Julianna Schiller was looking forward to leaving home to go away for school—just not too far away.

“It’s far away enough to get away from home and have a new experience, but still close enough to come home,” the London, Ontario, student responded when asked why she chose the University of Windsor for first year criminology. “Plus they had the program I wanted, and it’s a really good school.”

Schiller was on campus yesterday with hundreds of other students and their parents for Head Start, an annual orientation program designed to help make the transition from high school to university a little smoother. Her parents Jeff and Joanne admitted to being a little nervous about their first daughter going away to university, but said their concerns were eased after meeting a variety of staffers, faculty and student volunteers.

“Everyone’s been really helpful and she’s already met some other people in her program,” said Joanne.

Head Start continues through May 28. The program, organized by the Student Success Centre, includes tours of campus facilities, information sessions about university life for students and parents, academic advising, presentations on residence and food services, and an information fair highlighting campus services. Find more information, including an online registration form, at uwindsor.ca/headstart.