Your first year at Gallaudet will be an exciting one. As you meet students and professors of all different backgrounds, cultures and interests, you’ll learn more about yourself and what you want to do in the world.

Our job is to help connect you with the people and the skills that will help you become part of Gallaudet and achieve your goals.

Make Friends

Our New Student Orientation program introduces you to other students and to everything you need to know about Gallaudet. Plus you’ll enjoy great trips around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, perhaps to Six Flags amusement park or a Nationals Major League baseball game.

All first-year students live in Benson Hall, where it’s easy to make friends and connect with peer mentors and other support.

Connect with a Peer Mentor

All first- year students have a peer mentor, an upperclass student who provides academic support and helps them get involved on campus.  The Peer Mentorship program will:

  • Provide one-on-one mentorship by an upperclass student
  • Connect you to university resources
  • Help you become comfortable if you are a new signer
  • Take you on interactive trips around the Washington, D.C., area
  • Help you stay connected with Gallaudet
Gain Essential Skills

Through our Freshman Foundation courses, you will improve your communication and problem-solving skills and think more about your own identity and college life.

First-year students take four connected Freshman Foundation courses:

  • First Year Seminar (GSR 101)
  • Critical Reading and Writing (GSR 102)
  • American Sign Language and Deaf Studies (GSR 103)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (GSR 104)