Not your average CGS class: Eighth grade students visit for a day to learn about the college experience
A special “class” took place at the College of General Studies (CGS) on Friday, October 31, as a group of eighth grade students journeyed to Boston University to learn more about the college experience. About thirty students from the Arthur D. Healey school in Somerville met with CGS Dean Natalie McKnight, Dean Megan Sullivan, and Professor Adam Sweeting for an engaging Q&A session. This is the fifth year that students have come to CGS for this type of session, largely coordinated by Professor and Humanities Chair Adam Sweeting, who serves as the Vice Chair of the Somerville Public Schools School Committee. As a member of the Committee (and father of two students in the Somerville system), Sweeting has been pushing for discussions of college readiness among the district’s students, and this opportunity certainly exposes students at an early and critical point of their educational careers.
CGS faculty answered the student’s eager and thoughtful questions about BU, providing a flavor of the virtually boundless student activities opportunities, sharing more details about the majors and courses of study offered. Students also had a lot of questions about college in general- conversation included the distinction between a college and university, and the shift in class schedules and classroom experience between high school and college. Recognizing there’s more than one way to a secondary degree, students left CGS with a better understanding of the associated pros and cons of a community college experience and four-year institution. No matter where that degree is pursued, CGS faculty shared that perseverance and communication with professors are the secrets to a student’s success.
After the Q&A session at CGS, the students ventured over to the George Sherman Union for lunch, and then attended the annual Pumpkin Drop. We hope to see some of the students in the class of 2023!
