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The first few days at DU are a whirlwind. With moving in, Discoveries Orientation activities, and meeting what feels like a hundred new faces, there's barely a second to catch your breath. Who has time to wander around and figure out where everything is?

That's where this list comes in. We've rounded up the must-know spots for first-year students (which can be found on this handy campus map)—from the ID and student employment offices to the epicenter of student events and the nearest light rail station, we've got you covered.

Have no fear, the ID office is here

One thing that gets drilled into your brain as a first year is always carry your student ID card and room keys—simple but essential advice!

All residence halls have a three-step security system that requires you to scan your ID card to get into the building, the elevator/stairs, and your room if you live in Dimond. Your meal plan is also attached to your ID card, so if you want to eat, you need your ID.

In other words, in the unlikely (or perhaps likely) event that you lose your ID card, you will need to get a new one right away.

But don't stress—the ID office is located in a hidden nook underneath the stairs in Driscoll Commons, right below the bookstore and next to the Food Pantry.

Open most days from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the ID office also coordinates everything related to meal plans, including swipes and cash. On top of that, during the first week of orientation, you can also pick up a free plastic card holder—perfect for protecting your card and making it easy to clip on.

Burwell has your back

Interested in on-campus employment? The should be your first stop!

Located right next to Sturm College of Law, the Burwell Center offers a plethora of resources that first-year students should know about. Career advising, access to free business casual clothes and professionally taken headshots, and so much more can be found here.

Check out their on-campus student employee job fair on September 8 from 1:00 to 3:30 to take a look at the building and get a taste of the many events they put on throughout the year.

Stay caffeinated

Caffeine is going to be one of the main ways you get through your first year. Of course, there's the on-campus inside the Community Commons; however, another don't-miss coffee spot is just across Evans Avenue.

The student-run is inside the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management and offers the best iced lattes to get you through study sessions. They also have weekly drink specials and tasty breakfast burritos worth trying out.

Check out some of their events, too, like trivia night or paint-and-sip sessions. At Beans, there's always something to do and a delicious drink to go with it.

Looking for events?

DU has lots of green spaces, but one that all first years should know about is Campus Green.

Located in the center of campus just outside Sturm Hall—the home of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences—Campus Green is the largest and most active outdoor space at DU.

Of the countless events held on the big green oval, some favorites are Munch Week, a week-long event each quarter in which local businesses bring in free food to help students fuel up for midterms, and May Days, DU's end-of-the-year celebration the week before finals.

Go further with light rail

Light rail is one of the best ways to get to downtown Denver (and all the points in between here and there), and you can hop on at the just north of campus. RTD, by the way, stands for Regional Transportation District, which operates all public transportation in the city.

Located just across Buchtel Boulevard from Centennial Towers, the Â鶹Çø light rail station is your ticket to places like the 16th Street Mall, Empower Field, Ball Arena, Union Station, and other key downtown spots.

As a first-year student, you should have received an email before you arrived on campus, prompting you to download the RTD app and activate your DU RTD pass using your DU log-in information. This gives you free access to not only light rail but also all local and regional bus services.

Make sure to keep the app downloaded to stay up to date on schedules, routes, and potential delays. With so many areas to discover in Denver, the light rail station makes it easy to get to your destination.

These are just a few of the spots every new student should know about. Welcome to DU—you'll be navigating campus like a pro in no time!