Getting Ready

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Washington! Now it's time to start preparing for your arrival in Seattle. We've included a checklist to help. These are just a few general resources that are intended to give you an idea of what to expect when you arrive in Seattle.

Preparation Checklist

When to arrive -- We usually advise students to arrive at least one day prior to Opening Day (in September). To find out when your Orientation is scheduled, see the Orientation Schedule.

Where to live -- The UW and city of Seattle provide a wide range of housing opportunities for students. Here are a few suggestions for finding a place to live:

• UW Housing and Food Services (HFS) can answer all your questions about on-campus living. Space is limited, so it's important to registered as early as possible if you are interested.
• Off-Campus Housing Affairs (OCHA) is a service provided by the Associated Students of UW (ASUW) that helps students find affordable off-campus housing in the Seattle community.
• Craig's List is another very popular way to find available apartments, houses, or rooms for rent.
  

Learning about Seattle -- This city is a diverse, international community with many unique sights and neighborhoods. Here are a few resources that describe in more detail what Seattle has to offer:

• The Stranger and The Seattle Weekly are Seattle's free independent newspapers with information on upcoming events and articles about the city.
• Seattle.gov is another valuable site for those wanting to know more about Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
• Seattle.net has about everything you would need to know about Seattle.

Connect with current students -- If you have specific questions or you just want to contact other students who study at the UW, you can join us of facebook! Interact with other members of the FIUTS community, post photos, comments and videos, hear about events, activities, and other international happenings.