FROSH 101 Course Helps New Blue Devils Adjust to Campus Life

First-year students can learn how to best succeed in the college environment in the FROSH 101 course.
First-year students can learn how to best succeed in the college environment in the FROSH 101 course.

New Blue Devils looking to adjust to university life, make new friends and learn about the opportunities Duke has to offer, can register for FROSH 101 in the upcoming fall semester. The 0.5 credit weekly pass/fail course is an extension of QuadEx鈥檚聽Experiential Orientation program聽Duke first offered in fall 2022.

There are two classes capped at 18 each. They are taught by student mentors who have gone through it themselves. First-year student Austin Rios is among them.

鈥淚 knew that the transition would be a struggle, and I viewed FROSH 101 as an opportunity to build a support network to help me through what I knew was coming,鈥 said Rios, who added that the course allows students to have a space where 鈥渋t was okay not to be okay.鈥

Aarav Dagar was interested in the course as a way to bridge the gap between orientation week and the first few weeks of classes.

鈥淲ith clubs starting, I felt behind,鈥 said Dagar, who is now a student mentor. 鈥淲ith academics, I wasn鈥檛 sure how to approach faculty for research. While Duke provides strong mentorship, I wanted to help students feel connected with upperclassmen through a structured form of mentorship 鈥 one that would help them understand their position and place at Duke.鈥

Students who take the class can attend group dinners, take field trips and engage in destressing activities.

鈥淚 would absolutely recommend it to any incoming first-year student, especially those who are worried about finding community or adjusting to the college environment,鈥 Rios said.

The FROSH 101 course connects first-year students with campus resources, upperclass mentors, and faculty鈥攈elping them explore Duke while fostering meaningful relationships.