Eric Tack
Assistant Director, New Student & Sophomore Programs

Sophomore Programs is a collaborative effort across Georgia Tech’s campus to help sophomores find success by meeting their unique transitional needs. During the upcoming academic year, the Office of New Student & Sophomore Programs will be offering a number of exciting programs and services for sophomores.

Nationally, the sophomore year can be an engaging but challenging phase of the undergraduate experience, and this holds true at Georgia Tech. The second year of college is typically a time when students start to explore how their degree relates to life after college. Many students begin taking more advanced coursework in their major and begin participating in co-operative or internship positions, study aboard opportunities, undergraduate research, and other academic enrichment experiences offered at Georgia Tech. For some students this can reaffirm their direction, but for others this can lead to questions about their major and future career and life plans. With these issues in mind, a variety of programs have been developed, and a few are highlighted below:

Sophomore Career Experience
The Sophomore Career Experience (SCE) is designed to provide second-year students unique access to workshops, speakers, and mentors in their field of study. Developed in collaboration with the Division of Professional Practice and the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, sophomores that participate in this program will get on the fast track to career success. Click here for more information.

Welcome Home Month (August 18th - September 18th)
Welcome Home Month greets all incoming and returning students at Georgia Tech with social and academic events and programs. It is a collaborative effort across campus divisions, departments, and organizations to showcase the many opportunities at Tech.Events throughout the entire month are designed to help students connect to different aspects of campus life, to the support services available to them, and to the Tech spirit that permeates the institution. Themed weeks include Involvement Week and GT 2.0: Sophomore Programs Week. Visit www.welcomehome.gatech.edu for more informaiton.

GT 2.0: Sophomore Programs Week (September 12th -18th)
GT 2.0: Sophomore Programs Week is a series of programs during Welcome Home Month designed to help sophomores successfully jump-start their sophomore year. This year GT 2.0 includes a Sophomore Welcome event, as well as workshops on: Things to Think About Before Changing Your Major; Finding a Co-Op/Internship as a Sophomore; Undergraduate Research Opportunities; and the Sophomore Trip. Click here for more information.

Sophomore Trip (September 18th)
The 2011 Sophomore Trip is a chance for sophomores to go on a custom caving experience in the caves of Northwest Georgia and Alabama. Open to all second-year students of all ability levels, the Sophomore Trip is the perfect opportunity for students to reconnect with old friends and build new friendships while having fun. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Click here for more information on the Sophomore Trip.

Sophomore Summit (Oct. 21st and 22nd)
Sophomore Summit is a one and a half day retreat designed to provide students a platform for peer-to-peer networking, assist them in creating a sense of purpose in college and life, develop goals for the duration of their time at Tech, and provide an opportunity for student and faculty/staff interaction. Applications will be available in late September and space is limited. Click here for more information.

Be sure that your sophomore student(s) takes advantage of the programs and resources listed above as well as the many others on campus to make the most of their sophomore year. For more information about New Student & Sophomore Programs, visit our website at www.nssp.gatech.edu or email eric.tack@vpss.gatech.edu.