Week 71: Bridging the gap between first and second years

Week 71: October 18, 2025

Bridging the gap between first and second years

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This is an awesome time to connect with first-year students. If you remember back to this time last year, you might recall the stress that came from the initial months of class and meeting hundreds of new people.

It can sometimes be challenging for first and second-year students to connect. This is especially true right now - after all, chances are you're focused on recruiting, while the first-years are just starting to get involved in student groups, and they're still just getting settled in on campus.

It's worth it to make an effort to get to know first-years, both for their benefit and your own. Want a quick way to help first years? Share your student leadership experiences and take our survey this week!

The 100 Week Sprint team

To-do's this week

Got 5 minutes? Forward the 100 Week Sprint sign-up form to the first-years you've met and help them get a head start! Also, help out the first years by sharing your insights on our student leadership survey.

Got 30 minutes? Track down the email addresses of first-years with whom you have some kind of connection and welcome them to campus.

Got an hour? Take a first year student out for a coffee.

Five ways to connect with first years

As we've discussed a few months ago, first-year students can and will be more than just friends to you. They will be student group members, teammates for business plan competitions, classmates and, eventually, potential employers, business partners, and clients. It only makes sense to get to know them now!

1. Seek them out: there are many first-years who have either already met you, or expressed an interest in meeting you. Track down the students you met at Admit Weekend; the ones who went to your college or grew up in your home town; and those who signed up on your club's interest sheet. Just dropping these first-years a note will make them feel welcome.

Read on for ways you can proactively build connections with first years!

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