Freshmen

Welcome to Washington University in St. Louis! We believe that your first steps into University life set the tone for all that follow. We want your freshman experience to energize and inspire you. That's why we offer special freshman programs based on small learning groups and taught by senior faculty who are passionate about their subjects and excited about teaching first-year students.

Freshman Programs

Our freshman programs are designed to help you look into subject areas that you may not have touched on before to broaden your horizons; and to find the subjects that arose your curiosity, spark your creativity, and inspire you to learn more. Visit the First Year Programs page for information on the Programs.

Advising

Visit the Advising page to learn more about our academic advising process. We offer targeted advising for students interested in:

• Pre-law
• Pre-health
• Pre-grad
• Workplace skills

Things to Do Your First Year

• Complete a substantial research paper in Writing 1 on a topic that matters to you.
• Take at least one other small, seminar-style class in addition to Writing 1.
• Take a class in a subject you know nothing about.
• Write for an audience other than your professors.
• Build skills in quantitative analysis and formal thought.
• Take a lab science class.
• Pursue research.