K-STATE . EDU/F IRST

Making the most of your first year

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A great college experience starts with A G R E AT F I R S T Y E A R

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College is an adventure, and having good friends and mentors to relate to and learn from makes for a great experience. Connect with other first-year students in K-State First programs. Explore college life, share the experience, make it yours.

A great college experience starts with A G R E AT F I R S T Y E A R

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B E F I R S T

Imagine yourself on campus at K-State.

Read this guide.

Visit k-state.edu/first to learn more about how to

get involved.

Kansas State University has a wide selection of opportunities just for first-year students. K-State First will help you succeed as you begin your first year of college. Within our programs, you’ll have the chance to connect with students and faculty, and you’ll learn with them in the classroom and beyond.

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Email us at kstatefirst@k-state.edu

with questions.

Talk to your academic advisor at orientation and enrollment about K-State First offerings.

Start your first day at K-State.

Meet new friends and interact with

professors through K-State First programs.

THE PROGRAM

WHAT IT IS

WHO IT’S FOR

MORE INFO

Find the rightK-STATE F IRST PROGRAMS

for you

CAT Communities

Small groups of students with

similar interests take courses

together

All first-year students Turn to page 6

First-Year Seminar

Small classes with lots of interaction

All first-year students Turn to page 8

GPS

A K-State professional

invests in you and your first-year

experience

All first-year students Turn to page 10

KSBN All-university reading program All students Turn to page 12

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C AT C O M M U N I T I E SOne interest, endless connections

The programConnecting Across Topics, or CAT Communities, connect students with similar interests through two regular courses and a one-hour connections course, all taken during the fall.

CAT Community types:• Interest-based• Pre-professional• Residential• Studyabroad

How you’ll benefit• Learninasmallcommunity.• Earncredittowardgeneraleducationrequirements.• Takecoursestailoredaroundyourinterests.• Attendcampuseventswithyourcommunity.• Makenewfriendswhoshareyourinterests.

Act nowBefore orientation and enrollment, visit k-state.edu/cat to see upcoming CAT Community offerings and email kstatefirst@k-state.edu to sign up. Space is limited.

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“MytimeasanRLAhasbeenanenrichinglearningexperience.Ioftenfind myself learning right along with my students, and that is why this program is so great! There is something to gain for everyone involved.”

Brooke WilliamsPsychologymajorResidentialCATCommunityLearningAssistant

Connect to K-State with

CAT COMMUNIT I ESImagine yourself in a CAT Community.

MUSIC 245IntrotoAmericanMusic[Regularlecturesection]

ANTH 200IntrotoCulturalAnthropology

[Regularlecturesection]

Expert faculty member

You

ResidentialLearning Assistant(RLA)

Other first-year studentsDAS 199MakingtheUltimatePlaylist:AmericanCultureRevealed[CAT Community ConnectionsClass]

Want to live with your CAT Community friends?Join a Residential CAT Community and:• Establishimmediatefriendshipsinyourresidencehall.• Havebuilt-instudypartnerseverydayoftheweek.• Eatdinnerwithyourprofessor,andattendon-campusevents.

Visit k-state.edu/first to find the perfect CAT Community for you.

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F I R S T - Y E A R S E M I N A R SSmall classes, big gains

“Myfirst-yearseminarwasthe most beneficial class that Itookmyfirstsemesterofcollege.Itgavemeaninsidelook into the university and all oftheresourcesthatIwouldneed to succeed as a student atK-State.Myprofessorwasso helpful, and she genuinely caredaboutmyeducation.Icouldn’t have asked for more!”

Marisa SoteloIndustrialengineeringmajorFirst-year seminar student

Examples of First-Year Seminars• IntroductiontoLiterature• InsectsandPeople• IntroductiontoLeadershipConcepts

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The programDomorethanjustgotoclass.Askquestions,interactwithprofessorsand engage in classes with 22 or fewer students.

