First-Year Experience: Phoenix Rising

Your roadmap to the Swarthmore Experience

Timeline of Your First-Year. Summer Tasks: Academic Moodle Tasks, Summer Email Communications, Slate New Student Dashboard. Pre-Orientation: FLI-POP, Summer Social Justice Institute. Orientation: International Student Orientation, Transfer Student Orientation, Welcome Week. First Fall: Phineas Foundations, Join a Club, Fall Fest, Pass/Fail Courses. First Spring: Swat Second, First-Year Seminars, Community Wellness Day.

A true Swarthmore Experience is one that educates the whole student, and to begin this journey, we support your whole transition throughout the first year at Swarthmore. Here, you will find everything in one place for living and learning in our community.

Your Personalized Checklist
New Student Dashboard
Pre-Orientation

Before you arrive on campus, you will accept your admissions offer, complete all tasks on your New Student Dashboard, check your academic tasks on Moodle, and then learn about our exciting pre-orientation experiences. Options include our FLI-POP, International Student Orientation, and Summer Social Justice Institute programs.

Orientation

Your official welcome! During this time, you will follow the Orientation schedule on the Swarthmore app. It is designed to help you navigate the physical space of campus for move-in, get to know your orientation leader and cohort, learn more about our community values and processes, and have fun!

Preparing for Classes

As Orientation progresses, academic responsibilities begin. You will meet with your academic advisor and have your Moodle tasks complete. The academic fair is a bustling opportunity to take in all that Swarthmore has to offer intellectually. 

Building Community

What does it mean to be a Swattie? This is an essential question to guide your time here. Engage with our community values and open dialogue, and participate in reflection with the Queries as you build your place on our campus.

Phineas Foundations

A six-week extended orientation that goes beyond that first whirlwind orientation week. It is designed to connect you directly to campus resources, help you understand your unique role in our community, and build lasting peer connections.

Two new students with backpacks walking on the lawn.

Swat Second

As you move into the spring semester, this dinner cohort series offers a refresh on engaging with Swarthmore life. It focuses on building skills and communication in an intimate setting of new students, staff, and faculty member groups. 

Four students sitting around a table sharing a meal and laughing.

Our Student Community

Hear what our student leaders have to say about welcoming the next class of Swatties:

"As an Orientation Leader, spending the last week of summer welcoming in the freshmen class and getting them excited about the endless possibilities for the next four years has truly been a highlight of my Swarthmore experience thus far. I cannot wait to do it again." - Jeremy Weinstein-Sears ('27)

"I love getting to share and help create the excitement of the first-year experience for new Swatties. College is a time to learn more about yourself and figure out more about who you want to be, and I feel honored to get to be a part of that." - Abby Guise, SGO President ('26)