First Year Inside: A Head Start on College Life at Puget Sound

The program balances academic exploration with social experiences. Students take a high-impact short course taught by Puget Sound faculty, earning a tuition-free half academic credit toward graduation. These courses introduce the values of a liberal arts education and help students become comfortable with the level of academic engagement expected in college. Workshops reinforce this foundation by covering writing, oral communication, goal setting, and strategies for balancing academics with social and personal life. The FYI Olympics, game nights, and other activities create additional opportunities for connection. 

Each year, FYI courses are organized around a central theme that encourages students to think critically about the world and their place in it. The 2025 theme, Global Citizenship and Local Leadership, invited students to explore how social, ethical, and environmental responsibilities intersect and how meaningful change often begins in one’s immediate community. Themes like this help students link classroom learning with real-world questions about leadership, sustainability, and civic engagement. 

Outside the classroom, FYI students get a head start on everyday life at Puget Sound. They spend time in academic buildings, eat in the dining hall, grab coffee at Diversions, study on the lawn, visit the library, and explore campus resource centers. Social events such as movie nights, visits to Tacoma’s Proctor District, and afternoons at Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park help students become familiar with the area while forming early friendships. 

“I was most surprised by how tight the community is. You always meet a familiar face who knows someone who knows someone,” said Samantha Odeka ’29. “The program didn’t just give me an extra half credit; it gave me a preview of what living at the University of Puget Sound will be like.” 

Throughout the program, students are supported by trained student leaders who serve as mentors and role models. These leaders live in the same residence hall as FYI participants, creating an accessible support system and ensuring that new students feel welcomed from the beginning. Professor Lee notes that this relational foundation is what makes FYI distinctive. 

“What makes FYI unique, even among peer institutions, is its deeply relational approach. Students don’t just learn study strategies or explore the campus; they are welcomed into a community where staff, faculty, and mentors know them by name. It’s a true bridge into college, not just an orientation.” She also envisions that FYI students will become future community builders and changemakers. 

By the end of FYI, participants have experienced Puget Sound’s curriculum, become comfortable navigating campus and its resources, and developed practical strategies for the challenges of their first year. Just as importantly, they leave the program feeling connected to their peers, the campus, and the wider Tacoma community. 

For many students like Odeka, the most surprising part was how quickly that sense of belonging developed. FYI isn’t just about earning credit or learning campus logistics. It’s about discovering that college can feel like home sooner than expected. 

For more details about FYI, including how to apply, eligibility, and key dates, visit the First Year Inside (FYI) page.