WWW.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 www.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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The programConnecting Across Topics, or CAT Communities, connect students with similar interests through two regular courses taken together and another one-hour opportunity to discover course connections.

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

Who it’s forFirst-year students

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

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

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“Myinstructorandlearningassistantofferedpractical and helpful advice about academics and college life. I made great friends and learned so much in a safe and comfortable environment.”

Merabeth CorbettHotel and restaurant management majorBusiness of Hospitality CAT Community 2011Oakley, Kansas

“As the learning assistant, I helped organize tours of local restaurants and businesses so students could see what areas might interest them. The class is a hands-on experience and really shows students what this industry is like.”

Kale HammHotel and restaurant management major CAT Community learning assistantWaverly, Kansas

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

Connect to K-State with

CAT COMMUNIT I ESImagine yourself in a CAT Community.

MUSIC 245IntrotoAmericanMusic[Regular lecture section]

ANTH 200Intro to Cultural Anthropology

[Regular lecture section]

Expert faculty member

You

Undergraduate learning assistant

DAS 199MakingtheUltimate

Playlist: American Culture Revealed[CAT Community

Connections Class]

Visit www.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

“As an out-of-state student, I came to campus completely on my own, and the First-Year Seminar class really helped me begin to expand my K-State family. The professor and students in these courses are people I’m so glad to know. This was easily the best experience of my freshman year.”

Danny FosterSecondary education majorEarth in Action SeminarBroken Bow, Nebraska

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

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

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

Who it’s forFirst-year students

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

“Myteachergottoknoweachandeveryoneofherstudents,andshehelpedusgettoknoweachother. I was exposed to many things going on around campus, as well as things that I should do to make myself a better student. It made my first semester at K-State so much more enjoyable.”

Jasmine ThompsonPsychology major, K-State Culture Seminar, Grand Prairie, Texas

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The programThe Guide to Personal Success Program, or GPS, provides first-year students with one campus professional as a point of contact who can assist students with personal and professional needs throughout their freshman year. GPS guides are K-State staff, faculty, graduate students and 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.• AttendexclusiveGPS-sponsoredeventsthroughouttheyear.• Meetotherfirst-yearstudentsandprofessionalsacrosscampus.

Who it’s forAll first-year students

Act nowSign up for a GPS guide. Visit www.k-state.edu/first for more information. 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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“The GPS program is the best thing Kansas State University could do for first-year students. I’m glad I have someone I can trust to be a great resource and friend on campus.”

Taylor HarmonEnglish major and GPS menteeAmericus, Kansas

“The GPS program organizes fun events that offer me a chance to catch up with my mentees at locations on campus that I might not otherwise carve out time to visit. Getting to know the students and getting to know K-State’s amenities makes being a GPS mentor doubly rewarding.”

Sarah HoytUndergraduatespecialistatHaleLibraryand GPS mentor

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. • BowlattheK-State Student Union.• Learnaboutresume building and job skills from campus leaders.

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K S B NA campus on the same page

KSBN books• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, 2012• Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, 2011• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, 2010

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The programRead a book with the rest of the campus in the K-State Book Network, or KSBN, and join fellow students at a series of book-related events and discussions. Students will receive a copy of the book at June orientation and enrollment.

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

Who it’s forAll students

Act nowRead your book after receiving it at orientation and enrollment. Plan how you’ll get involved in the conversation. Visit www.k-state.edu/ksbn for more information.

“I used Zeitoun in my class by combining the reading with events we attended on campus. Mystudentswereyoungwhen Hurricane Katrina hit, so learning about it from different angles helped them see the need to be alert to the larger community, not just the local community.”

Sara Thurston-Gonzalez Director of international student and scholar services, and First-Year Seminar instructor

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

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

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

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

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

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

PILOTSThisyear-longprogramprovidesqualifyingfreshmanwithacademicstructure,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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www.k-state.edu/firstkstatefirst@k-state.edu

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