Admissions

I would suggest applying for as many scholarships as you can. The U is more expensive than SLCC and USU, and money can get tight really fast if you are paying for everything out of pocket. It would also be good to schedule an appointment with a school advisor as soon as possible when you start. They help a lot when you are new and don't necessarily know what you are doing.

It would be a brilliant idea to look at the clubs and organizations offered at the University of Utah. There are tons of outdoor oriented groups (if that's your thing) that are always looking for new members, but there are lots of other groups to join as well. Also be sure to check out the dorms at the U (and apply for on campus housing as soon as you can... it fills up quickly) because they are really nice (you don't have to share a bathroom with your entire floor), plus you can meet a lot of people.

I would find out about all the scholarships you can possibly get. As a partially state-funded school, the U does give out a lot of scholarships, the trick is hunting them down and applying for them. They aren't too hard to find so apply for as many as you can.
If you are going to try on campus housing, sign up fast! The rooms fill really quickly!
Get involved in a couple of good clubs or associations, they will make your experience at the U so much more rich and fulfilling. ASUU (Associated Students of the University of Utah) is a great place to start! (http://www.asuu.utah.edu/docs/FC_APP_09-10.pdf)
Also, get some good walking shoes and break them in! The U of U has a giant campus and some of your classes can get pretty scattered; be ready to walk or even run to your next class!

1) Apply for scholarships!! You want to spend more time studying and having a social life than figuring out how to pay for school later.
2) For out-of-state: if at all possible, start establishing residency ASAP. Again, not the cheapest school. You'll want that discount.
3) Be prepared to hike; campus is really built into the side of a mountain....if you have classes in different buildings, you spend a good deal of time walking between them. Bikes/scooters/skateboards are another good option, and the campus is set up for you to use those!

1) Go to your professor's office hours. If you are too shy to do that, at least talk to your professors. Most of my opportunities have been made possible because my professors know who I am.
2) Take advantage of the programs the U offers. They offer so much support for undergraduate research, tutoring, and social opportunities. Do some research on the website and find out about programs that may be interesting to you.
3) Learn to navigate the website. Use the A-Z catalog for the best results.
4) Apply to every scholarship you can. Every department has some departmental scholarships, and you can't get them if you don't apply for them.
5) Live at least 1 year in the dorms. They're a great place to meet people, plus being a resident allows you to take part in the events that the resident halls put on (such as free admission to haunted houses or dance parties)
6) Look into the Trax and bus schedules. They will take you anywhere in Salt Lake, and since you're a student, it's free!
7) Figure out the campus shuttles. They're not hard, just make sure you understand when each schedule applies as they run at different times during the day. They're free and great if you don't want to walk.
8) Sign up for everything early. This includes housing, scholarships, classes, or the MUSS (the student sports fan club).

First things first, start early on those scholarship apps because you could end up going all four undergrad years paid for and be able to live in the dorms (which are expensive and I wouldn't suggest doing unless you have scholarship). Look on the web and if you have an idea of what your major will be call an advisor, they'll be happy to talk with you. Also, once you're enrolled don't be afraid to talk to your peers or professors. The relationships you form can be good for study groups, future references, or in my case research opportunities (research is big at the U).

If you are out of state, apply for the Western Undergrad Exchange. Even if you don't get the in-state and a half tuition your first semester, you will most likely get it your second and third and anything helps!

The university offers a 'U- night' program (different then orientation), where prospective students spend the day touring campus, go to a sporting event at night, and spend the night in the dorms with college students. I highly suggest participating in one of these nights because you get to experience the actual student atmosphere on campus and see what it would be like living in the dorms and eating in the cafeteria. I would also suggest that students look at the student course feedback when enrolling in classes. These are submitted by students who have just taken the class from that exact professor the semester before. It's nice to see what you're getting yourself into, in terms of what the professor says he requires and what the students actually experienced.

Look into the Honors College, see if you are eligible and join. It is a great experience.

If you don't know anyone, get on-campus housing. This helps you gain some foothold on a very large campus.

Get involved. If you are going to the U orientation you will probably get sick of hearing this but it is HIGHLY recommended. It is very easy to get involved and it will make your experience at this college a 100 times better.

Don't get too scared of the campus. It is big, yes, but it's also great for your health. 15 minutes between classes is actually a decent amount of time. Try to schedule your classes somewhat together. Even if you have no plans at the start of the semester, you could get a job or join a club, and you could really have conflicts. Take the smaller classes, and register as EARLY as you can. Science and Math classes fill up QUICK!