Welcome Eagles | First Year Experience

Welcome, Eagles!

Congratulations on your admission to FGCU! Your admission to the University reflects our belief in your potential to be successful, and we are committed to help you reach it. The next step in your journey to become an Eagle will be attending a two-day orientation program this summer. After you register for an orientation date, you will be contacted by your academic advisor and the two of you will work on your course schedule for your first semester of college! This will happen before your orientation date and the classes selected will be based on your program of study (major), your academic background (high school courses completed, grade point average, and standardized test scores), any college credits you may have completed, as well as your personal interests and goals.

With all this information considered, there are three possible Student Success Pathways that will frame your first year of college, and your Academic Advisor will guide you toward understanding the requirements of your designated Student Success Pathway.

Student Success Pathway 1
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- You will be required to start in the Summer 2024 term enrolled in up to 6 credit hours, which generally equates to up to two courses. One of these courses will be English Composition or Math (depending on your academic goals) and the other one will be SLS 1501 (Effective Learning). This class will help set you up for success in the Fall semester by reviewing the academic skills that will enhance your college experience.
- During Fall 2024 you will enroll in up to 11 credit hours (part-time), which is about three courses. These will be recommended by your advisor and will keep you making progress towards your degree.
- Spring 2025 you may enroll in at least 12 credit hours (full-time), or four to five courses, thereby ensuring that you complete your first year at FGCU on track to timely graduation.
Student Success Pathway 2
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Option A
- In the Fall 2024 semester you will enroll in up to 11 credit hours (part-time). Courses will be recommended by your academic advisor to help you keep making progress towards your degree, and will include SLS 1410 (First Year Seminar). The focus and content of this course will allow for students to reflect on the progress of their journey through the first year of college while getting connected to resources that lead to student success.
- For Spring 2025 you will complete at least 13 credit hours (full-time), which will include your final experience with SLS 1410 (First Year Seminar). The content for this semester will help complete your first year of college and ensure a successful transition into sophomore year.
Option B
- You will enroll for the Summer 2024 term in up to 7 credit hours. This means an English Composition or Math course (depending on your academic goals), another academic class, plus a 1-credit course (SLS 1410: I Succeed: Thriving at FGCU), which will guide you in the transition from high school to college and will help you settle into the experience of being a college student.
- If you receive a grade point average (GPA) of at least a 3.00 after completing all of your Summer courses, AND you agree to live in University Housing during Fall (depending on availability), you will enroll in at least 12 credit hours (full-time) for Fall 2024. Courses will be recommended by your academic advisor to help you keep making progress towards your degree, and will include SLS 1410 (First Year Seminar). While this is the same course you completed in the Summer, the focus and content in the Fall semester will be different, reflecting the progress of your journey through the first year of college.
- For Spring 2025 you will complete at least 13 credit hours (full-time), which will include your final experience with SLS 1410 (First Year Seminar). The content for this semester will help complete your first year of college and ensure a successful transition into sophomore year.

Have Questions?

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to First Year Experience & Retention Programs at any time by calling us at (239) 590-7110 or emailing us at fye@fgcu.edu.