You’re in the middle of heavy traffic occupying most of the parking lot, with the rest of the pavement allocated for the spunkiest, loudest, most cheerful group of people excited to welcome you to the experience of your life. Mom and Dad are browsing through the schedule of activities — they tell you to remember to apply sunscreen, stay hydrated and write plenty of letters while you’re gone. “We’ll see you soon!” they say, to distract themselves from instigating a teary departure.
You settle into your quarters, eyeing the lofty stack of luggage in the corner of the room, causing you to worry that you probably forgot something. The bugle sounds, the flag is raised and the festivities begin. Welcome to … summer camp? No — welcome to NSO.
According to the official Pepperdine University website, “New Student Orientation (NSO) is a program intentionally designed for incoming students and their parents. The program will include information on academics, student activities, student services, living on campus, international programs, and much more.” However, it has come to the attention of many that the perceived goals of NSO may in fact produce different results.
“The transition has been incredibly rough. NSO basically puts you in party mode, and the next thing you know you have 8 a.m. classes with homework in all of them. It’s pretty brutal,” stated freshman Sarah Barge, when asked about the shift from NSO activities to the first week of college classes.
Barge had one of the more prominent voices regarding the issue of NSO adopting a “summer camp” vibe, rather than being solely focused on the discipline it takes to begin college life. Freshman Mardie Agnew also shares her thoughts by adding, “The atmosphere was hectic but totally worth all the late nights.”
So if it’s not a dry Q&A session set on spoon-feeding loads of information like most other college orientations, what exactly is NSO?
“NSO is a time for new students to experience and learn about everything Pepperdine has to offer,” expresses sophomore Matthew Sugar. The 2012 orientation leader also adds, “My job is to make you feel as welcome as possible and let you know that I will be around and if you need anything I am here to help (That goes for all orientation leaders!)”
Finally winding down with the first week of college classes, I feel as if I have more credibility to comment on exactly how the transition from high school to college has been. From experience I can say the only thing harder than waking up for an 8 a.m. class is waking up for an 8 a.m. class after a week of late nights, energy-draining events and adrenaline rushing through the veins of the baby waves.
Is NSO too much like summer camp? From the overtly welcoming atmosphere of upperclassmen ready to jump at the chance to wait on you hand and foot, to the euphoria of dance parties night after night, NSO has the tendency to bring about a disillusionment that college is a string of social activities, when in reality it isn’t. Not to mention the lack of sleep as a result of the frenzied agenda, ironic since getting enough sleep is one of the most important tips given to any college student.
With a program like this, it’s logical the incoming freshmen won’t receive a smooth transition into the studious and disciplinary side of university living. They will, however, experience the jumpstart of life in the “real world.” Making new friends, being involved and breaking out of your shell are just a few of the results of NSO.
Simply put, NSO may take on characteristics of summer camp, but it’s all part of the master plan to create a welcoming environment for incoming students — since after all this will be their home for the next four years. Sugar summarizes, “NSO has great intentions and does what it is intended to do.”
