“WIE Orientation helped me learn more about Illinois, get a feel for Grainger Engineering, and make friends. I felt confident when classes started, and that I had a head start!” – Delanie, Chemical Engineering
At WIE Freshman Orientation, you will:
- Establish friends for the first week of classes and beyond!
- Connect with awesome upperclassmen for each major for the best tips and advice for college.
- Develop essential college skills.
- Be introduced to your major and department resources.
- Learn about what it means to be a Grainger Engineer!
Get Connected
Before the new school year starts, get connected with upperclassman mentors and other incoming freshmen in your major! Check back this summer to learn how to join a group chat with other students in your major and join the Class of 2025 Facebook page.
Dates and Registration
- August 18 & 19: WIE Freshman Orientation.
- Check back on June 1st to register.
- Please email wie@illinois.edu with any further questions.
Early Move-In Information
Based on current University plans, students in University Hosing will have the option to move-in on Wednesday the 18th or Thursday the 19th free of charge. Earlier move-in will be available with an additional charge. There may be an in-person portion of Women in Engineering Orientation on Thursday. In order to attend that portion, we ask that you select to move in on Wednesday if possible. We understand that some students will choose to stay home and arrangements for online attendance will be made. For move-in updates regarding COVID-19 policies and private certified housing, please refer to the housing website.
Schedule
2021 Planned Activities
As the COVID-19 situation continually evolves, we are working to plan the best orientation experience that is safe and inclusive for all. WIE Orientation 2021 will likely be held through a mix of remote and in-person attendance. Check back here for updates as we continue to plan the event!
Wednesday, August 18th from 7pm-9pm
- Wednesday night activities provide an introduction to the Women in Engineering program. You will have a chance to meet your fellow students and learn more about your major and opportunities at Illinois. This portion will be delivered through remote attendance.
Thursday, August 19th from 10am-1pm
- Thursday activities provide opportunities for continued connection with fellow freshmen and your mentors. This day will feature workshops on special topics to help you succeed at Illinois. There will also be time available to connect to campus resources. This portion will be delivered through a combination of remote and in-person attendance.
WIE Mentors and Student Coordinators
You can see the 2020 WIE Orientation mentors and student coordinators here! Read about the amazing activities they are involved in and how much WIE has helped them.
Stay tuned to meet the 2021 WIE Orientation mentors!
FAQ's
When is WIE Orientation?
WIE Freshman Orientation 2021 will be August 18th-19th.
Who organizes WIE Freshman Orientation?
WIE Freshman Orientation is planned by the Women in Engineering staff with support from our current undergraduate women students. The undergraduate students attended WIE Freshman Orientation as incoming freshman and benefited from it so much that they wanted to get involved to make sure that freshman students after them had a similar (or better!) experience.
Who can attend WIE Freshman Orientation?
Any incoming freshman woman into The Grainger College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, CS+X majors, LAS Physics, or Agricultural and Biological Engineering is invited to attend orientation. No matter what college you are a part of, Women in Engineering supports all engineering students to form community.
How many students actually attend WIE Freshman Orientation?
Usually, around two-thirds of the women in the freshman engineering class attend WIE Freshman Orientation.
What do freshman do at WIE Freshman Orientation?
At WIE Freshman Orientation, you will have the opportunity to meet other incoming women engineering students through a variety of different activities that will help you learn about Illinois and prepare you to be a successful engineering student! See the schedule for the upcoming orientation above!
How do I register for WIE Freshman Orientation?
Registration will open in early June.
How much does WIE Freshman Orientation cost?
Depending on which residency you are moving into, WIE Freshman Orientation will either be free or a minimal cost thanks to The Grainger College of Engineering and generous corporate sponsors. Your meals and activities during orientation are free of charge. In addition, you will receive a cool t-shirt! If students move in at the recommended time on Wednesday August 18th, there should be no move-in charge for university housing residents. Private certified housing costs may differ. To determine the specific early move-in fees associated with each residency, check the details here for more information.
When exactly can I move in?
For University Housing, check here for information on selecting a move-in time. For those in Private Certified Housing, check directly with your housing provider.
Does my residence hall know that I’m moving in early?
University Housing is will have spots available to sign-up to move-in. Please select a spot on Wednesday, August 18th to ensure you will be able to move-in before Orientation starts on Wednesday evening.
I will live in a private, certified residence hall. Does my early move-in fee get waived?
The early move-in fees associated with Private Certified Housing varies by residency so you should check with your residence hall directly for associated costs.
I will be living at home, can I still attend Orientation?
Of course! All incoming freshman women into The Grainger College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, CS+X majors, LAS Physics, or Agricultural and Biological Engineering are welcome to attend.
What if I’m in WIMSE (or another Living Learning Community) or am an International student? How do I choose which Orientation to go to?
While WIE Orientation conflicts with some other orientations such as Living-Learning Communities (LLC) and International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), please know that you can attend WIE orientation in addition to your LLC or ISSS orientation. We would recommend you attend the other orientation programs through Wednesday afternoon and then join us for WIE Orientation starting Wednesday at 7pm. If you cannot join us on Wednesday evening, the Wednesday evening session will be recorded for you to view at a later time.
I already registered to say I was attending WIE Freshman Orientation but I marked something wrong. What do I do?
Don’t worry. If you receive your email confirmation and realize that for some reason there has been a change in your registration, email wie@illinois.edu with your name and what the mistake is and the WIE office will happily fix the error.
How can I get in touch with other women engineering students (current students and new freshmen) before Orientation?
Once you have registered for Orientation, stay up-to-date with WIE by following the Women in Engineering Facebook page and the WIE Instagram!
Sponsors
