First Year College Students Explore Options
Finding the right college fit doesn’t stop when you start going to college. Students sometimes learn what they want and find the need to transfer to a different school to make that happen. Benefitting from GEAR UP resources, they ask questions while searching for the best fit, one that will shape the rest of their life.
Winter break gave our college students a great chance to explore other college campuses.
Students had the time to experience being a student at Southern Utah University.
College Advisor Kyle Lund led the group through the buildings at Utah Valley University.
Early on a cold December morning, students from Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) and Snow College boarded a chartered bus to Southern Utah University. When GEAR UP college advisors invited them to spend the first three days of their winter break visiting six other universities, they said YES! These students were willing to learn about other options available to them right after completing their first ever finals week.
Kyle Lund, GEAR UP college advisor for Southern Utah, came up with the idea of offering a bus tour for college students. “I thought of ways that we could better provide some services to our freshman in college and looking back at the success of the bus tours we have provided in high school, it gave me an idea to support these students at our two junior colleges,” said Lund. “Taking students to each of the main universities in Utah would give them a chance to see other school and transfer options.”
Fifteen students explored options and learned what to do if they decided to transfer from their current college. During the three day tour, Dec 19-21, students visited Southern Utah, Utah Tech, Utah Valley, University of Utah, Weber State, and Utah State universities. They also learned about the transfer process while riding on the bus between schools said Alexia Jensen, GEAR UP college advisor for Salt Lake Valley.
Wade Hirschi, GEAR UP college advisor for Northern Utah, assisted students during tours at Weber State and Utah State universities. Visiting each school gave students the information that they needed about what they might gain from transferring or exploring other schools. Students asked great questions and collected information to help them make informed decisions.
“I know for me when I was transferring from Snow College, I only really looked at two schools, but since knowing more about others I might have considered other schools,” said Lund. He was excited to give this opportunity to our GEAR UP students at Snow College and SLCC. His hope is that it gives students a chance to see universities they might not have considered during their first selection process, comparing what they have to offer.
First year college students in the GEAR UP program can benefit from support and encouragement. “Students should know that they have so many opportunities and resources while going to college,” said Lund. “The more that they reach out and get involved the better their experience will be. There are centers, advisors and resources on each campus to help them.”
This is a good time for students to be open to options and ask questions. The choices made during their first year of college often shape the direction for the rest of their lives. Taking the time to gain the right information to make those choices count is important.
College advisors help students with mentors and access to free GEAR UP resources. Our college advisors cover all public universities and colleges in Utah. Contact information for each GEAR UP advisor is available online at GEARUPforcollege.com.