For those who can't wait for Orientation to begin experiencing Sewanee, we offer not one but two pre-orientation programs. Find the one that's right for you and be ready to register by the relevant deadline. Then get ready for the best week of your life (before beginning the best four years of your life).

First Year Experience (FYE)

Get a jump start on your Sewanee experience. Discover the people and places that make Sewanee special. Find your purpose and your community not only for the next four years but the rest of your life. With the perfect blend of academic study and exciting activities, plus a built-in support network of student, faculty, and staff mentors, FYE is the ideal first step in your Sewanee journey.

What is FYE?

Sewanee’s First Year Experience is a multi-dimensional jump start to your Sewanee experience. Connect with new friends, faculty and staff in small groups with activities and academics chosen to fit you as an individual. 
Why FYE?

FYE introduces you to the Domain (our 13,000 acre campus), college life, interdisciplinary study, and the many people who make Sewanee special. FYE has three exciting components: Sewanee Encounter, Sewanee Explore, and Sewanee Embark. When you select the FYE program, you get to experience all three of those dimensions and get an early start on finding community, transitioning to college, building relationships, and exploring all that Sewanee has to offer.

FYE begins prior to orientation, and continues through your first semester. It includes an academic course (Sewanee Encounter) that will be one of your first semester classes at Sewanee—and for which you'll earn four credits toward the general education requirement that you need to complete in order to graduate. It gives you an early chance to explore the wide range of activities and opportunities available at Sewanee via Sewanee Explore. And it also includes a weekly, one-credit course (Sewanee Embark) taught by faculty, staff, and a student mentor to help you navigate your transition to college and chart your course for the future.

Register via the form on your Application Status Page beginning April 15. Learn more about the FYE program here. Read more about the FYE components below!

Sewanee Encounter

The professors teaching Sewanee Encounter courses represent an interdisciplinary collection of leading Sewanee faculty. They bring their own unique perspectives to big questions of vital importance in today’s world. When you register for FYE, you'll rank your top choices from the list of available courses. A typical semester schedule for a Sewanee student consists of four, four-credit courses. Sewanee Encounter will be one of the four courses on your first semester schedule, and you'll earn four credits toward graduation when you complete it. After a two-day, pre-semester immersion experience, your Sewanee Encounter course will meet weekly until the Thanksgiving Break.

Sewanee Explore

The purpose of the Sewanee Explore program is just that—to give you the chance to explore the wide range of activities and opportunities that Sewanee has to offer, and to help you to make even more connections to students, faculty, and staff all around campus. Some Explore tracks will be linked to a specific Sewanee Encounter course, to facilitate deeper engagement with the topic. Other courses will not have an Explore link, meaning you can choose from an exciting menu of co-curricular and extracurricular activities. Recruited fall season varsity student-athletes (men's & women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's & women's soccer, and volleyball) participating in the FYE program will have athletics as their Explore track. Check out the list of Explore opportunities!

Sewanee Embark

All students who participate in FYE will be registered for the one-credit Sewanee Embark course that will meet once a week throughout your first semester. Taught by faculty and staff, this course will help you navigate your transition to college and chart your course for the future. An older student will attend your weekly Embark class to provide mentorship and guidance alongside the instructor who will be a faculty or staff member. Both of these individuals will add to your team of support as you begin to write your new chapter at Sewanee.

PRE

PRE-Orientation offers incoming first year students the opportunity to get to know Sewanee in a unique and exciting atmosphere. While exploring the 13,000-acre Domain, students meet other first-years and upperclassmen in an environment that creates trust and establishes new friendships.

What is PRE?
During PRE, 210 students will have the opportunity to experience outdoor trips that are available on and near campus. In addition to two campouts, students will participate in three of the following six activities: rock climbing, caving, hiking, ropes course, canoeing, and outreach. PRE concludes with Contra Night, which includes a live band, wacky dress, and a fun hootenanny with new friends.
WHY PRE?

Whether rock climbing for the first time, crawling through winding passages in Walker Springs Cave, or building a house with Sewanee Outreach, PRE-Orientation provides memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

The Sewanee Outing Program

The Sewanee Outing Program (SOP) gives students the chance to explore Sewanee’s 13,000-acre campus, the surrounding region, and wilderness areas across the United States. From summer swims in our own backyard to winter mountaineering trips on the other side of the country, they've got you covered.

Registration

The registration form for PRE will be available in April on your applicant status page. Once it's posted, all admitted students will receive an email with relevant information including instructions and the number of available spots.