First Year Experience

All incoming first-year CAS Students are participants in the First-Year Experience which consists of the following:

First Year Academic Advisors help students learn to make the most of their college years, not merely by completing requirements toward a degree but also by growing intellectually and developing all aspects of their identity. These First Year Advisors serve a critical role in the transition and success of first year students. The advising relationship first-year students have with this advisor is a key factor in the College’s ability to help students persist to the sophomore year. First Year Advisors initiate contact with incoming first year students in late May to introduce themselves and begin the registration process with their advisees.

FY 101/102 Seminar Courses: These are 1-credit optional courses that meet approximately one hour per week and will only enhance your BU experience by connecting you to peers, student leaders and instructors that are instrumental in assisting you in navigating BU and Boston.

• FY101 is an optional one-credit course that serves as a semester-long introduction to BU and college life. Each section is taught in combination by a BU administrator and a student peer mentor.  You will meet with a small community of peers who will serve as conversation partners as together you learn how to leverage BU’s resources to create a more successful and meaningful college experience. Through discussions, activities, class field trips and program-wide events, you will investigate the social, academic and cultural dimensions of student life at Boston University, while making deep connections with your fellow students, your peer mentor, and a BU staff member. Please note that in the Fall semesters, there are standard CAS sections as well as specialized sections for undeclared students and first generation college students.
  
• FY 102 (offered Spring only) – First-Year Career Development Seminar: An optional 1-credit course that will help first year students get started on utilizing the Career Development Cycle to maximize their time at BU. During this course students will create a plan of action towards choosing a major, creating a resume, finding an internship, and preparing for a career that they will love. Seminars are offered in various fields of interest and include guest speakers from different industries.

First-Year Programming will be a plethora of intentional programs developed for first-year students to assist them with developing identity, values, wellness, explore academic opportunities outside of the classroom and allow students to get involved in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities on campus.

Register for the section that works best with your schedule under CAS FY101 (Fall semesters)  or FY 101 TR for Transfers (either semester) and FY 102 (Spring semesters) on the Student Link.

Please note that in the Fall semesters, there are standard CAS sections as well as specialized sections for undeclared students and first generation college students.

In the Spring semesters, there is a standard transfer section CAS FY 101 TR, and any other new student my access the specialized sections that focus on career development (each section varies in career focus, so find the section that matches your interests).

First choose your four academic classes (16 credits), and then add a section of FY101 or FY 102- students can take up to 18 credits at no additional cost in the first semester of their first year*.
For more information on the First Year Experience, visit our website at www.bu.edu/fye.
For more information about FY101, visit our website at www.bu.edu/fy101.

*Kilachand Honors College Students are welcome to add FY101 to their schedule for a total of 19 credits.