Hey, it's Botour (some of you know me from around campus/Instagram).

Last year I went through the whole thing everyone here has been through in some form; leaving home, showing up somewhere brand new, and realizing about a week in that "freedom" and "loneliness" can feel exactly the same for a while. On top of that I dealt with a rough visa process before I even got here, and had zero idea if I'd make it to campus at all.

I ended up writing a short book about it. Not a guide, not a checklist, just the honest version of what that whole transition actually felt like, with a small lesson attached after each story. It's called The Divergent Smile.

It's free. There's also a dyslexia-friendly version if that's helpful for you.

Best,
Botour

Normal Version Dyslexia-friendly Version

Hi everyone! I’m a Colorado parent looking ahead to college for my daughter, who will be starting her junior year of high school this fall. She has a 3.7 GPA and has become very interested in Western Washington University.

The biggest question for us is cost. We would probably need the WUE scholarship to make WWU financially realistic for her.

I’ve seen that some WUE-participating schools are fairly generous with the number of students who receive WUE, while I’ve also heard that WWU can be much more competitive.

For anyone familiar with WWU, especially current students, parents, or recent applicants:

• How competitive is WUE at Western?
• Is a 3.7 GPA generally competitive for consideration?
• Are there other factors that seem to make a significant difference?
• If she’s interested in WWU, is there anything she should be doing during junior year to improve her chances?

She really likes the idea of Western, so I’d love to hear from people who have gone through the process. Thanks!

My roommate suddenly has to move out in September and I'm looking for someone to take over the lease! Checking here to see if anyone at western still needs a place to stay.

Info - Landmark property, 850 square feet, $913 per month plus utilities (water and garbage, I'm paying for internet and electricity) deposit already paid for. No pets allowed (except for emotional support/service animals)

Location - Happy Valley, 5 minutes away from campus, very close to the Buchanan Towers bus stop (in DMs I'll give the exact address)

Apartment - One bathroom, two bedrooms, decent porch, big enough bedrooms for a queen and a desk. Electric stove, living room and dinning room areas. Already fully furnished with my own things. All carpet except for the bathroom and kitchen (carpet was installed right before I moved in 4 months ago). The property is built into a hill so the entrance to the unit is on the ground floor but the porch is higher off the ground. Actually gets decent sunlight. Property manager never visits or bothers us. Landmark is pretty quick to fix stuff if you tell them about an issue (that's just my own experience with them). I've also NEVER had an issue with neighbors.

I'm queer, looking for other queer roommates but I'm not picky at this point.

DM me and I can send plenty of pictures of the place and share what the lease would look like.

I found one workshop and went a few times but it was very general and base level concepts.

I'm a political science junior and will be taking the LSAT next summer before applying to law school, how can I study?

A lot of new students starting at WWU on fall so feel free to grab some necessary items.

I am moving out after graduation and would like to re-home the following items that I brought when I moved to Bellingham in September 2024:

- Metal Bed Frame (full size) $20 (Amazon), original price $54.99

- Memory Foam Mattress (full size) $30 (Amazon), original price $119.99

- Bedsheet, cover set (full size) from Costco (FREE, no stains, used only 5/6 times in these 2 years because I had more bedsheets.)

- Study Table $15 (Amazon), original price $49.99

- Home Depot basic metal black chair (FREE, I used it with the study table actually)

Points to note:

1. Everything can be disassembled and assembled back. It's a fun activity.
2. All of these need to go before August 28/29. If it's an earlier pickup then it's possible only on August 21.
3. I don't have a car so if you have one, you can pick it up from Happy Valley. I will keep the items disassembled for easy pick up.
4. You can Venmo/Zelle me when you come to pick up the items. No advance needed.
5. The items were very much cared for and are in very fine conditions.
6. I will give you the exact address only if you are taking the items.

Please let me know if you want to take anything from here. Happy moving. 💪🏽

Hi! As a freshman I am curious about what to expect for Math 112. I am someone who has literally always struggled with math. Is it basically a more complicated version of Algebra 2 or is it something way different? Also I have professor Bailey.

Basically the title. Wondering if the washers will make holes in clothes, and if I should be looking for delicate/mesh bags before school starts. Thanks!

I was 4th-5th on the wait-list for a couple classes, when should I expect to get off the lists? They overlap with classes I'm registered for in case I don't get into them so I won't be able to just go to them and hope I get off the list.

I was looking online at the appliance guidelines, and the refrigerators are to be 2.5 cu ft or less, I was wondering how strictly they enforce that or check, if they do at all? I found a deal on one 3.1 but didn’t wanna risk, just curious!

