Your Guide to O Week at University College
‘Welcome Saturday’ is the official kick-off for O Week (Orientation Week). On this day, first-year students will be busy moving into their rooms. You'll receive a warm welcome from a group of second-year students, known as O Week leaders or ‘OWLs’, and the UC staff team, who will help you settle into your new home. You’ll also be handed an O Week shirt, which you'll wear throughout the entire week, along with a name tag bearing your name. This makes it super easy to get to know your fellow first-years by name.
1. Welcome Saturday
During the week, you'll be assigned to an O Week group, each distinguished by a specific colour. Within your group, you'll participate in various activities and games designed to break the ice and foster camaraderie among the new first-year students. These activities also come with a competitive twist as you earn points, striving for your team to emerge victorious by the end of the week.
2. O Week Groups
O Week activities vary from year to year, but some past favourites include laser tag, bush-dancing, and an amazing race around Melbourne's CBD. These activities provide an excellent opportunity to bond with your O Week group and the second-year leaders while engaging in fun and quirky games. The purpose of these activities is not only to entertain but also to help you make new friends and feel at ease.
3. Exciting Activities
With a packed week ahead, it's only natural to get a bit tired. The O Week leaders ensure that the schedule is filled with exciting events, but they also acknowledge the need for downtime. So, if you ever feel like taking a breather, it's perfectly okay to do so.
4. Downtime
For those who are new to Melbourne (which is the case for most students), there are opportunities during O Week to ask questions and gain insights into living and studying in Melbourne. You can learn valuable tips like how to top up your Myki card for trams. Many students also take the chance to go on university tours with their O Week leaders, allowing you to connect with peers attending different universities in Melbourne.
5. Tips for University Life in Melbourne
Each year, O Week comes with a unique theme, so be sure to keep an eye on your emails to discover the theme for your year. This theme permeates O Week, influencing the design of the O Week t-shirts (worn by both first and second years) and setting the tone for the week's final event, the ‘tern’ which is a college party. At the tern, you can finally shed your O Week shirt and reveal your inner creativity by dressing according to the theme. Some themes we’ve had in the past have been Monte Carl-O week, Disc-O week, Rode-O week, Astr-O week, Retr-O week and Her-O week.
6. Fun Theme
O Week at University College promises an unforgettable and immersive experience that will help you transition into college life while making lasting memories and forming meaningful connections with your fellow first-years and O Week leaders. So, get ready to embark on this unique adventure and embrace the excitement of your upcoming O Week at UC!
Written by Martha Conheady, 2nd year Commerce Student, University of Melbourne and 2022/2023 resident at University College