Congratulations! You did it. You successfully completed your K-12 education, and you are on to the next step: college. College is different from high school and to be successful in this new environment, it is important that you understand the differences.

At the University of Nevada, Reno, you do not have to navigate this on your own. The University is here to support you, beginning with your first required class called NevadaFIT. The program begins with a move-in and a weekend of events and activities called NOW Weekend (NevadaFIT Orientation Welcome), which includes an Opening Ceremony at Mackay Stadium on August 15. NevadaFIT classes take place August 16-20 and the experience is meant to ease your transition by addressing the five key differences between high school and college below.

#1. Academics are accelerated

In high school: A class was typically spread out over the entire school year and frequent assignments allowed for continuous feedback before final grades were assigned.

In college: The pacing and rigor of your classes is accelerated, and a year-long high school course is equivalent to a college semester. In many cases, a few big projects, essays or exams make up your grade, and preparation and attendance in your classes is left up to you.

During NevadaFIT, students attend classes with tenured faculty, complete homework, take exams and get feedback on their progress. By the end of the week, you will know what to expect from some of the most difficult classes you will have during your first semesters.

#2. You set your own schedule

In high school: You followed a daily routine that included meal breaks, sports or P.E., and frequent class meetings to help you stay on top of your workload.

In college: You must organize your own schedule. This means finding time to fit in well-balanced meals, study, work a part-time job and get enough sleep. Many students must find ways to exercise without the guidance of a coach or instructor. Classes meet two or three times a week. It is easy for college freshmen to let an aspect of their wellness slip when life gets hectic, which is why it is so important for you to think through your daily schedule in advance.

During NevadaFIT, students are busy from about 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. This includes meals at the Wolf Den, study breaks with peers in your major at the Knowledge Center, fitness classes at the E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center, and social events at the Joe Crowley Student Union.

While you won’t have a schedule designed for you once the school year begins, NevadaFIT will expose you to a routine and connect you with resources that can support you in these efforts. NevadaFIT students will also get an iPad at NevadaFIT this year and will learn how to use this technology to stay organized and engage with campus.

#3. You will meet many new people

In high school: Cohort sizes were typically in the hundreds and any given classroom did not usually have more than 30 students. You may have known your classmates well because you grew up with them.

In college: Cohort sizes are typically in the thousands, and you may have a lecture or two with over a hundred students in attendance. Students come from many different cities and many different backgrounds and experiences. While you may come to college with friends and acquaintances, you might not have classes with them because you do not share the same major.

During NevadaFIT, you will be organized into groups of seven students in the same college called “Packs,” led by an upper-class mentor in the same field of study as you. You will attend classes with your Pack, do projects and assignments together, and reflect and discuss your experiences. Because you are in the same college, you will likely have shared classes with your Pack group during the school year, and these new friends can continue to be a resource for you.

#4. You are responsible for you

In high school: You had significant parent/guardian or teacher supervision, especially when you started to struggle in your classes or needed additional support.

In college: Good news: You are on your own! Bad news: You are on your own. If your grades are slipping, your parents/guardians will not be notified. Your professor will not chase you down for your missing essay. Your advisor will not save you a spot in that class you were really hoping to take next semester. It is your responsibility to seek out support when you are struggling with your classes, when you feel overwhelmed, when you need to take care of campus business or when you want to get involved in student organizations.

NevadaFIT connects you to the people and resources that can support you both inside and outside the classroom. You will attend skill sessions on financial literacy; diversity, equity and inclusion; and wellness. You will learn how to make appointments with tutors and academic advisors. You will get to know campus and locate all the facilities that you will need to interact with during the school year.

#5. You will have many opportunities to grow

In high school: Course offerings were limited.

In college: You will get to learn so much about yourself, your interests, your goals and your passions.

By the end of NevadaFIT, you will be more confident in your major selection and you will have formed bonds with faculty and classmates who share similar interests. Many NevadaFIT participants are still friends with the peers they met in NevadaFIT and have returned every year to work as a mentor for the program.

Since the program is required for all incoming freshmen, students will be automatically enrolled in the bootcamp that corresponds with their major. NevadaFIT is just a taste of the kind of experience we hope you will have as a member of the Wolf Pack family. We can’t wait to meet you this fall!