We re Full of Freshmen! UC s Bearcats Bound Orientation Kicks Off on June 2

Orientation Website

Orientation Questions:  513-556-2486

Admissions Questions: 513-556-1100

Despite shrinking numbers nationally of the population of students reaching college age – especially in the Midwest – the University of Cincinnati is once again planning to welcome a record freshman class on the Uptown Campus this fall, with confirmations indicating the most academically prepared freshman class for the Uptown Campus.

Check-in for Orientation begins at 7:30 a.m., Monday, June 2, outside the Great Hall of Tangeman University Center (TUC). The official welcome in the Great Hall begins at 9 a.m. and will be led by Thomas Canepa, associate vice president for Admissions.  During the welcome session, the Student Orientation Leaders (SOLs) will also teach new students UC’s traditional “Down the Drive” cheer.

Early reports indicate UC could be welcoming as many as 4,600 freshmen for the Uptown Campus this fall, surpassing the record 4,449 baccalaureate degree-seeking freshmen that arrived on campus last fall. Overall freshmen (including the branch campuses) are expected to number 6,000, after hitting a record 6,353 in 2012. Overall enrollment for 2013 was at a record 42,656.

Freshman confirmations for the colleges of Allied Health Sciences; Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH); Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS); and College of Nursing are all up more than 10 percent over the same period from 2013.

UC is also showing increases in new students coming from Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana, as well as farther out of state, as UC’s reputation rises nationally and UC expands recruitment initiatives in the Midwest. U.S. News & World Report lists UC third among 23 national universities identified as “up and coming schools,” and PolicyMic, a millennial generation news site, ranks UC No. 1 in the nation for return on investment.

“UC also expects to welcome more than 40 freshmen from the Chicago Metro, after opening a regional recruiting office in Chicago last year,” says Caroline Miller, UC senior associate vice president and associate provost for enrollment management.

At Bearcats Bound Orientation, new students will receive academic advising, register for classes, meet fellow Bearcats and learn more about their university. Also, parents will learn about UC’s academic and social programs as well as the university’s numerous services to support students on their pathway to a college degree.

The comprehensive orientation for new students and their families helps both students and parents become familiar with the transformation from a high school student to a college student. They’ll be guided through Orientation by 30 Student Orientation Leaders (SOLs) and seven Student Orientation Coordinators (SOCs) – a group of dedicated and enthusiastic upperclassmen that went through a competitive application, interview and training process for their summer job.

Students and parents are advised to attend Orientation in comfortable clothing as well as comfortable shoes for walking around UC’s world-renowned campus. New students are also encouraged to contribute to Bearcats Bound Orientation’s school supplies drive to benefit local elementary and middle school children.

UC Orientation runs through July 17. Fall semester at UC begins on Monday, Aug. 25. UC’s formal freshman Convocation welcoming ceremony will take place at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 22, in Fifth Third Arena.

Final enrollment numbers are reported to the state in September.

UC is still accepting applications for UC Blue Ash College and UC Clermont College, as well as for transfer students for the Uptown Campus and regional campuses. Students interested in transferring to UC can apply through July 1 and need to confirm admission by Aug. 1.

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