FYSOP 2025: Frequently Asked Questions

Registration for FYSOP 2025 will become available May 1! Please follow us to receive further updates about registration.

Program Overview

  1. What is FYSOP? FYSOP, or the First-Year Student Outreach Project, is a community service program designed just for first-year BU students. Throughout the program, students will engage in a variety of education, service, and reflection activities that will help them get to know BU and the city of Boston.
  2. When is FYSOP? This year FYSOP will take place Thursday, August 28 followed by several opportunities throughout the fall 2025 semester. 
  3. Who is eligible to participate in FYSOP? All new Fall 2025 undergraduate students are eligible to participate. This includes freshmen students, transfer students, and international students. College of General Studies students who matriculated January 2025 are also eligible to participate. Incoming College of General Studies students who will matriculate in January 2026 will be able to participate in FYSOP 2026. 
  4. How much will FYSOP 2025 cost? The cost of FYSOP registration is now included within orientation registration. 
  5. Which Orientation session should I register for? Orientation is now the same time for all students. To participate in FYSOP we recommend that students sign up for Orientation “Service Track” scheduled for August 28.  If you have specific questions about Orientation, feel free to contact the Orientation team at orientation@bu.edu. 

FYSOP Registration

  1. Where do I register? Students can register for the program in May 2025
  2. Do I have to attend Orientation before I can register for FYSOP? No! You may register for FYSOP as early as of May 1.
  3. How much will FYSOP 2025 cost? The cost of FYSOP in included in Orientation .
  4. How do I register? Students must log on to “MyBU Portal” in order to register for Orientation. Within that registration you have are able to select “focus tracks”. FYSOP is now the “Service Track” within orientation.
  5. Do I need to turn in a waiver if I am turning 18 before August 28? No, only students who are 17 or younger at the start of the program (August 28, 2025) must complete a waiver. The waiver is available within the application and will also be sent in the confirmation email.
  6. I’ve completed my registration for FYSOP 2025. What happens next? You will receive a confirmation email welcoming you to the program later in the summer. One of our FYSOP program managers will also give you a call to verify your information and answer any questions you might have. If you are unavailable during this time, our program managers will follow up to work out an alternative communication plan. 

    The FYSOP Experience

    1. Where will I be staying during FYSOP? Students living on-campus during the fall semester will be living in their academic year housing assignments during FYSOP. First-year participants will move into their residence halls on Monday, August 26th, so they will not need to register for a move-in slot during regular academic year move-in. A more detailed move-in schedule will be released over the summer. Students who plan to live off-campus during the Fall semester will need to make their own housing arrangements for the duration of the FYSOP program.
    2. Can parents/guardians attend any FYSOP programs? No, FYSOP programs are for registered first-year students only. 
    3. Will students have any free time during FYSOP?  FYSOP is jam-packed, and students will be busy with service, activities, reflections, and education programs each day. However, students will have some down time each day to do whatever else they need, whether that’s rest or take care of other appointments on campus. 
    4. What is the specific daily schedule? We are still finalizing this year’s schedule, but here is a general overview of what to expect each day:
      1. Wednesday, August 27: FYSOP info session and meet your Staff Leaders.
      2. Thursday, August 28: Service project, reflection activities, social activities
      3. Fall semester: Service-focused campus and community engagement fair, cohort based opportunities, mentorship, volunteer recognition ceremony.
    5. What’s the point? We know that FYSOP means something different to every student. We hope every participant gets a few things out of their FYSOP experience:
      1. A diverse group of new friends and an upperclassmen student mentor.
      2. The ability to have meaningful conversations with new people who may feel like instant best friends, or who have very different beliefs or experiences.
      3. A better sense of the history and geography of Boston and its communities, and the risk and resilience factors these communities face each day.
      4. An understanding of how college students can positively work in solidarity with their new community, and conversely, the ways in which we can cause harm.
      5. The inspiration to learn more: about our city, about civic engagement, about social justice and change, about volunteering, or about cultures or experiences different than their own.
    6. What if I cannot attend FYSOP, but I still want to get involved with service on-campus?  Fortunately, there are lots of ways to get involved with community service on campus.  Beyond FYSOP, the Community Service Center has programs like Days of Service, Alternative Service Breaks, Student Food Rescue that you can get involved with during the academic year. Additionally, there are also tons of service-focused student organizations that you can join on campus. Feel free to check out a full list of student organizations here.
    7. What happens after FYSOP? We will be in touch throughout students’ first year on campus. The leaders that work with groups will arrange meetups, share events and programs, and serve as civic mentors. There will be an  active citizenship, explore Boston, and team building activity on Sept 13 followed by an additional day of service and reflection during the fall semester. We will also help students connect the lessons they learned during FYSOP with academic coursework, clubs, and other activities. We encourage all students to further their service, engagement, and reflection through the Community Service Center’s other programs and events.