How you’ll benefit• Learninaninteractiveenvironment.• Connectwithclassmatesandprofessors.• Earncredittowardgeneraleducationrequirements.• Receivepersonalizedattentionfromexceptionalfaculty.

Act nowSpace is limited. Visit k-state.edu/fys to see upcoming First-Year Seminars, and talk to your academic advisor at orientation and enrollment to sign up.

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The programTheGuidetoPersonalSuccessProgram,orGPS,matchesfirst-yearstudents with one campus professional for a one-on-one mentoring relationship.GPSguidesareK-Statestaff,faculty,graduatestudentsand recent alumni who volunteer their time to invest in the lives of first-year students like you.

How you’ll benefit• Discovertheuniversityinapersonalwayfromsomeonewho knows the campus.• Connectwithyourguideatleastthreetimespersemester.• AttendexclusiveGPSConnectEventsthroughouttheyear.• Meetotherfirst-yearstudentsandprofessionalsacrosscampus.

Act nowStudents and guides are matched prior to the start of the year. Visit k-state.edu/gps to sign up. Space is limited.

G U I D E T O P E R S O N A L S U C C E S S Your guide, your success

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“GPSistheonlyorganizationon campus that matches first-year students with professionals.WhenIarrived,Iwantedtomakesomeconnections here and my mentor has been a big part of my journey so far.”

Drew EwingIndustrialengineeringmajorGPSmentee

G U I D E T O P E R S O N A L S U C C E S S Your guide, your success

GPS Connect Events• AttendaK-State athletics event. • Volunteeringin the community.• Networkingwith campus offices and leaders.

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K S B NA campus on the same page

KSBN books• Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, 2013• The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksbyRebeccaSkloot,2012• Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, 2011• The Hunger GamesbySuzanneCollins,2010

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The programReadabookwiththerestofthecampusintheK-StateBookNetwork,orKSBN,andjoinfellowstudentsinaseriesofbook-relatedeventsanddiscussion. Students will receive a copy of the book at June orientation and enrollment.

How you’ll benefit• Participateinthought-provokingdiscussionsaboutthebook.• Connectwithstudents,facultyandstaffthroughashared academic experience.• Usethebookasaconversation-starterwhenyouarriveoncampus.

Who it’s forAll students

Act nowReadyourbookafterreceivingitatorientationandenrollment.Planhow you’ll get involved in the conversation. Visit k-state.edu/ksbn for more information.

“Iwascaptivatedbymanyoftheissuesandideasraised in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and used elements of the story to create a dance pieceformystudents.Itwasexcitingtotalktoattendees after the performance about the book, the dance and their connections to the story lines.KSBNreachesbeyondK-Stateandconnectspeople across many areas of the community.”

Laura DonnellyAssistant professor of dance

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Act nowVisit wow.k-state.edu to check out events.

Act nowAsk your academic advisor at orientation and enrollment, visit k-state.edu/aac/universityexperience for more information, or call 785-532-6492.

Act nowSpace is limited, so talk to your academic advisor at orientation and enrollment. Visit k-state.edu/pilots or call 785-532-6492 for more information.

Act nowApply now. Visit k-state.edu/ksuhonors or call 785-532-2642.

Week of Welcome events and activitiesMeetnewpeopleduringaweeklongseriesofeventsdesignedtohelpstudents all find their way and get involved at K-State.

University ExperienceThis program combines a K-State orientation with academic instruction to make the transition from high school to college as smooth as possible.

PILOTSThisyearlongprogramprovidesqualifyingfreshmenwithacademicstructure,individual tutoring and assistance in making a strong K-State connection.

University Honors ProgramYou’ll take challenging classes, work with K-State’s top professors and study with other students who want to excel. You’ll interact with students from all of the colleges at K-State.

OTHER OPPORTUNIT I ESfor success

K-State has additional offerings that will help you choose the academic and student life programs that best fit your needs and interests. Check out these programs for other ways to connect on campus.

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k-state.edu/firstkstatefirst@k-state.edu

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