Congratulations! You’re accepted! Here’s a step-by-step guide to everything that comes next from getting your official Westminster online account to your first day of classes.
Congratulations! You're in! The first leg of your Westminster Bound journey begins with the New Student Checklist
Register for Accepted Student Day (Details coming soon!)
Activate your Westminster online account and email address
Add your Westminster email to your phone or tablet
Complete your Course Preference form
Complete your Residence Life form
Register for a Westminster Bound Event
Add these items to your summer to-do list and make sure they are completed before your arrival on campus in August.
Attend a Westminster Bound Event
We know navigating forms, assignments, finances and more can be challenging. That's why we created Westminster Bound events, which gather our experts together in one place for the sole purpose of assisting you! Meet with us to complete financial aid forms, adjust your course schedule, connect with a counselor, health center, or disability resource office, and so much more.
This year, we will hold three in-person events on May 14, June 25, and July 12 and a virtual version of the event on July 19. Families typically only attend the event once. Registration opens on March 1.
Receive Your Housing Assignment
Beginning on June 15 (June 1 for Early Decision students), housing information will be available on https://my.westminster.edu/
Westminster is a four-year residential campus, which means all of our students live on campus in one of our residence halls. The residential experience at Westminster is unique and comprehensive. From the Resident Assistant on the floor, to the Residence Director of the building, to the Associate Dean, there is a group of people dedicated to your success. Everyone on the team is not only well trained, but excited and committed to helping you learn and grow in our residence halls.
A small percentage of our students commute from the home of a parent or legal guardian. If you have qualified for commuter status, please be sure to attend the commuter meetings during orientation to learn how you can make meaningful connections on campus.
Complete Your Summer Reading Assignment
View Your Bill and Set Your Financial Plan
Receive Online Training About Important Issues
Pay Your Bill on or Before July 20
Upload Your Photo to Your Titan Card
Textbooks and the Campus Store
All textbooks online through the Campus Store website beginning July 20. To find your textbooks:
You will have the option to have the books shipped directly to the College for pickup, or to your home. Please note the Campus Store does not sell textbooks in the store, aside from the Inquiry Reader required for the first-year Inquiry course. However, we work directly with our faculty to ensure that textbooks are adopted and submitted to our bookseller partner (MBS Direct), so that there are many purchasing options available for you on their website, including purchasing new or used textbooks, renting them, or purchasing digital versions.
The Campus Store is located on the first floor of McKelvey Campus Center. The store offers a wide variety of apparel, decorative items, Westminster swag, gifts, supplies, snacks, and more. They also have a T2G trailer at home football games selling special merchandise that is not offered in the Campus Store.
Not sure how? Here are a few suggestions:
When it comes to laptops, there are a lot of different options out there. If you are in the market for a new laptop, we recommend either of the following two models, based on their durability, processing speed, and size/weight. (NOTE: we always recommend at least a 3-year warranty. Your laptop will go through a lot during the next four years. If the unthinkable happens, you want to be able to replace it quickly and without spending a lot of money.)
We mean no offense to Google, but Chromebooks do not work well for Westminster students. We do not use Google classroom and many of our faculty members teach students how to use software that cannot be installed on Chromebooks because they don't have enough storage space.
During your time at Westminster, you can download and use the entire Office 365 suite FOR FREE on multiple devices. Follow the ‘Office 365’ links on my.westminster to download the software. Even if you are a Mac user, you’ll want to take advantage of this deal because D2L, our online course system, can’t read .pages files.
To protect yourself against computer viruses and phishing schemes, it is essential your computer has updated antivirus software and malware protection. Any anti-virus program will do, but we particularly like Symantec and McAfee. For malware protection, we like Malwarebytes, which is available FOR FREE from http://www.malwarebytes.com (or http://www.malwarebytes.com/mac if you have a Mac).
The Orientation experience occurs the weekend before the Fall Semester begins. This year, the dates are August 14-16. We want you to have the best possible start to your collegiate career, which is why Orientation is required of all first year students. Transfer students should consider participating as well. A detailed orientation schedule will be posted here on August 1, but here’s an overview of how it works.
