First Few Weeks at Oxford
College is typically seen as a fresh start. You’re meeting new people, learning about the campus, and getting a sense of what the college experience is like. This can seem daunting and overwhelming, but your peers, faculty, and staff at Oxford are ready to help you ease into the school year.
Move-in
One of the first things you will do once you are on campus is move into the residence hall you will eventually refer to as “home” throughout the year.
This year, check-in at your assigned residence halls will happen in 15-minute slots. You should go to your housing portal to register for a slot, and upon arriving on campus during your move-in day, check in during your registered time. During check-in, you will receive your room key and ID, which are needed to access your residence hall room.
For those looking for any adjustments to their residence hall, ranging from bed lofting to closet adjustments, there will be a QR code to a form you can fill out after you pick up your materials. These QR codes will be placed throughout each residence hall. Furthermore, Oxford provides moving bins you can rent to help bring your items to your residence hall, saving you time.
As you get situated in your dorm and start moving your items in, it can definitely be overwhelming, but take a deep breath! You will always have time later to rearrange anything, buy new items you missed when packing, etc. Depending on your orientation program and your allotted move-in time, you may be quickly shuffled into orientation programming, but rest assured, you will still have time to move in afterward.
Orientation
Oxford offers various programs for incoming students, including International Student Welcome, Ignite, London Launch, and New Student Orientation.
International Student Welcome (ISW) starting on August 16th is a pre-orientation program specifically for international students. This program is led by rising second-years who are also international students, and can help you navigate living and learning in a new country. You will be sorted into iMentor groups, where you will develop close bonds with fellow international students while learning specifically about living in America, including navigating the area and figuring out banking before joining the rest of your peers in New Student Orientation.
Igniteis the pre-orientation program starting on August 18th, where students immerse themselves in a space dedicated to building community prior to orientation. Through both large and small group activities, incoming students engage with faculty and staff in a closer setting than you would find during orientation and develop a sense of belonging before joining the rest of your peers in New Student Orientation.
Finally, our general New Student Orientation starting on August 22 is a program required of all incoming first-years. Through a variety of events, ranging from small groups to independent exploration to large groups, you will learn more about the Oxford community and resources with your peers, building relationships and gaining knowledge that will last a lifetime.
After moving in and getting acquainted with the general Oxford campus, you will be sorted into your Orientation groups led by second-year Orientation Leaders. These groups will be your small “family” that you will be spending most of your days with throughout orientation. From dinners to icebreakers to competing in the most exciting event of orientation, OxOlympics, these groups allow you to come out of your shell and build more intimate relationships with your peers in a safe environment.
Beyond these groups, however, you will also get to meet other people on campus through RA (floor) meal times, religious meal times, and designated social programming such as OxGlow.
To make the most out of your orientation, it is recommended that you are present at all of the events—not just physically, as it is required of you, but to immerse yourself in the activities. Engage with your peers, your peer leaders, faculty, and staff, and you’ll take more away from orientation than you might expect!
It is also important to develop healthy habits. Keep an eye out for a college survival guide to help you stay healthy during your time at Oxford.
Lastly, as you will hear often throughout orientation… GET OXCITED!!
Classes
Not long after New Student Orientation comes your official start to academics at Oxford! One of the most unique aspects of Oxford is that class sizes are relatively small. Your professors will be taking attendance and likely getting to know you through icebreakers, get-to-know-you sheets, etc. This is a great way to start fostering connections with your professors, who are passionate and dedicated to their discipline.
You will also get a better understanding of how the class will look through your class syllabus, which will detail course expectations, office hours, available resources, major assignments and assessments, and more. This allows you to decide whether to continue with this class, as you have the choice to add, drop, or swap your classes. For more information on how to use the add, drop, or swap feature on OPUS, check out your First-Year-Experience Canvas course.
If you are considering switching a class, try meeting with your professor to discuss your concerns. Professors at Oxford want to see you succeed and will try to support you as needed. Speaking to your Advising Support Center (ASC) advisor may also help with your decision, especially when it comes to fulfilling your General Education Program requirements. Keep in mind, however, that your first two years at Oxford are designed to allow you to explore different subjects and gain a broader understanding of different disciplines. You are encouraged to try new classes
Clubs and Extracurricular Opportunities
As mentioned in the New Student Orientation section of this article, Oxford staff will be hiring student workers for both work-ship and federal work study positions. Though hiring processes will be different for each role, you will likely prepare a resume and answer questions about why you are interested in a particular role. For assistance with these materials, you can book appointments with professionals at the Center for Pathways and Purpose through Handshake!
Beyond work opportunities, you can be involved on campus through clubs and volunteering positions. Volunteer Oxford, for example, offers various volunteer opportunities, including weekly services!
Another special thing about Oxford is that first-years can dive into leadership roles through clubs. There are a variety of clubs at Oxford, ranging from culture and identity clubs to performing arts clubs! There is something for anyone, no matter your experience or ability to commit time to these clubs. To learn more about all of the different clubs on campus, there will be a club fair that all registered clubs will table at. There, you can meet current executive members and learn more about the clubs to determine what level of commitment you want to have!
The first few weeks at Oxford College are certainly a time of excitement, change, and discovery. From move-in to your first classes, you’ll be learning how to navigate new responsibilities, make meaningful connections, and explore the opportunities available to you both in and outside the classroom. While it is normal to feel overwhelmed, know that you are not alone—faculty, staff, and peers are here to support you every step of the way. Embrace this time of growth, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Welcome to Oxford—you belong here!