Richmond Admissions Blog

By Maria

Welcome First-Year Students!
The campus is alive again! Today is one of the busiest days on campus as Richmond prepares to welcome a new class. Beginning with many hours of preparation and setup yesterday, the campus was ready to greet over 800 new students bright and early this morning. First-year students flooded campus with cars, campers, U-Hauls, suitcases and knickknacks. And, in true Richmond fashion, faculty, staff and upperclassman were there to usher in each family with big smiles and lots of ready hands.

First year move-in day is one of my favorite moments on campus. Today marks the beginning of four years of new experiences, lasting friendships and dynamic classroom discussions for the hundreds of students calling Richmond home. It is also the day that I officially meet many of the students I helped to admit to UR. It really is a full circle day.

Moving into college can be exciting, scary, stressful and energizing. As I walked around campus, I saw families and students lugging overstuffed bags from packed cars, hanging pictures on newly painted walls, writing messages to future hall mates on fresh dry erase boards and snapping last minute photos. Ever present were faculty, staff and student volunteers who graciously gave of their time to help families locate residence halls, unpack cars and haul suitcases to third floor rooms. Richmond really is a strong community—when someone needs help, we’re all there.

The next couple of days will provide first-year students with tons of opportunities to meet one another, get acclimated on campus and to settle in. Orientation Advisors, Resident Assistants and many other individuals will be on hand to help with this exciting transition. I can’t wait to see how this year’s class will help to shape the University of Richmond.