New Student Information

Welcome to Western Washington University! As a new student, these pages are here to help direct you toward important information and resources.  

Some students arrive at Western having transferred from another college or having completed credits through Running Start, while others may be starting college for the first time. Click on the option below that most closely resembles your experience going into your first quarter at Western.

First-Year Students

Large group of students walking back from Convocation in the PAC

Running Start

Students sitting around Red Square fountain on a sunny spring day

Transfer Students

Students walking past Carver Gym on the first day of classes

Planning Resources

In advance of participating in an Advising & Registration session, students are required to spend time reviewing the modules and watching the videos in the Virtual Advisor. The Virtual Advisor can be accessed by logging into Canvas from myWestern and will be accessible after:

  • June 1st (fall quarter)
  • October 15th (winter quarter)
  • February 1st (spring quarter)
  • April 15th (summer quarter)

Prior to attending an Advising & Registration session, students are also mailed an Academic Planning Guide to help them work through class planning and registration. Students can locate a Printable PDF of the Academic Planning Guide on the Advising Tools and Resources page.