Your First Year Success Series
The Your First Year Success Series offers co-curricular programs and events for students to develop a strong foundation for academic and personal success during their first year at UNCG.
By participating in the YFY Success Series programs, you will learn and develop:
- Academic skills such as time management, note taking, study skills, and test taking strategies.
- Personal purpose and practical skills such as career exploration and communication skills.
- A sense of belonging and Spartan Pride by exploring all of the many resources available to help you succeed inside and outside of the classroom at UNCG.
First Year Success Series Certificate
Any current first-year or transfer student who attends at least 5 programs in the YFY Success Series will be eligible for a First Year Success Certificate from YFY. This certificate will help you demonstrate all of the skills that you will gain through the success series on your resume. You will receive:
- Letter to your Dean about your accomplishment
- Your name posted to our webpage
- A printed Certificate of Success
Fall 2023
Event Schedule
August
YFY Success Series: Passport to Success at Fall Kickoff
Tuesday, August 15 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Outside, College Avenue
Start your First Year Success Journey with Your First Year and the Office of Intercultural Engagement! Stop by the YFY table at Fall Kickoff to start your journey into academic and cultural success at UNCG by visiting our partnered Fall Kickoff tables. Visit all the tables and you may win a prize!
Time Management
Tuesday, August 22 from 11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Jackson Library
An event hosted by the YFY team and the Academic Achievement Center in which students can gain knowledge and insight into how to manage their time for a successful academic year.
Note-Taking
Wednesday, August 24 from 2:00 – 2:50 p.m.
Jackson Library
An event hosted by the YFY team and the Academic Achievement Center. Students will learn how to take notes that will help them be successful throughout their academic career here at UNCG. Come join us and learn how to be the most successful you can!
Paint’n’Switch
Wednesday, August 30 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
EUC Dail
Want to make new friends and be creative? Join us for our Paint ‘n’ Switch event with ACE. Come get your creativity onto a canvas with a twist! Throughout this engaging event your canvas will get passed to new friends, creating new connections and art through friendship. RSVP is required to attend; RSVP can be done via Spartan Connect.
September
How to College 101: Midterm Matters
Wednesday, September 13 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
EUC Commons
Midterms are here but have no fear – YFY is here to help! Stop by our table in the EUC Commons to receive tips and tricks on how to ace your midterms.
Academic Achievement Center: Test Prep Workshop
Monday, September 18 from 1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
Jackson Library
Stress less about that test with the AAC’s Test Prep workshop! Come join YFY and the AAC and learn how to become a test-taking pro.
Demos & Donuts: Career Fair Prep
Thursday, September 21 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Career & Professional Development Office – EUC Ground Floor
Introducing students to to career fair and provide tips and tricks on how to navigate the Career Fair Topics: navigating career fair, printed resumes, greeting employers and elvator pitch, following up with employers, expected dress, and more!
Making the Most of Midterms Forum
Wednesday, September 27 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
This event will be hosted virtually. Click here to register!
This online forum will break down midterm grades and how to move forward into the semester. A panel of students, faculty, and staff will be sharing their best advice for being successful after midterm grades. Gain confidence in talking to your instructors, break down the impact of midterm grades, looking forward to the future, and more at this event!
Career Fair
Wednesday, September 27 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Leonard J. Kaplan Center
Join CPD and YFY to get ahead in the networking game and make connections at the Fall Career Fair. This event is an opportunity to explore career options with a diverse set of employers and/or network with companies at which you are interested in interning or working for full-time. In addition, a number of graduate schools will be in attendance to talk to students about their programs. Professional attire is encouraged!
October
Study Abroad!
Tuesday, October 3 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
EUC Commons
Interested in traveling? Love learning about other cultures? Why not study abroad?
Stop by the table in the EUC Commons to chat with the International Program Center staff to learn how studying abroad can become a reality for you!
Demos & Donuts: LinkedIn and Networking
Thursday, October 19 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Career & Professional Development Office, EUC Ground Floor
Learn all about networking through LinkedIn at this month’s Demos and Donuts! Visit the CPD office to gain insight on best practices with the platform, and learn some great tips and tricks for professional networking.
Overcoming Procrastination
Wednesday, October 25 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Jackson Library
Join the AAC for their one-hour workshop on Overcoming Procrastination, where they’ll address the truth about procrastination and why we do it, and share strategies to help overcome procrastination and burnout.
November
Facing Your Finals
Tuesday, November 14 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Jackson Library
Students who attend this session hosted by the Academic Achievement Center will practice planning for upcoming finals and will explore different self-testing and test-anxiety-reducing strategies to improve their test performance.
YFY Success Series Celebration / Reception
Wednesday, November 15 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
EUC Birch
Celebrate the end of the Fall Success Series! Students who attended 5 or more Success Series events will be awarded a First Year Success Certificate from YFY. This event is by invitation only!
LDOC & First Finals Fest
Wednesday, November 29 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
EUC Cone Ballroom
Join Campus Activities and Programs, the Elliot University Center, ACE & Your First Year on the LDOC! There will be study kits, giveaways, messages, an oxygen bar, and more to help you during finals!
Meet Our YFY Success Series Winners
Fatima Galvan-Ruiz
First-Year Student
Lloyd International Honors College, Corazon Folkorico, ALPFA
“The most valuable thing I have learned from the YFY Success Series is to explore and learn about what UNCG has to offer to students. It is important to understand, because we go to school here, all the different resources and academic support we have at our hands. It may be hard to ask for help, but UNCG wants to see us succeed, they want to help us.”
Emanuel Smith
Second-Year Student
Lloyd International Honors College, SOS, Spartan Guide
“The YFY success series helped me a lot with transitioning from virtual high school to in-person learning. It helped strengthen skills needed to be successful in college like studying, note taking, and memory.”
Zainab Adamou-Mohamed
First-Year Student
Lloyd International Honors College, Muslim Students Association Co-Creative Director
“The YFY Success Series has helped me feel so much more prepared during my first year at UNCG. I gained several tools and contacts that helped me to succeed on an academic, professional, and personal level.”
Grace Jinks
First-Year Student
YFY Success Series Winner
“The most valuable thing that I have learned from the YFY Success Series is that I am not alone and that if I need help finding the right resources I can reach out and ask for help from the resources that are set up to help first year students.”
