First-year Experience Pathway to Success

The first-year experience pathway to success offers recommendations to help you navigate your first year at GGC. Review and integrate them into your personal and academic decisions and goals.

Get Started

• Attend Grizzly orientation (first-year orientation).
• Attend GGC welcome events.
• Schedule an appointment with your faculty advisor/mentor and start to build a rapport.
• Write down personal goals for your first year.

Get to Know the Campus

• Download the GGC mobile app.
• Familiarize yourself with campus resources: library, academic support and opportunities, student services, dining, veterans support and more.
• Take advantage of the Wellness and Recreation Center to stay active for your wellbeing.

Get Curious

• Browse GGC majors and degree-enhancing options, such as a minor or certificate. Talk to your faculty mentor and explore the GGC Catalog. 
• Know your student handbook (PDF).
• Note courses that spark your interest and talk to your advisor about them.
• Replace “undecided” with “declared” by visiting Career Services online and on campus. 
• Attend a study abroad fair. 
• Look into ways of gaining experience in your career path.

Plan

• Collaborate with your professional advisor or faculty mentor to develop an academic plan that aligns with your professional pathway.

Stay on Track

• Ask your faculty mentor about pre-advising for programs not offered at GGC.
• Utilize campus resources to maintain good academic standing and student integrity.

Learn about Traditions

• Learn about GGC traditions like March through the Arch, General Grizzly and more.

Get Involved

• Explore student life for student organizations.
• Attend GGC events and activities.
• Explore honor society options, such as Alpha Lambda Delta, and consider joining.
• Attend a GGC athletic event or participate in intramural sports.
• Participate in student housing activities or become a resident assistant.
• Participate in a service-learning activity.
• Explore the Student Government Association.
• Find opportunities to get involved in the Lawrenceville community.

Get Support

• Consider Student Success academic coaching, tutoring and student success workshops available from the Academic Enhancement Center.
• Get mental health support from the Counseling and Psychology Services: in person and 24/7 BeWell@GGC.
• Reach out for emergency assistance programs, such as Grizzlies helping Grizzlies and the GGC Care Pantry.
• Ask your professional advisor or faculty mentor about resources on and off campus.

Build Connections

• Introduce yourself to professors, staff members and peers to build your campus network.
• Build a rapport with your professional advisor or faculty mentor.
• Connect with upper classmen and peer mentors.
• Become a peer mentor or Peer Supplemental Instruction leader.

Focus Forward

• Talk with your mentor about your sophomore year and what is to come.
• Register for sophomore classes.
• Explore available scholarships.
• Start building your college resume and get feedback from Career Services.