Wheelock supports the success of its students through an innovative, multi-faceted First-Year Program. Even before your first semester, you'll come to Wheelock for orientation, which is designed and led by students from the Student Leadership Orientation Committee. By the end of orientation, you'll be more comfortable with your new environment and feel a part of our community. Throughout orientation, there are many opportunities to meet your classmates, faculty and staff; explore Boston and the Colleges of the Fenway; and begin to examine the academic programs available to you.

Wheelock students offer their advice for getting the most out of your Wheelock College experience. (See more videos like this.)

Also as part of the program, every student takes a year-long Human Growth and Development course. You'll work individually and collaboratively to understand the essentials of psychology and sociology and how these subjects support your understanding of children, families, and cultures across the life cycle. In the first semester, you'll also do your first field placement (Wheelock students have multiple opportunities for field experiences their entire four years.)

You'll also attend the First-Year Seminar (FYS), which provides you with a support system of fellow students to help you adjust to this new phase of life, a new environment, and the demands on your time. FYS also helps you develop a better understanding of your learning process and acquire essential academic survival skills that will help you throughout your four years at Wheelock.

In addition to HGD and FYS, students also complete an English composition course and a general education requirement. Throughout your first-year experience, you'll be part of a learning community in both these activities with the same group of classmates, whom you'll work with closely and come to know very well.

As part of the First-Year program, you'll participate in a 2+2 advising model in which, for your first two years at Wheelock, you'll work with a professional adviser to choose a major, pick classes, meet requirements, etc. For your third and fourth years, you'll work closely with faculty adviser expert in your major.