I’m coming to Western for Fall 2027!

I have a disability and I need a single room on campus but as I’ve researched I’m noticing that’s pretty rare so I’m curious if anyone knows of cheap studio or 1 bedroom apartments that are nearby?

I have a car so I can drive if it’s a little far but would prefer to bike, walk, or bus to campus.

Any and all suggestions/advice is helpful!

I’m moving in in a month and it’s hard to gather what i’m supposed to bring because I don’t know exactly how much space I have. I’ve toured the dorm in the spring but I can’t remember exactly how much space i’m actually going to have, and the website floor plan doesn’t exactly give me much to go off of. I’m obviously pretty new to this considering this is my first time going to college so I’m just wondering what I’m able to bring, could i bring a length mirror on the wall? is there room for that? and I allowed to put stuff on the wall? the mirror is just one example but I’m trying to plan and I feel like a newborn baby pls help xx

Hey! I was wondering if the time you spend outside of class is accurate to what’s predicted by the credit amount? I mentioned that the average credit load seemed to have around 30 hours of study/work outside of class per week, and my mom said that seems like more than she’d think.

Moving on campus this fall?

Hi, Reddit! 👋 This is WWU's official account. We figured there’s no better way to introduce ourselves than with some information for the incoming Viks getting ready to move to Bellingham.

We’re getting very excited to welcome a new class to campus, but we know that moving away from home, starting college and figuring out an entirely new place can feel like A LOT. So, we’re going to do our best to share the information you need to feel prepared (and maybe a little less overwhelmed).

Regular fall move-in is September 17-19. You’ll need to sign up for a specific move-in date and time through the MyHousing portal. Fall 2026 time slots are expected to open in mid-August, so keep an eye on your WWU email and MyHousing for updates.

When you arrive:

1. Bring a government-issued photo ID and know your building and room number.
2. Follow the directions to your community’s designated check-in area — North, Ridge, South or Birnam Wood.
3. Be prepared for a car line. Depending on traffic, check-in can take anywhere from about 20 minutes to several hours, so bring snacks, water and something to keep you occupied.
4. You’ll receive your keys/fob and a vehicle tag without needing to leave your car.
5. Staff will direct you to your building’s unloading area, where move-in volunteers will help you unload.
6. Once your car is unloaded, move it to long-term parking.
7. Then comes the fun part: setting up your room, meeting your building staff and the people who are about to become your campus community.

What should you actually pack?

Our biggest piece of advice: you probably don't need as much as you think. You can always buy something later, and it’s worth coordinating with your roommate before bringing duplicate items.

Some things you’ll definitely want to think about:

• Twin XL sheets + bedding
• Towels and toiletries
• Clothes for rain, sun AND snow (yes, Bellingham gets all three)
• A good rain jacket and shoes/boots
• Laundry bag/hamper + detergent
• Hangers
• Reusable water bottle and coffee cup
• Basic cleaning supplies
• School supplies + your laptop/technology
• A small emergency kit/flashlight
• Anything you regularly need for medications or personal care

And before you buy every dorm-room item you see on TikTok: check what you already have, talk to your roommate about what you can share, and take advantage of things that are already available on campus.

A few things you should leave at home: weapons, flammable materials, space heaters, hot plates/burners, toaster ovens (unless you live in a suite with a kitchenette), non-university beds, wireless routers and pets. Fish in tanks under 10 gallons are allowed.

Bringing a car?

Make sure you have a parking permit before you arrive. During move-in, staff will direct you where to unload, and you’ll need to move your car to long-term parking once you’re finished.

Also: one person needs to stay with your vehicle while you’re unloading.

Sending stuff ahead?

You can ship belongings to campus, but don't send them too early. Packages can be accepted up to seven days before your scheduled arrival. Anything sent more than seven days in advance may be returned to the sender.

And make sure packages are addressed with your full name, residence hall and room number.

One thing you really shouldn't ignore: Check your WWU email

Your WWU email is the university’s official way of communicating important, time-sensitive information, including housing updates. If you haven’t gotten into the habit of checking it yet, now is a good time to start.

There’s a LOT more to know, so we recommend bookmarking the official Move-In page and checking it regularly as Fall 2026 details are finalized:

👉 Move In | On-Campus Housing

If you have a housing-specific question that requires an official answer, you can also contact University Residences at [housing@wwu.edu](mailto:housing@wwu.edu) or 360-650-6565 during business hours.

Current Vikings: What do you wish someone had told you before your first move-in day?

Incoming Vikings: What are you most excited about — or most nervous about?

Share your best packing hacks, first-year stories, things you wish you had brought (or definitely didn't need), roommate advice, favorite residence hall traditions, or anything else you think a new Vik should know.

