Exchange Experience

The Exchange Experience begins with Bear Beginnings: Transfer & Exchange Fall Welcome or Exchange Student Winter Welcome. During an exchange student’s time at WashU, they will be offered a variety of excursions into St. Louis and on-campus experiences – ending with a celebratory dinner with the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs!

Exchange Experience Excursions and Programs

Exchange student excursions are designed to connect exchange students to the city of St. Louis, to WashU, and to one another. These off-campus excursions and on-campus programs are all provided free of charge to exchange students. Previous semesters’ excursions have included trips to the St. Louis Aquarium, the Missouri Botanical Gardens, and private bus and walking tours of St. Louis neighborhoods. More excursions and programs will be added in the summer.

Fall Semester

Bear Beginnings: Transfer & Exchange Fall Welcome: August 23 – 25

Symphony on the South 40: Monday, September 18

Transfer & Exchange Community Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 16

Ice Skating in Forest Park: Saturday, December 2

Fall Exchange Capstone Dinner: Thursday, December 5

Spring Semester:

Exchange Student Winter Welcome: January 10 – 14

Botanical Gardens: Saturday, March 23

Halfway to Graduation Celebration: Wednesday, April 17

Spring Exchange Capstone Dinner: Thursday, April 18

TXSM Program

Transfer & Exchange Student Mentors (TXSMs) are upper-division student leaders who assist new transfer and exchange students with their academic, social, and personal transition to Washington University.

TXSMs serve as orientation leaders during Fall Welcome and Winter Welcome, then they serve as peer mentors for the student’s entire first year or study abroad program. Their primary duties are to remind residents about academic deadlines, policies, and resources and to help build community among transfer and exchange student groups.

Student Executive Board Member: Kate Yeo

TXSMs:

Sania Ali

Izzy Borah

Rohan Chintalapudi

Caroline Chou

Grace Malley

Eva Yakushev

TXSM Hours

TXSM Hours are a university tradition that occur throughout the academic year, except for breaks. They are time to socialize with your TXSMs and fellow exchange students. They typically involve games, chatting, and community-building events. TXSM Hours will be held every other Tuesday during the start of the semester in the DUC Fun Room from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM and are open to all exchange students!

Fall TXSM Hours Schedule:

September 5

September 19

October 3

Exchange Bear Bulletin

The Exchange Bear Bulletin is an e-Newsletter exchange students receive throughout their time at WashU. Newsletters will focus on important dates, deadlines, events on-and off-campus, and notices from Student Transitions & Family Programs.