Now in main content

First-Year Student Success Series

This series will equip incoming students with the tools they need to thrive in their academic and personal lives. All sessions will be held from 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

First Year Guide to the Georgia Tech Career Fair

Georgia Tech will host over 200 employers at the Career Fair on Monday, September 11th and Tuesday, September 12th, from 10:00am – 4:00pm EST. Join the career experts to learn how you can participate as a first-year student to maximize your career opportunities well before graduation.

Location: Bill Moore Student Success Center Festival Lobby

Click Here for Presentation Slides

LAURA GARCIA, MS

Director of Undergraduate Career Education

Georgia Tech Career Center

What’s the Hidden Curriculum of the College Experience? Audience: First Generation and Limited Income Students

We’ll be covering university jargon, unwritten rules and unspoken expectations, self-advocacy, and opportunities offered to you throughout your time at Georgia Tech from a first-generation and limited income student perspective. This session is open to all first-year students, and we will play Resource Bingo for a chance to receive a giveaway from the Office of Undergraduate Education.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

Click Here for Presentation Slides

Click Here for Resource Bingo Card

KATHERINE LAWLOR, MEd, MS

Program & Operations Mg

First-Generation and Limited-Income Initiatives

Being First: Centering Your Journey for College Success

When have you been first? Maybe you are the first in your family to go to college. Perhaps, you’re the first of your friends to pursue an engineering degree. You might even be the first person in your family to study in the United States. In this session, we’ll reframe “being first” from self-doubt to self-determination. Students will learn how a growth mindset is the key to developing a sense of belonging in their journey, conquering imposter phenomenon, and cultivating holistic college success.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

ANNA HOLCOMB, MS

Director

Retention & Completion Initiatives

Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Upper-Level Georgia Tech Students

There are no stupid questions. How do you take the bus to midtown? How should I engage with professors? What are office hours? How do you print in the library? What essential rain gear do I need to get to class dry? How do I do laundry in my dorm? Attendees can ask aloud or submit questions anonymously.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

ANNA HOLCOMB, MS

Director

Retention & Completion Initiatives

Tech Traditions

Join Dr. Smith, Georgia Tech expert and enthusiast, for this engaging presentation about all things Tech. This “triple dipper” (earned all three of his degrees from Tech) will guide first-year students on a “tour” of history and time-honored traditions.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

MICHAEL SMITH, PHD

Senior Lecturer, Information Technology Management

Scheller College of Business

Reaching Out to Research: How to Connect with Research and Scholarship Opportunities

Georgia Tech offers many amazing opportunities for undergraduate research and scholarship, but all these possibilities can feel overwhelming and intimidating. In this presentation, the Director of Undergraduate Research, Dr. Laura Williams, will share advice on finding opportunities that match your interests and help you develop strategies to connect with those opportunities.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

Click Here for Presentation Slides

LAURA WILLIAMS, PHD

Director of Undergraduate Research

Experiential and Engaged Learning

Undergraduate Co-op and Internships 101: The Value of Engaging in Experiential Learning

This workshop will provide an overview of the co-op and internship programs, the value of engaging in these experiences and how to navigate your search for these opportunities.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

Click Here for Presentation Slides

ANDREA COMSA, MBA, MSA

Director of Undergraduate Co-ops & Internships

Experiential & Engaged Learning, Career Center

Considering a Major Change with a Change of Major?

Are you interested in changing your major? Maybe you aren’t sure if the major you have declared is the right fit for you. This workshop is designed to help students understand the value of exploring major options, making good decisions about changing their major, and educating students about the required process to make a change.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

EMMIE CASS, MA

Exploratory Advisor & Academic Program Manager

Undergraduate Advising & Transition

DEVONI WILLIAMS, MEd

Exploratory Advisor & Academic Program Manager

Undergraduate Advising & Transition

To Drop or Not? That is the Question

This workshop is for any student thinking about taking one or more Ws this term. The goal is to provide participants with the information, resources, and reflective questions to ensure that students make an intentional decision about whether to drop a class. October 28, 2023 (Sat) is the last day to withdraw from a single course or from school with W grades for Fall Semester 2023 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

