Get a Jump Start at UVM

Have you chosen to attend UVM in the fall? The Class of 2018 is coming together nicely this year and the campus is engaged in preparation for our new class joining us in August. Long before students move into their residence halls in late-August, we have two ways that students can come to UVM before August 22!

UVM Jump Start is a unique program that provides UVM incoming first-year students with the opportunity to experience UVM’s curriculum, work closely with members of our faculty, and engage with other members of UVM’s Class of 2018. Participating students can commute or live on campus in UVM residential housing, take a credit-bearing course, and participate in workshops and activities designed to help them transition into the university. This program is a great opportunity for our new students to be on campus this summer and complete a course before the start of classes. The courses offered are ones that apply to many general education requirements or prerequisites for most colleges/schools at UVM.

How does Jump Start work? Basically, students participate in pre-class learning online June 16-20, participate in the on-campus portion of the course June 25-July 3, and then complete the course online July 7-11. The timing coordinates well with two of our June orientation sessions so Jump Start students can come to orientation and then stay on campus for Jump Start.  Answers to common questions and information about costs can be found on the Jump Start website. Students can sign up for Jump Start once they choose UVM and pay their acceptance fee.

In addition to UVM Jump Start, members of the Class of 2018 should consider participating in TREK, a pre-arrival program designed to bring new first-year students (and transfer students) together to participate in a week-long program. Three options exist – wilderness TREK, service TREK or transfer TREK. Approximately 10% of our class will choose to take part in one of these programs. These popular programs fill quickly in the months of May and June. Like Jump Start, once a student chooses UVM and pays their acceptance fee, then registration for TREK can take place online.

We can’t wait to welcome the Class of 2018 and hope that many of our new students will take advantage of these wonderful programs!

Questions? Let’s talk!

Over the past month, we’ve hosted five receptions for admitted students in a number of cities. Our third admitted student visit day will take place next Friday. One highlight of these programs is the opportunity to talk in person with parents and students about their questions. Since were are not able to have conversations right now with every admitted student and their families, I thought I would share a few of the common questions that relate to the transition to UVM.

• When do new students sign up for classes as a first year student? Our June orientation provides students (and family members) time with academic advisors over the course of a two-day program. Students will leave June orientation with the fall schedule. Scheduling is done by the college/school to which a student has been admitted. The dates are posted on our website and students may registered for their preferred session once they pay an acceptance fee. You can check out additional frequently asked questions about orientation.
• When do new students sign up for housing? UVM has a residency requirement for first year students requiring them to live in university housing for the first two years. As a result, we are able to reserve housing spaces across campus, giving students an equal chance to have a choice of residential options of the more than 30 residence halls across campus. The housing application for UVM is not required until June 30 (after orientation) in order to allow students to familiarize themselves with housing options during orientation. Notification of the housing assignment is sent about a month before students come to campus in August.
• When will we hear about financial aid? Our Student Financial Services staff plan to post financial aid awards on our application status website by the end of March. Students can access the awards at the same location that they check their application status. This is also the time to ensure that FAFSA information is updated if the initial figures submitted were estimated. It also is important to respond to requests for additional or missing information. Please don’t send information unless it is requested – it can slow the process down.  The exception to this is for students who have special circumstances not covered by the FAFSA. Those situations can be documented and sent to the Student Financial Services Office.
• What is myUVM? Many schools have locations on their website that allow students to log in and get information about classes, registration, bills, and getting connected at UVM. It’s a one-stop-shop for all the information needed about being a student at UVM. New students can begin accessing it once they pay the acceptance fee and activating their UVM email.  The student page in the myUVM portal looks like this:

This is just a sampling of the questions we’ve been answering over the past few weeks. We’d love to hear more and are happy to provide the information needed to help students either in making their final college decision or help in the transition to UVM. Let’s talk!