unique sights and neighborhoods. Here are a few resources that describe in more detail what Seattle has to offer:

• The Stranger and The Seattle Weekly are Seattle's free independent newspapers with information on upcoming events and articles about the city.
• Seattle.gov is another valuable site for those wanting to know more about Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
• Seattle.net has about everything you would need to know about Seattle.

Review Past Orientation Emails -- If you didn't receive our comprehensive Orientation emails that we send out to new international students every quarter, take a look at these. Each gives in-depth information on preparing for your arrival here.

• Fall 2008:Welcome
• Fall 2008: Transportation
• Fall 2008: Resources
• Fall 2008: Orientation Social Events

Connect with current students -- If you have specific questions or you just want to contact other students who study at the UW, here are a few ways get connected before even stepping foot on campus:

Interact with other members of the FIUTS community, post photos, comments and videos, hear about events, activities, and other international happenings.

FIUTS Student Board -- Become a leader and get more involved in FIUTS as an organization