Elon's newest class of students — its largest and most diverse yet — move in today, Aug. 26. Here's what they have to look forward to.
Less than a day remains before members of the Class of 2020 move into their new homes at Elon University.
These newest members of the Elon family will arrive for an intense and exciting introduction to the university and to college life at the start of a busy Orientation Weekend. They were selected from more than 10,000 applicants, with this year marking the fourth time that Elon has hit the 10,000 applicant mark.
Members of the Class of 2020 boast an average SAT score of 1,792, an ACT score of 27 and an average GPA of 4.0. They’ll be arriving from 41 states across the country and from countries around the world, with close to 10 percent of the incoming class having an international background. The class is made up of 60 percent women, with 20 percent from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Each brings with them their own personal experiences as they launch their university careers.
Move-In Day has plenty of moving parts, and Elon offers an overview with tips and resources at its Move-In Day site. Click here for a complete list of activities during the weekend and to keep track on your smartphone, be sure to download the Elon University Guides app on Apple or Android, and select the Orientation Guide once the app is launched.
On Friday morning, students and their families will be greeted by teams of Elon students there to help them find their way to their residence halls, unload their vehicles and get them settled in their rooms. Along with 130 Elon orientation leaders, dozens with student groups on campus are chipping in to help Move-In Day run smoothly.
Students have staggered move-in times depending upon which floor they will live on, with those on the first floor to begin moving in at 8 a.m., those on the second floor to follow at 9:30 a.m., and those on the third or fourth floors to start at 10:30 a.m. Staggering the move-in times helps handle the high volume of students and their families who will be coming to Elon’s campus during move-in day and help reduce congestions, particularly on roads and parking lots around campus, as well as in the residence hall hallways and stairwells.
Friday morning’s move in will give way to information sessions for families and students alike later in the day. For the students, NSO 100: Intro to Elon University kicks off a series of classes that help them get settled, learn how to become part of an academic community and offer insight into Elon’s culture and values.
Orientation weekend doesn’t just play out in classrooms around campus. First Night Elon! that Friday night celebrates the first of many nights for these new students on campus as they get to know the fellow residents in their neighborhoods.
New Student Convocation on Saturday morning will help officially launch these new students’ careers at the university, with Elon President Leo M. Lambert welcoming students and their families to campus and sharing his thoughts about the experience they are beginning. As they depart from Under the Oaks, members of the Class of 2020 will receive the traditional gift of an acorn to mark their start at Elon. They then go to meet with their Academic Advisors and Elon 101 groups.
On midday Saturday, members of the Class of 2020 will say goodbye to their families during the Farewell Lunch on the West Moseley Lawn, with that farewell giving way to a pep rally and Phoenix Extravaganza that night at Alumni Gym, Lakeside Plaza and the West Lawn.
Fall semester classes begin on Tuesday, Aug. 30. First-year students should also put the Sept. 9 Organization Fair on their calendars. This is an opportunity to learn about Elon’s many student groups and make plans to get further involved in the life of the university.