What to Expect Your First Year at UM

Written by Anna Weishaar | Jun 18, 2026 9:30:34 PM

Your first year of college – it’s a time that will fly by too fast and be hard to forget. Meeting new people, experiencing new things and evolving into the best version of yourself – no one does the first year of college like the University of Montana.

It’s completely normal to feel some anxiety about a new adventure, and sometimes it helps to look at the big picture. Check out this extensive list of what your first year will look like and know there’s more where that came from!

Scroll on to see everything you’ll experience your first year at UM:

We’ll See You on Move-In Day

Move-In Day is your official first day on campus, and it’s a bittersweet one at that! Campus employees and other students help bring your things to your residence hall room, and from there, you make your space your own. Meet your roommate, settle into your new surroundings, and say hello to campus as an official Grizzly.

Welcome to the Big Sky Experience – Your UM Orientation

The Big Sky Experience, a.k.a. UM Orientation, is a five-day celebration the week before classes. There’s so much happening during these five days, all centered on getting you accustomed to campus and embedding you within our community.

From the beginning Welcome Feast to the ending Freshman Float on the Clark Fork River, the Big Sky Experience is the perfect introduction to our Montana way of life. Other notable activities include the BEAR Fair to meet all the campus organizations, Griz in the Park in downtown Missoula and a Family Send-Off to say goodbye to loved ones.

Fall is Football Season … and it’s a BIG Deal Here

Want to feel the electricity of crowd rooting for the home team? Head to Washington-Grizzly Stadium throughout the fall for Griz Football. Missoula is absolutely buzzing all weekend, and inside the stadium, the student section is always the loudest (see: Zoo Crew). When you attend UM, you get free tickets to all Grizzly sporting events.

Join a Club Sport or Club — We Have Plenty!

Joining a club or club sport is a great way to meet friends and like-minded people. Student clubs stay on campus, while club sports compete against other schools in the region. There’s an abundance of both at UM, and anyone is welcome to start their own. The BEAR Fair during orientation is a great way to see what’s out there, but you can also check out GrizHub for a complete listing of clubs.

Find Your Favorite Meals at The Lodge

The Lodge is home to eight distinct food stations with an array of tastes, so no matter what you’re hungry for, they’ve got you covered! The Lodge is a go-to for hanging out with friends, spending time studying or enjoying alone time while eating something tasty. In the warmer months, you can even find spots outside for a sunny, ambient meal!

Check out the Menu: The Lodge Dining Center | University of Montana

Chill at the University Center

The UC has been around forever and is an essential spot to hang your first year on campus (and every year after that). It’s home to the UC Market and Food Court, UM’s Esport Arena, the Gaming Den, the UM Makerspace, the Go Griz Store and is the headquarters for ASUM (student government) and Bear Necessities.

It’s hard to miss, but the UC is also home to a huge indoor atrium with tall plants and trees reaching toward the ceiling. This environment makes a great place to hang, grab a snack or find a study spot to catch up on homework.

Explore the Best Backyard in Montana

Missoula is blessed with big mountains, a free-flowing river and thousands upon thousands of acres of national forests to explore. Start with Mount Sentinel and the surrounding National Recreation Areas and once you’ve got a taste of our wild environments, you can branch out further to places like Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake and so much more.

Discover the Hidden Gems Around Campus

Campus may be compact, but you’ll likely spend most of your time in certain areas of campus based on your major. That said, wandering around can lead to some intriguing and fun hidden gems, such as a bench nestled between buildings or a mini museum with fossils and a dino head. Wander around sometime and see what you might find!

January Brings the Foresters’ Ball — A Fun UM Tradition!

The Foresters’ Ball is a blast! This winter tradition has been around for 100+ years and it keeps getting better and better. The tradition starts with Bertha the Moose being stolen and ends with an entire town built inside Schrieber Gym. Dancing, marriages and merriment ensues. Make sure you get your ticket for this swingin’ good time!

Find Yourself a Few Music and Theatre Events

UM’s School of Theatre and Dance and School of Music offer an abundance of masterful performances from talented students. You can catch large and small-scale performances throughout the year, such as the popular ‘Dance on Scene’ performances and concerts galore.

Have You Heard About Alternative Spring Breaks?

Alternative Spring Breaks allow students to embark on a journey to someplace new, learn from communities and gain hands-on experience with different social issues through service projects. During these breaks, you’ll work with a handful of other students on volunteer projects, as well as have time to explore during planned activities. (Psst … you can also earn academic credit for these excursions as well!)

Learn More: Alternative Breaks – Career Center | University of Montana

Attend the UM Rodeo

Montana and rodeos go together like bread and butter. Rodeo is a club sport on campus and it’s been around forever! Rodeo includes six men’s events and four women’s events. The Spring Rodeo draws in spectators from all over and has six schools competing for a spot in the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.

You’ll Have Finals, Of Course

Studying for finals can be a stressful time, as well as a time for anticipation of a much-needed break after a semester of hard work. UM has plenty of opportunities for tutoring and homework help, as well as dedicated late-night study events the week leading up to finals.

Winter and Summer Breaks Come Just in Time

Maybe you’re headed home for winter and summer breaks, but if you have a few days to stick around, campus and Missoula have an abundance of activities to keep you entertained in sunshine or snow. Use this valuable time to relax, recharge and dig into our community.

Finish the Year with The Big Event

In the same way The Big Sky Experience begins the year with service projects, the Big Event wraps up the year with them. This day brings students, staff and the community together to volunteer for different projects throughout the day, ending with live music, food trucks, games and more! This is the perfect way to wrap up your year at UM. Hope to see you there!

Learn More: The Big Event | University of Montana

What Did We Miss?

There’s so much to experience your first year of college. There are the classes, homework, and discovering your academic interests, of course. But there’s also the many little things that will define your experience. From the new friends to the inside jokes, late nights and early mornings. What will you remember from your first year at UM?

Anna Weishaar graduated from the University of Montana in 2018 with a degree in Creative Writing. She currently works as the Marketing Coordinator for the MCEE department. She enjoys walking her dogs around campus and finding healthy options for lunch in the UC Market, and going to events offered by UM to learn something new.

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