NICOLE LEONARD, MBA

Assistant Director for Coaching & Advising

Undergraduate Advising & Transition

Study Smarter Not Harder

Join us for a hands-on workshop that will help you to maximize your time to study smarter not harder. Work from a template to create a weekly schedule that balances your time across class, study, work, and play! We’ll help you find time in your week to tackle your classwork and reclaim time to relax and have fun.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

LINDA GREEN, PHD

Director

Tutoring & Academic Support

Considering a Major Change with a Change of Major?

Encore session. Are you interested in changing your major? Maybe you aren’t sure if the major you have declared is the right fit for you. This workshop is designed to help students understand the value of explor- ing major options, making good decisions about changing their major, and educating students about the required process to make a change.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

EMMIE CASS, MA

Exploratory Advisor & Academic Program Manager

Undergraduate Advising & Transition

DEVONI WILLIAMS, MEd

Exploratory Advisor & Academic Program Manager

Undergraduate Advising & Transition

Find Your Fit: Career and Exploratory Workshop

What do you want to do with your life? What can you do with that major? Are you questioning how your major will help in your career? These are questions we are often asked, and what we ask ourselves. The job market, and life, are volatile and unpredictable and many people change directions in their career path at least twice. Attend this workshop to learn how you can explore various majors and careers to find your fit.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

EMMIE CASS, MA

Exploratory Advisor & Academic Program Manager

Undergraduate Advising & Transition

DEVONI WILLIAMS, MEd

Exploratory Advisor & Academic Program Manager

Undergraduate Advising & Transition

WIDALYS SANTIAGO SOSA, MBA

Career Development Advisor

Career Center

To Drop or Not? That is the Question.

Encore session. This workshop is for any student thinking about taking one or more Ws this term. The goal is to provide participants with the information, resources, and reflective questions to ensure that students make an intentional decision about whether to drop a class. October 28, 2023 (Sat) is the last day to withdraw from a single course or from school with W grades for Fall Semester 2023 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

NICOLE LEONARD, MBA

Assistant Director for Coaching & Advising

Undergraduate Advising & Transition

Thriving @ GT: Strategies for Resilience and Well-being

Everyone faces challenges at times. Building resilience can help reduce stress and improve well-being. This presentation will discuss the importance of resilience to achieving success and introduce you to strategies and skills to help you thrive as a student.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

Jaeda Bennett, MPH

Program & Operations Manager

Wellness Empowerment Center

Fellowships for First Years and Transfers

Learn about opportunities for undergraduate fellowships that first years and transfer students can apply to. These awards provide funding for enrichment activities such as summer research or study abroad semesters. It is important to plan in advance for fellowship applications, in order to become a strong, competitive applicant. I will also discuss general guidelines for how best to prepare a strong foundation for yourself as a fellowship applicant

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

KAREN MURA, PHD

Prestigious Fellowships Advisor

Pre-Graduate & Pre-Professional Advising

GT Pre-Health Advising: Support and Services for First-Year Students Preparing for Careers in Medicine

Meet and greet with the Pre-Health advising team and learn about all the vast resources and services available at Georgia Tech to support you on your journey in pursing any of the health professions.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

FRANCISCO CASTELAN, MS

Assistant Director, Pre-Health

Pre-Graduate & Pre-Professional Advising

YAN LIANG, PHD

Pre-Health Outreach & Engagement Specialist

Pre-Graduate & Pre-Professional Advising

Thinking about grad school? Wondering what to do while in college to prepare?

It’s not too early to find out what to consider when making the decision to pursue a graduate degree and how to make yourself a strong candidate come application time. Join Susan Belmonte, Assistant Director of Pre-Graduate Advising, to learn more and ask questions.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building, 202

SUSAN BELMONTE, MEd

Assistant Director, Pre-Graduate Advising; Advisor, Pre-Teaching

Pre-Graduate & Pre-Professional Advising