My Favorite Parts of New Student Week

Firstly… WELCOME CLASS OF 2026!! We’re so excited that you’re here!

I was so happy to be a part of your introduction to life at Carleton as a New Student Week Leader! This was my second time as a NSWL, and it was just as fun as the last. As a leader, I get to enjoy Carleton’s weeklong orientation from the perspective of an upperclassman—someone who’s experienced it three times! Here’s my list of favorite activities, traditions, and other goings-on that happen during the week.

The Welcome Cow

When new students drive up to campus for the first time, they are welcomed by a group of upperclassmen dancing on the Carleton sign, including a student wearing a full cow costume. Dressing as the Welcome Cow is a very coveted job and happens rain or shine!

Group Introductions

After new students move in and have lunch, they are assigned the task of finding their assigned NSW group on the Bald Spot. With 42 groups, this is not an easy feat! Posters labeled from #1 – #42 help guide new students to find their group of 13 peers and two NSWLs. Though this part is one of the more chaotic scenes of the week, meeting everyone for the first time is so exciting!

The Frisbee Toss

Also happening on the first day, the frisbee toss is one of Carleton’s most well-known traditions. Upon arrival, all new students receive their class frisbee. They write their name and contact information on the back, then form a circle around a flag in the center of the Bald Spot. With family, faculty, and their new peers cheering them on, on the count of 3, they throw their frisbee into the center. The three frisbees closest to the flag win prizes such as a dinner with President Byerly! At the end of the toss, every new student picks up someone else’s frisbee with the intent to return it to its owner. This is a great way to make new friends!

Group Meals

During the week, new students eat most meals with their NSW group and peer leaders. Group breakfasts and dinners are a great way to relax, get to know each other, and answer questions in a more informal setting.

NOlympics

This Carleton tradition is one of my favorites: taking place at the end of NSW, NOlympics is a high-stakes competition for a stuffed cow. The entire freshman class is divided into 20 teams based on their dorm floor (their RA’s lead the group). After coming up with a theme (past themes have included “The Teletubbies,” “Pants for Shirts,” and “The Dads”) and team chant, the groups progress to the field behind Carleton’s Recreation Center. Waiting for them are Olympic level events such as The Frisbee Throw, Hula-hoop Madness, and the Frozen T-Shirt contest. NSWLs guide them through the events— after about two hours of chaos, the points are calculated and the winner is announced at 11:00PM. I love this event so much because everyone is excited; the noise is incredible!

Carleton’s New Student Week is truly a week to remember: it’s full of fun, chaos, and the excitement and nervousness of being in a completely new environment. This is likely the last NSW I will attend, and it feels pretty bittersweet— welcoming the new class of Carls has been one of my favorite jobs ever! Class of ’26: I hope it was a good one!

Ren (they/them) grew up catching salamanders, recklessly climbing trees, and running around barefoot in the Appalachian Mountains in a small town in North Carolina. They are a junior double major in art history and studio art, and love spending time in the arb, Sayles Hill Campus Center, and the Weitz Center for Creativity. Ren is the co-president of Carleton’s QuestBridge chapter, and also works with other equity programs on campus.