The transition from your first year of college to your second is a big one鈥攃ongratulations! For many students, the first year of college is a time of change, self-discovery, gaining independence, exploring and becoming part of learning and social communities at CU Boulder.
This past academic year, you have worked with a first-year academic advisor in the College of Arts and聽Sciences. First-year advisors serve as trusted guides who help you explore academic opportunities and as resources as you navigate your first year of college life. Going forward, you will work with a disciplinary advisor in your major(s) of choice. Your disciplinary advisor is a curriculum expert in your major and will help you design a personalized plan to maximize your academic success. They can also help you explore interests inside and outside of the classroom and facilitate building connections with resources that can enrich your college experience.
This summer is a great time to consider questions about what awaits you as a continuing student, what action plans you hope to put into place for next year聽and/or questions for your academic advisor. Take some time to sit with your thoughts or write your reflections out. Consider discussing your first year and your hopes for the future with a trusted friend or loved one. You might be surprised by how much you鈥檝e grown and how much self-knowledge you鈥檝e gained. Be kind to yourself, and reflect on your goals and plans for after college. You get to define what your future at CU Boulder looks like!
Here are some reflection questions to consider regarding your first year:
- What was the most exciting thing about my first year? Why was it exciting to me?
- What was the most challenging thing about my first year? Why was it challenging for me? What strategies did I use to navigate challenges?
- What brought me to CU Boulder? Why did I choose this university? What keeps me at Boulder?
- What did I do when I felt overwhelmed or upset? Who are the loved ones, friends, and/or people on campus I turned to when I wanted support and/or advice? Also, how did I show up for others in need of care?
- What surprised me the most about myself / academics / social life as I experienced my first year at CU Boulder?
- What did I learn about myself this year? How can I use this knowledge moving forward? How can I help others?
- What strengths helped me accomplish my goals? What am I most proud of?
- What advice would I share with an incoming first-year student? What do I know now that I wish I鈥檇 known when I started college?
- How would I best describe my first year in one word or phrase?
As you look ahead to your sophomore year, consider the following reflection questions:聽
- What is one thing I want to continue doing in the upcoming school year? What is one thing I want to stop doing? What is one thing I want to start?
- What does my major mean to me? Why did I choose it? How does it align with my interests, goals, values, and purpose?
- What am I most looking forward to next year? What am I most curious about? How might I act on my curiosity and further my personal and academic growth?
- What seems uncertain or ambiguous about next year? What are some strategies I might use to address feelings of uncertainty and ambiguity?
- What co-curricular activities do I want to build into my college career (e.g. internships, research, study abroad, mentoring, leadership, service learning, joining student organizations, etc.) and how will I go about doing so? What steps have I already taken?
- Whom and how will I ask for support when I need it? How can I be a source of support to others?
- What does belonging to a community or multiple communities at CU Boulder look like to me? Has this changed since I started college? What communities do I belong to at CU Boulder, and/or what ones would I like to find or create? How will I welcome incoming students to my communities?
- Is there something new I want to try this next school year?
- What鈥檚 one word or phrase that best describes how I鈥檓 feeling about next school year?
Continue to reflect on these questions throughout the summer and as you start the upcoming academic year. Discuss these questions with your academic advisor and your community of support. We wish you a fantastic transition into your sophomore year.聽