The UA already feels like home to many of the more than 6,000 freshmen and 300 graduate students who moved on campus last week.

“”I feel right at home,”” said Cristina Marfeglia, a pre-business freshman.

Marfeglia said she and two of her friends from her high school chose the UA because of its proximity to home.

“”I wanted to get out of Las Vegas, and UA is close to home but far enough,”” she said.

Joshua Leimkuehler, a pre-business freshman, had a strategy for easy transition in place before arrival: He got a job with Residence Life that allowed him to move in early without paying an extra fee.

Leimkuehler said he does not feel any first-year bewilderment. In fact, his job with the Hall Involvement Team has him helping welcome other newcomers, moving boxes and calming the fears of anxious parents.

He said he appreciated the UA’s welcoming atmosphere.

“”When I visited, I fell in love with Tucson, the campus, Eller (College of Management), everything,”” Leimkhuehler said. “”Being here early has actually given me a chance to meet my floormates and become closer with my RA.””

International graduate student Balaji Ramamurthy, a master’s candidate in computer science, arrived only two weeks ago from Chennai, India, and has found it similarly easy to get acquainted with campus.

“”People here are very friendly,”” he said. “”I’m already accustomed to the place.””

Ramamurthy said he was welcomed at the airport by senior members of the UA India Club, of which he is a member.

“”The seniors helped us out – they picked us up and took us shopping our first week here,”” he said.

Joining a club is one of many ways to get involved during your first year at the UA.

Marghi Malloy, an undeclared freshman, said she is currently involved in Greek Life rush but expressed first-year jitters.

“”Honestly, I’m pretty scared,”” Malloy said. “”I feel excited to go to classes and learn more than I could in high school, but I kind of want to go back home.””

However frightening the transition can be, some said they found the newness exciting.

“”It’s crazy here,”” said Mary Reese, an undeclared freshman. “”I like it so far; it seems like a lot of fun.””