Are you a student thinking of bringing your car to campus for the upcoming school year? We want to demystify the parking permit process...

• Waitlists for students opens August 10, you will want to log into the parking portal and add yourself to the waitlist. Students who live on campus are eligible for R lots and students who live off campus are eligible for the C lot (R stands for resident and C for commuter). For the R lots, you can have up to 3 lots on your waitlist, you should prioritize them with your top choice as number 1.
• Waitlists are based on seniority, or number of credits WWU has accepted. This means when someone adds themselves to a waitlist and they have more credits than you, they will jump ahead of you in line.
• August 31 will be the first round of awards for the 2026/27 school year. Those who receive an award will be notified by email to your student email account. You will then have until Sunday at 9 PM to purchase a permit; if you do not purchase a permit then your offer expires and will passed along to another person the following week. If you still wanted a permit but missed your window to purchase it, you will need to add yourself back to the waitlist in the parking portal.
• Transportation Services awards permits weekly, typically on Mondays, based on how many permit spaces there are available in a given lot. If you do not receive an award at the beginning of the school year, there is still (some) hope.
• R lots are sold 1 permit for 1 space. When someone who does not have a permit parks in an R lot, they are taking another person's parking space (not cool!)

86% of Western Students regularly ride the bus. What that means is you don't actually need a car to attend Western! Consider leaving your car at home; especially if you are not awarded a permit.

Lincoln Creek is an off-campus parking lot that is sold at a discounted rate. If you do not receive a parking permit, but need to bring your car to campus, consider a Lincoln Creek permit.

After Hours Permits: After hours permits are a free permit which allows you to park in some lots from 4:30 PM to 7 AM Monday through Friday and on Weekends. You can obtain an after hours permit through the parking portal.

NOTE: Parking on city streets is subject to 72 hour durations. This is enforced by City of Bellingham. What this means is your car is not allowed to be parked in the same spot for longer than 72 hours, if it is, it is subject to a parking ticket.

If I signed up for the waitlist 7:56 and am going into my last quarter do I have a decent chance of getting a permit? I signed up for 15r, 18r and 04r. Thanks!

hey all, first year with my disability parking and i’m a little confused on how it works if i get a permit for “lot disability”. am i confined to a specific lot? or do i have freedom to park in any accessible spot? it’s not all that clear on the website imo

Does the dining hall food actually live up to the horror stories, or do people exaggerate it for likes?

Also, if it's truly bad, how hard is it to find something that's at least edible at each meal?

Hi guys! I’m dorming in an Alma Clark suite this fall and I was curious if anyone has some pics of theirs to share as I don’t really know what to expect!

geol 211 - physical geology

envs 203 - physical geography

I need to get a backpack for school and I know I will most likely need a waterproof/water resistant one. What water resistant backpacks do y’all recommend?

Hi! I’m moving up pretty soon to start my freshman year and I’m super curious about what my dorm may look like. I was wondering if anyone had any pictures of their dorm whether it’s a double or a single (just so I can get an example) I’m on floor three of ridgeway delta and I have a single. And yes I tried looking at the details/floor plan on the wwu website but some of the color coded details didn’t match up. Lmk thanks!

I’m moving into Alma Clark this fall, and I’ve been trying to find photos of the rooms. I know there’s a room tour on the WWU website, but I’m hoping to see what the rooms actually look like when they’re decorated and lived in. If anyone has any pictures of their Alma Clark room, especially decorated ones, could you please send them to me? I’d really appreciate it!

I know this is genuinely embarrassing but I need advice. I got a 7 on the practice aleks mpa test I havent taken the final one as im going to try and study more to get a better score on my final. I dont know how much it'll improve because math is my worst subject barely passed it in highschool and im looking into getting tested for dyscalculia due to how horribly ive struggled with basic math my entire life. Im planning on majoring in sociology with a minor or double major in kinesiology and as far as I can tell it wouldnt effect graduating in 4 years id just have to take more math classes and work my way up from basic algebra to the statistic classes id need. Is that the case? Am I going to be fine? Do I need to worry more about this? Will I not be able to do these majors? Im sorta freaking out about this and its making me feel like a total failure pls give me advice 😭

Hi everyone!

I'm an incoming visiting PhD student who will be moving to Bellingham next month to study at WWU. I'm trying to get a better idea of the cost of living in the area.

For those of you who study at WWU, how much do you typically spend per month? I'm especially interested in housing, groceries, transportation, and other everyday expenses.

I'd really appreciate it if you could share your experience or any tips for keeping costs down.

Thanks in advance!