First Year Programs empowers entering students to become engaged and confident learners by facilitating supportive communities and creating educational experiences. This program assists new freshmen, transfer students, and families as they establish and enrich their relationship with the UW community throughout their first year of enrollment. Activities of First Year Programs include quarterly advising and orientation sessions, Dawg Daze, Freshman Interest Groups (FIGS), and Transfer Student Interest Groups (TRIGS).

Undergraduate Advising helps students design an overall curriculum, drawing from the programs and opportunities across the entire University. In addition to helping students choose a major and plan their course schedules, advisers work with students to clarify academic and personal goals. As educators, advisers emphasize the core skills of critical thinking, decision-making, and the value of broad exposure to a diversity of perspectives. Advisers also provide pre-professional advising in a number of areas such as pre-medicine and pre-law.

The UW Common Book introduces and engages freshmen in the University's academic community. Each year, UW freshmen receive the same book at summer orientation and are expected to read it prior to fall quarter. Through this shared intellectual experience, students are challenged to examine important subjects and build community around significant issues. It is one way we welcome students to their new academic home and delve into intellectual inquiry.