The First Few Days: Should I Attend All These First-Week Gatherings?

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Somewhere on the endless list of things to do as you get settled will be at least one"or two, or three"orientation or welcome events.

There might be a session for all members of your incoming class"a convocation where college officials greet you, charge you with great responsibilities, and remind you that you won't be gathered again in similar fashion until graduation day. A smaller get-together might take place just for freshmen in your degree program or "home college."

And you can certainly expect at least one gathering in your dorm, where you'll meet your R.A. (resident adviser or resident assistant) and floormates.

At many of these gatherings, especially those involving your residence hall, you'll likely engage in some form of "ice-breaker" activity"to get to know your peers. These events provide one of your first opportunities to try out your new freedoms"you can skip any or all of them, and no one will notice.

Should you? You won't know until you go, unfortunately. But students say the time is almost always well spent.

"As humdrum as an orientation sounds, it might be the most worthwhile activity you do your first semester at school," says Jon Hoggatt (Purdue University ).   At Purdue, students attending orientation can check in a few days before most others arrive on campus, allowing extra time to explore new surroundings.

That extra time and the orientation activities are especially useful to those who don't want to look too much like freshmen once classes start. Orientation allowed Jon to start the semester with confidence: "Orientation is a great time to get familiar with

campus"so you don't get lost going to your classes the first week. And many will educate you on traditions at your new school . . . you definitely want to know how to sing your fight song at the first football game."

Lara Bennett (University of Scranton) admits that orientation might seem like a clichéd activity that can be boring and a waste of time. But she knew it also might hold something positive for her.

She was right (about the positive part, that is). So she went. And she was glad she did.

"All the 'stupid' activities they make you participate in really help you meet people and get to feel more comfortable in your new environment," she says. "Everyone is in the same boat that you are"always remember that."

The ice-breakers can fluster even the most outgoing freshmen. You might be asked to describe your road-test experience"a sure way to provide some insights into your personality. Or everyone in a group of 20 might be asked to take off a shoe, put it in a pile, retrieve another, then go around meeting everyone until they've met the rightful owner.