Congratulations on your admission to the University of Michigan and on becoming a fellow Wolverine! Michigan is a great place, and you have four amazing years ahead of you.
In a few short months you'll be going through the both exciting and scary process of packing all of your stuff, heading to Ann Arbor and moving into your new home. I encourage you to start making the most of your experience now. Contact your roommate or roommates and start getting to know each other. Roommates and hall mates can become some of the best friends you will make here at Michigan. In fact, students who return to the residence halls every year cite friends and community as one of the top reasons they came back. (You'll hear more about reapplying for housing for next year during the Fall Term.)
Move-in Week is a really hectic time - thousands of people are moving in over the course of just a few days and you'll be busy unpacking, buying your books and finding your classes...but make sure you take the time to go to lots of the activities going on across campus. RHA hosts Pre-Class Bash on Palmer Field the night before classes begin. Come get lots of free food, play games, listen to the live DJ, and have a great time. There are plenty more events happening in the Michigan Union, Michigan League, and Pierpont Commons, not to mention the activities going on in your own residence hall! You'll probably even find that just eating your meals and snacks in the residence hall dining halls and retail dining locations turns out to be a great way to meet people and spend time with friends. (For a really fun experience, check out the Blue Apple in Bursley Hall. It's got wireless, plasma TVs, coffee, sandwiches, fresh pizza and more-and lots of students enjoying it all.)
If I could tell you only one thing it's that your experience at Michigan is what you make of it. Get out, get involved, and have a great time. There are tons of opportunities to meet new people. I highly encourage you to look into being a Move-In Maker volunteer (see this Web site for more information). Move-In Makers get to move in early and they make a lot of friends while helping others. I also highly recommend that you consider joining RHA by serving on a Hall Council or Multicultural Council once the term starts. You can become a leader in your own residence hall community.
The Residence Halls Association is not just your student government. We are happy to help you with any questions or concerns and help point you in the right direction. Please don't hesitate to contact us at rha@umich.edu . We've been through everything you are going to be going through over the next few months, and we know what it's like to have tons of questions.
Welcome to Michigan and GO BLUE!
-Ashley
Ashley A. Londy
President, Residence Halls Association
B.A. Political Science, Minor Philosophy,
2009 University of Michigan
rha@umich.edu
