First-Year Experience (FYE) Programs Improve College Success

The first year of college is a make-or-break period for many students. Research shows that students who successfully navigate their first year are far more likely to graduate on time, develop strong academic habits, and build meaningful college experiences. That’s where First-Year Experience (FYE) programs come in.

A well-designed FYE program does more than just introduce students to campus—it actively teaches the skills, strategies, and mindsets that promote academic success, personal resilience, and career readiness. However, not all FYE programs are created equal. The most effective ones go beyond surface-level orientation and include:

• Instruction in metacognitive skills and science-backed learning strategies

• High faculty and staff interaction with students in and out of the classroom

• Intentional social integration opportunities

• Early and active career exploration

In this post, we’ll break down what makes a great First-Year Experience program and why these elements are critical for student success.

1. Teaching Students How to Learn: The Power of Metacognition

Many students arrive at college with study habits that worked in high school—but fall short in college. Simply re-reading notes or cramming the night before an exam doesn’t cut it anymore. That’s why the best FYE programs explicitly teach metacognition and science-based learning strategies.

Metacognition—or thinking about one’s own thinking—helps students develop awareness of their learning habits and make intentional improvements. This means:

• Learning how to assess their understanding (not just assuming they “know it”)

• Using active recall and spaced repetition to reinforce knowledge

• Practicing self-regulation, including time management and planning

• Adapting study strategies when current methods aren’t working

Why it's important: A study published in Science found that students who used active learning techniques and self-testing significantly outperformed their peers who relied on passive study methods. When FYE programs teach these techniques early, students develop habits that boost performance across all four years.

Check - this - out if you want to learn more about Metacognition and the Science of Learning!

What to Look For in an FYE Program:

• Courses or seminars that explicitly teach metacognition and learning science

• Emphasis  on strategic study methods rather than generic academic “tips”

• Hands-on workshops where students apply these strategies in real time

2. The Role of Faculty & Staff in Student Success

The best predictor of student success isn’t a student’s test scores or high school GPA—it’s meaningful engagement with faculty and staff. Research from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) consistently finds that students who interact frequently with faculty members perform better academically, are more satisfied with college, and are more likely to persist to graduation.

However, at many colleges, students rarely interact with professors outside of class—especially at large public institutions or in large lecture-based courses. Strong FYE programs fix this, at least for the first year, by creating structured opportunities for high faculty and staff interaction.

Why It's Important: A study by Gallup found that students who had a mentor in college were twice as likely to be engaged in their careers after graduation. When FYE programs facilitate student-faculty relationships early, students are more likely to:

• Seek help before struggling in a course

• Feel more engaged and motivated in their learning

• Develop professional mentorship relationships that can lead to research opportunities, internships, and career guidance

What to Look For in an FYE Program:

• Small, discussion-based seminars led by faculty

• Structured office hour visits or faculty-student lunches

• Advisors assigned to first-year students who regularly check in

• Opportunities for undergraduate research or mentorships in the first year

3. Social Integration: Building a Sense of Belonging

Students who feel connected to their campus community are far more likely to stay in college, perform well academically, and thrive emotionally. Students generally feel connected when (a) they perceive that there are people that care about them and can help them when needed, and (b) when they feel that there are others that count on them for support as well.

Yet, missing that sense of belonging is one of the top reasons students drop out—especially first-generation students, commuter students, and students from underrepresented backgrounds. Great FYE programs prioritize social integration by creating intentional opportunities for students to:

• Form study groups and peer support networks early in the semester

• Join learning communities tied to academic interests or personal identity

• Participate in structured team-building activities that go beyond icebreakers

• Connect with upperclassmen mentors who guide them through the first-year experience

Why It's Important: A large-scale study from the American Council on Education found that students who feel socially connected to their peers and faculty are 50% more likely to persist to graduation.

What to Look For in an FYE Program:

• Residential learning communities where students live with peers in the same major or interest area

• Group-based first-year seminars that promote collaboration

• Early engagement with student organizations and leadership opportunities

• Peer mentoring programs where first-year students connect with upperclassmen

4. Early and Active Career Exploration

Many students enter college undecided on their major or career path. Even those with a clear career goal often change their major or lack the practical understanding of how to navigate internships, networking, and professional development.

Why It's Important: Research from the Strada-Gallup Education Survey found that students who engage in career exploration early are more confident in their career decisions and more likely to secure internships and jobs before graduation.

A strong FYE program doesn’t just focus on academic success—it also includes active career exploration from day one.

What to Look For in an FYE Program:

• Career workshops and resume-building sessions in the first year

• Abundant opportunities for job shadowing, employer visits, or career fairs

• Explicit Faculty integration of career-related discussions into coursework

• Professional networking opportunities with alumni and industry leaders

By embedding career readiness into the first-year curriculum, FYE programs help students start thinking about their futures early—rather than scrambling to build experience in their senior year.

Not Every FYE Program is Equal: Choosing the Right FYE Program

Not all First-Year Experience programs are equally effective. Some are just glorified orientations, while others provide transformative learning experiences that set students up for lifelong success.

The Most Effective FYE Programs Will Include:

• Instruction in metacognition and science-backed learning strategies

• High student-faculty interaction inside and outside the classroom

• Intentional social integration opportunities to build belonging

• Early career exploration and professional development

• Integrations with common first year General Education/Core classes such that content from those courses is used in the FYE course and students apply their FYE learning, particularly learning skills, in those Core courses.

What Can Students & Parents Do?

• Ask about FYE program details when researching colleges and prioritize options with strong programs.

• Prioritize colleges that demonstrate an overarching commitment to first-year student success, not just printed on marketing flyers, mentioned in admission talks, etc.

• Encourage engagement—students can take advantage of faculty, mentors, and career services from the start, regardless if there is a strong FYE program or not. And doing it on their own, means they'll have this long after their first year as well. 

A strong first-year experience isn’t just about adjusting to college—it’s about developing the skills, relationships, and mindsets that fuel long-term success. Investing in an FYE program that does it right can make all the difference in a student’s college journey.