First Year Seminar

A new semester is an exciting time. Classes are different. Weather is different. Activities are different. This semester, I am serving as a facilitator for First Year Seminar (FYS), a series of seminars designed to help first-years make the most of their time at UVa. After getting adjusted to college life in their first semester, FYS aims to provide the tools and advice to make the remaining 7 semesters as enjoyable, rewarding, and gratifying as possible. FYS is a completely voluntary program but students who participate walk away from it with so much. First, the groups (10-15 first-years) are led by 3 facilitators who are upperclassmen that are some of the most amazing students you will meet at UVa. We serve as an incredible resource for the first-years during and after the program for any questions regarding classes, majors, activities, life and such. Secondly, each week (5 total) we discuss a different topic ranging from identity awareness and personal accountability to building relationships at UVa whether it be with faculty or even other students. The program ends with a panel of fourth-years who share their highs and lows as well as some tips and tricks to make the best of your time at UVa. FYS meets in the football stadium's, Scott Stadium, suite boxes which truly makes this a unique experience as the only people allowed in these are those who shell out thousands of dollars for tickets or students who are interviewing for jobs. To top it off, those students who come to all 5 sessions receive a free t-shirt as a keepsake of their experience! Watch our recruiting video "Party in the FYS" to learn more about FYS:



Thus, FYS is another way that UVa works to ensure that first-year students are able to take advantage of the many opportunities that it has to offer.