New Student Orientation Schedule
Early Arrivals (Fall Athletes & Musicians)
STUDENT NAME
BOX #
WESTMINSTER COLLEGE
NEW WILMINGTON, PA 16172
When classes begin on Monday, August 31, you'll have learned a lot about the campus, met some of the staff, and forged many new friendships. Now it's time to really concentrate on understanding Westminster's academic year and making sure you are positioning yourself for success.
Academic Advising and Registration for the Next Semester
Tips for a Successful First Year
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Even before you arrive on campus, ITS is here to help you with any tech questions or issues. Whether you are looking for laptop recommendations or you need help connecting to the wifi, we've got you covered. Email us at helpdesk@westminster.edu, stop by our physical Help Desk in McGill Library, or-if you are the DIY-type-you can check out our online guides on my.westminster.edu (look for the word Help in the top menu).
Ralph McGill Memorial Library is more than just books. The library is home to traditional and digital resources and the people who will help you navigate and understand them. The Library supports student learning in a multitude of ways, including individual research consultations and collaborative study spaces, such as our new tech friendly space – the Hub. All first-year students receive an introduction to Library resources as part of the Inquiry course, and discipline-specific instruction is incorporated into many other lower- and upper-level courses. More information about library services and resources can be found at www.westminster.edu/library.
Professional Development Center
You may have confidently selected a major or you may have no idea at all. Did you know an average college student changes majors three times during their college career and 80% change their major at least one time? The first year is often one of exploration and many students choose or change their majors. The Professional Development Center offers counseling and assessments to help match your interests and abilities to an academic major that is a good fit.
Additionally, you will meet the Professional Development Center staff in your Westminster 101 class where they will introduce you to important resume building strategies.
For more information, please visit our Professional Development Center page.
The Wellness Center is an integrated health care facility that provides general health services for illnesses and accidents, short term mental health counseling services, and wellness promotion for the students of Westminster. Clinical services are available for undergraduate students who pay the student activity fee.
Registered nurses provide assessment and consultation and a college physician or physician assistant holds daily clinic hours to treat acute illness and injuries. Westminster College strongly encourages all students to carry individual health insurance and to become familiar with their coverage. While most services at the Wellness Center are covered by the student activity fee, diagnostic testing and referral to outside community providers will require the use of individual health insurance.
Short term counseling services are free of charge; licensed and certified counselors address a wide range of mental health issues and provide referrals to services off campus. Appointments can be arranged by directly emailing the counselors or through the Wellness Center.
If you currently receive psychiatric services, we recommend that you locate a psychiatrist in the area PRIOR to matriculation for prescription needs, since waiting periods for a first appointment with local providers are no less than three months. For medications that do not require a psychiatrist prescription, a Wellness Center physician may be able to meet those needs. Please note that our campus physicians do not prescribe for ADD/ADHD. If you currently receive counseling services, and would like to meet with a campus counselor, please be sure to provide a release form from your provider.
For more information, please visit our Wellness Center page.
Our Office of Parent Engagement provides resources for parents and family members while their Titan is making their home away from home at Westminster College. Our goal is to answer questions, provide helpful resources, and keep parents and families up to date about campus happenings.
For more information about Parent Engagement, please visit our Parent Resources page.
Our doors are always open to families who return to campus to visit! Parents and families are encouraged to remain connected to campus life by attending athletic events; music, theater, and Celebrity Series performances; Vespers services; Family Day activities; all-campus academic lectures; and special events planned by our Director of Parent Engagement.
Keep up with campus events using our Arts & Culture Calendar and the Titan Athletics page.
Parents may have questions. We strongly encourage you to transfer responsibility to your student to ask those questions. They know the offices and the people who can provide answers. However, we also know what it is like to be the parent waiting and waiting for our child to get this done! In those moments, please contact Student Affairs at (724) 946-7110 during business hours. During breaks or when the college is closed, please contact Public Safety at (724) 946-7777.
Parent Association Facebook Group
Westminster College Photo Gallery
Campus News
Upcoming Alumni Association Events (open to parents and families, too!)
For a complete description of the different divisions that make up the College and a contact list, please visit our Parent Resources page.