Life Skills for Entering First-Year Students

Life Skills offerings for entering first-year students are designed to support students in the transition to academic and social life at BU. Here you will find courses, workshops, and activities to help you navigate your college experience, and the many opportunities available to you on campus, with intention and purpose.

Note: Some of these opportunities are primarily intended for or only available to students enrolled in a particular school or college.

CAS FY 101: First Year Experience (CAS)
Weekly “how to college” class led by a BU administrator and an upperclassman. Topics include: getting involved at BU, exploring Boston, time management and priorities, staying healthy in college, identity, and more. These sections are designed for CAS students.

CAS FY 101: First Year Experience (COM Only Sections) (CAS)
Weekly “how to college” class led by a BU administrator and an upperclassman. Topics include: getting involved at BU, exploring Boston, time management and priorities, staying healthy in college, identity, and more. These sections are designed for COM students.

CAS FY 101: First Year Experience (Questrom Only Sections) (CAS)
Weekly “how to college” class led by a BU administrator and an upperclassman. Topics include: getting involved at BU, exploring Boston, time management and priorities, staying healthy in college, identity, and more. These sections are designed for Questrom students.

CAS FY 101: First Year Experience (Wheelock Only Sections) (CAS)
Weekly “how to college” class led by a BU administrator and an upperclassman. Topics include: getting involved at BU, exploring Boston, time management and priorities, staying healthy in college, identity, and more. These sections are designed for Wheelock students.

CAS FY 102: First Year Career Development (Internships, Majors, and Your Career Direction) (CAS)
Half-semester class designed to guide students towards the next step in their career preparation.

First Year Experience Programming: Smart Money, FitRec Night, Career Directions, Study Abroad (CAS Office of Student Programs & Leadership)
Evening programs designed to help students learn “how to college” and get the most out of their BU education.

Writing, Speaking, and Multimedia Assistance (CAS Writing Program)
The CAS Writing Center offers one-on-one appointments with trained consultants (peer undergraduates, graduate students, and ESL Specialists) who can answer questions, act as sounding boards, and provide guidance to students working on written, oral/signed, and digital/multimedia projects in the foundational writing courses and other CAS courses.

CFA FA 100: Doing, Making & Knowing: The CFA Experience (CFA)
Through collaborative projects, visiting artists and inspiring conversations, the course is an experiential and comprehensive introduction to the full scope of artistic endeavors housed within the College of Fine Arts. Topics include: collaboration and integration as artists in different disciplines, individual and collective practice of artists within the larger community of the arts, and more. This course is designed for CFA students.

COM Ambassador Program (COM)
Peer mentor program to help entering first-year COM students and transfer students adapt to life at college, as well as get to know their classmates and the city.

ENG EK 100 (ENG)
In this first year experience course, students are introduced to BU, the College of Engineering, and the field of engineering. Through lectures and small group discussions with faculty, student advisors, and alumni, and exercises and engineering challenges, students gain a better understanding of the various engineering disciplines, the ethical responsibilities of engineers, and how engineers contribute to society. EK 100 also includes orientation to academic policies, special programs, and support services available to students.

Peer Mentoring for First-Year Students (Questrom)
Questrom Peer Advisors support fellow undergraduate business students through the sophomore year, helping entering first-year students with the transition from high school, as well as advising all students regarding major and minor exploration, the basics of course selection, professional skills development, involvement on campus, and more. Peer Advisors are junior and senior business students, selected through a rigorous application and interview process, who work closely with the advising staff of the Undergraduate Academic & Career Development Center (UDC).

QST ES 110: Explore Your Career (Questrom)
This 1-credit course provides an overview of individual career management as the first course in a Questrom School of Business yearly progression designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge, tools, and skills needed to explore career opportunities and build a foundation of career management capabilities.

The Questrom Ascend Program (Questrom)
The Questrom Ascend Fellowship is open to African-American/Black, Hispanic, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, and first-generation college students; it is designed to help to develop innovative and ethical leaders who understand the impact of business on society and strive to create value for the world.

Undergraduate Academic & Career Development Center Workshops & Programs (Questrom)
Academic Advisors from the Undergraduate Academic & Career Development Center (UDC) provide frequent academic workshops, panels, and other programs to support students in maximizing their learning and academic success. Many are directed specifically to entering first-year students through QST SM 131 to support the transition to Questrom and Boston University, but additionally the UDC offers an Academic Support Program designed for all students facing academic challenges.

SAR HP 150: First Year Sargent Seminar (Sargent)
The course will build your resourcefulness, understanding of the Sargent College community, resources, and effective use of the many available campus services.

The Transitional Mentor Program (Wheelock)
The Transitional Mentor (TM) Program is available to help acclimate new students to the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development (Wheelock), Boston University, and the city of Boston.