First-Year Students

First-year students, welcome to Baruch College!

We’re excited to welcome you to the Bearcat family as you begin your first year at Baruch. The Office of New Student Programs is here to support your transition and help you build connections, get involved, and succeed at Baruch.

Through programs like Orientation , First-Year Seminar (FYS 1000), Fall Convocation, and programming throughout the year, New Student Programs provides the foundation for your first year and helps you get started with confidence.

Fall Student Convocation – Thursday, August 27, 2026

Fall Student Convocation is a traditional ceremonial event designed to inspire, connect, and induct first year students to the College. During the formal presentation, first year students are greeted by the College President, other senior administrators, faculty, and the president of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). The celebration continues throughout the day with additional events as part of Weeks of Welcome.

First-Year Seminar (FYS 1000)

FYS 1000 is a required, one-semester course for all incoming first-year students. Each week alternates between a faculty-led lecture and a small group session with Peer Mentors.

Lecture Session: Multiple FYS sections come together to explore big ideas through a disciplinary lens, modeling how scholars think, ask questions, and approach complex problems.
Recitation Session: Small group discussions led by trained Peer Mentors, focused on community-building, skill development, reflection, and academic planning.

Throughout the 12-sessions of FYS, first-year students will complete a Learning Journey Project that encourages reflection on past, present, and future – who you are, where you’re headed, and the experiences that have shaped you. Along the way, students will explore their goals, campus resources and develop strategies that support their success.

What Else You’ll Do:

Campus Resource Exploration
Academic Advisement Brightspace Module
FOCUS 2 Career Assessment
Experiential Learning in NYC