“I feel that the First-Year Seminar provides a great transition between high school and college because the class teaches what is expected of you as a college student.”
- Jessica Nash, Sophomore, Psychology Major
Welcome to USC Aiken and to the beginning of your First-Year Experience! As you begin this exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience, it is important to know there are a number of opportunities and services available to help you make a successful transition. One very important resource is this website. We hope you will use it to learn more about the campus resources available to help you achieve academic success during your first year at USC Aiken and beyond!
What is the First-Year Experience?
At USC Aiken, the First-Year Experience includes a wide-variety of programs specifically for students in their first year of college. Select any of the links below to find out more about what the First-Year Experience at USC Aiken offers.
• AFYS 101 (The First-Year Seminar)
This 1-credit hour course assists students as they transition to the USCA community and provides the tools and strategies they need to have a successful undergraduate experience.
• First Year Advising
This program pairs a specially trained faculty or staff member with an entering first-year student for the duration of the student's first year.
• Freshman Convocation and the First-Year Reading Experience
Freshman Convocation consists of two parts: faculty-led small group discussions about Not For Sale (the 2008 selection for the First-Year Reading Experience) and a ceremony that marks the beginning of the academic year. All USCA freshmen are required to participate in the Freshman Convocation.
• Learning Communities
Learning communities provide first-year students with an opportunity to take classes that are linked together and include information related to the learning community theme.