First Year Students
The first year for a college student is a period of substantial transition, which includes developing new study habits, learning time management skills, adjusting to an independent lifestyle, meeting new people, joining clubs & organizations, and continuing along the path to adulthood.
In the classroom, your student is learning how to become critical thinkers, playing an active role in their own learning, and adapting to new academic challenges. All of these changes, many of which occur at the same time, can be daunting but will lead your student to a tremendous amount of growth.
Support from family members play a vital role during this critical year. Click on the links below for information on what family members can expect during transitional first year of college.
Fall Semester Spring Semester
First Year: Awareness
The first year at Shepherd is the perfect time to become familiar with Career Services. The following is a list of suggestions for your student:
- Visit Career Services in person and online.
- Become more familiar with your interests and how they relate to your career path by completing free career/personality assessments, such as the Strong Interest Inventory.
- Begin planning for opportunities such as research, study abroad, student leadership, or volunteerism.
- Explore your interests through work-related experiences, job shadowing, internships, part-time and summer employment, and speaking with professionals in a variety of occupations.
- Attend Career Services events, including CareerFest, MentorShep, and workshops.
- Review Career Services’ Tutorials to start developing your resume(s) and cover letters(s), and have them critiqued by Career Services staff.