<p>I realize my nursing school days were decades ago, but we were assigned a “big sister” as freshman nursing students. Your “big sis” was a senior nursing student who first contacted you sometime during the summer before your freshman year. They were at the dorm to greet you and your parents and help you move into your room. Their friendship and emotional support was invaluable; especially the first quarter of freshman year. They were a combination of friend, advocate and social advisor.</p>
<p>Do you think this type of program would help first year students who are in all freshman dorms?</p>
<p>Different schools have different systems. My college has people contact incoming first years in the House during the summer to talk, and then there are a number of upperclassmen in the House during Orientation week who help with move in, answer questions, have little trips, advise, and everything else. My college has a House system with all four years living together, so there are a lot of opportunities for informal advice.</p>
Some schools do have freshman counselors -sort of big-sis/bro set ups. At Pomona College, each group of 12 freshman has two “sponsors”, who act as their advisors and general advocates for the first year. These are sophomore students who have had training - (it has become a rather competitive position.) and who live in the freshmen dorms with the students. The sponsors contact the students by mail in the summer, and greet them at their door, help them move in, and plan activities for the group to get to know each other as well as the other freshmen sponsor groups.
They introduce the students to the traditions of the school , make sure they are aware of all the extracurricular options, show them where to find answers to their academic questions, and help them troubleshoot any problems that may arise in adjusting, from computer hook-ups to information as to where to buy necessities. (My son’s sponsor brought extra ethernet cords and lightbulbs to help kids through the first weeks).
Apparently, the freshmen do all get to know one another very well and feel comfortabe very quickly with this system. I think the success has to do with the efforts of the sponsors in finding ways for the kids to socialize within and across groups.</p>
<p>Rice has O-week advisors, who help lead a group of freshman during the weeklong orientation and later. My daughter still sometimes mentions people from her “O-week group” (and she’s a junior!) It’s a good bonding experience and gives the kids the support needed to help them get well-established.</p>
<p>After reading on another thread about freshmen feeling so disconnected from their institution and peers that they are looking to transfer after the first year; I’m surprise these hybrid big bro/sis programs exist. Which schools have some type of program to ease the transition from h/s to college? Are they effective in decreasing the number students transferring out?</p>