Get Ready for Discovery Days
Here's what you need to know to plan your visit.
Getting to Discovery Days
Check-in at 10 a.m. in the Academic Instructional West (AW) Lobby. Please give yourself time to pick up a parking pass and park in the appropriate lot. You'll park for free in the C Lots off South College Drive and Bill McDonald Parkway
Have you registered?
If you haven't registered for a Discovery Day yet, sign up here.
Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Check–in
Academic Instructional Center (AIC) West Lobby (Map)
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Wade King Recreation Center Tours
Take a short tour of our Wade King Recreation Center with current students. Tours leave every 10 minutes, with the last tour leaving at 10:50 a.m.
10:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Campus Tours
Campus Tours depart from the AW Lobby every 15 minutes beginning at 10:00 a.m. The last tour departs at 12:15 p.m., and tours last 45 minutes.
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Academic Department Drop In Sessions
If you're interested in a specific major, contact the academic department or office you are interested in at least two weeks prior to your visit to make arrangements.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Grab Lunch on Campus!
Have some time before the panel? Feel free to eat lunch in one of our dining halls or at any of our multiple eateries on campus. You can also take the short trip downtown to check out any of our local lunch spots if you prefer! Ask your tour guide for on-campus food recommendations after your tour and plan for a little extra time as this is when most students are eating on campus. Dining Halls are $9.22 + tax per person for all-you-can-eat!
*please note that summer dining hall prices will vary
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Information Sessions
First-Year Student Admissions presentation followed by a moderated Q&A with current students from 1:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Optional Financial Aid Presentation from 2:30 - 3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Residence Hall Showcase
Talk with current student Housing Ambassadors about what campus life is like in the Residence Halls! We have several residence halls open for you to visit.
Interested in a Specific Major?
Check in early and participate in our Academic Department Drop In! Many of our departments are open and available for you to visit and ask questions of staff members regarding specific Colleges and majors. If you're interested in a specific major, contact the academic department or office you are interested in at least two weeks prior to your visit to make arrangements.
View the Academic Department Drop In Options below for the most updated list of participating Departments and please note that some departments are only available during specific times.
Spend the first part of your day on campus visiting the Departments that interest you most! Our self-led Academic Department Drop In includes opportunities to pop in to the following Departments to receive information from academic department staff and ask questions about specific majors:
College of Business and Economics
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Business and Sustainability
- Economics
- Finance and Marketing
- Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management
- MBA
College of Fine and Performing Arts
- Theatre and Dance
- Music (appointments encouraged, email LeeAnne.Frahn@wwu.edu)
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Communications Science and Disorders
- English
- Health and Human Development
- History
- Linguistics
- Modern and Classical Languages
- Philosophy
- Political Science
Huxley College of the Environment
Environmental Studies, Environmental Science
College of Science and Engineering
- Biology (Information session at 10:30am)
- Chemistry
- Engineering and Design (Q&A session 11:15am - 11:45am only)
- Computer Science
- Physics and Astronomy
Pre-Healthcare Professions Advising *unavailable Oct 11, Oct 18 and Nov 8
All tracks.
Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
All Concentrations.
Honors Program
All majors.
On Campus
What to bring
We ordered great weather, but please be sure to check the Bellingham weather forecast before you visit. We recommend layered clothing, a light rain jacket or umbrella, comfortable shoes, and sunglasses.
Also, bring a water bottle. This is a bottled water-free campus, supporting one of Western’s core values of environmental sustainability. You can purchase cups of water at any of our campus eateries, or fill your own reusable water bottle at our many water fountains and filling stations.
Accessibility
Campus tours are barrier-free (Accessibility Map of Campus). For more information contact the Disability Access Center at drs@wwu.edu or (360) 650-3083.
Dietary restrictions
Dining halls and campus markets offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free menu options.
Guest Parking Map
Travel
From the South
- From Interstate 5, take exit 252.
- Turn left off the ramp onto S. Samish Way.
- Turn left at the stop light onto N. Samish Way.
- Stay in the left lane and go over the freeway.
- At the second light, turn left onto Bill McDonald Parkway/Byron Avenue – there will be a Wendy's and a 76 Station on your left.
- Drive on Bill McDonald Parkway for just over 1 mile and continue straight through two stop lights (you will still be on the Bill McDonald Parkway).
- The Campus Services Building will be the first building on the right after the intersection.
From the North
- From Interstate 5 going south, take exit 252 and get in the right lane.
- Turn right off the ramp onto N. Samish Way, and get into the left lane.
- At the next light, turn left onto Bill McDonald Parkway/Byron Avenue - there will be a Wendy's and a 76 Station on your left.
- Drive on Bill McDonald Parkway for just over 1 mile and continue straight through two stop lights (you will still be on the Bill McDonald Parkway).
- The Campus Services Building will be the first building on the right after the intersection.
Bellingham International Airport
Allegiant Air - www.allegiantair.com
Alaska/Horizon Airlines - www.alaskaair.com
Greyhound
(800) 231-2222
From Bellingham to downtown Seattle and Vancouver BC. Refer to www.greyhound.com for student discounts.
County Bus
(360) 676-7433
Bellingham/Whatcom County bus system via Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA). Bus schedules available online at www.ridewta.com.
Car Rentals
Avis - (800) 230-4898
Enterprise - (800) 261-7331
Hertz - (800) 654-3131
Airporter Shuttle
(866) 235-5247
Shuttle service from Sea-Tac International Airport (100 mi. south of Bellingham).
Quick Shuttle
(800) 665-2122
Shuttle service from Vancouver International Airport (50 mi. north of Bellingham).
Taxicabs (local)
Yellow Cab - (800) 281-5430
Train
(800) 872-7245
Amtrak departs from Fairhaven (south Bellingham) traveling south through Seattle and north through Vancouver, BC. Refer to www.amtrak.com for student discounts.
Alaska Ferry
(800) 382-9229
Departs from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal and travels via Alaska's Inside Passage.
Parking and Campus Maps
Parking During the Week
We are pleased to offer complimentary parking for our guests attending our Admissions programs! To receive your discount at a parking kiosk, you will need your license plate number and the code found in your confirmation email for this program. You will park in a “C lot” and can get a parking permit at a “C lot” parking lot kiosk or through Parkmobile.
Parking On Weekends and Holidays
Park for free in the “C lots” on weekends and holidays. We also encourage visitors who would like to come on weekends to register for one of our Saturday tour options, or one of our full-day visit programs.
Campus Maps
Use our interactive campus map, or feel free to pick up an old-school paper map at the Campus Services building.
Have Questions?
Campus maps and parking information are available from Campus Services, open from 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
