First-Year Experience

We are so glad you chose to join Shocker Nation! We are committed to making Wichita State a great place for you to learn and grow and we hope we can help you create a successful student experience.

1: Orientation and Enrollment 2: New Shocker Checklist 3: Shocker Family Connections

Resources

Smiling students make the Shockers hand sign during Orientation gathering.

First-Year Programs

We're excited to welcome you to Shocker Nation! As you begin your journey at Wichita State, we're here for you every step of the way to make sure you have the best chance for success. From orientation to graduation, everyone at WSU is dedicated to giving you the tools you need to thrive.

An advisor and a student set on opposite sides of a desk reviewing a planning document.

First-Year Advising

As part of OneStop Student Services, First-Year Advising offers a holistic advising experience to assist students in their transition to college.

Students entering WSU directly from high school are provided with all-in-one support in the areas of: building a semester schedule, setting up a degree plan, reviewing financial aid, understanding your bill and setting up payment plans. Our advisors also assist with admissions, academic advising, financial aid, registration and student accounts.

First-Year Seminar

Wichita State's First-Year Seminar offers students unique, small classes taught by fantastic faculty and instructors from across the university.

A First-Year Seminar lets you take a class in a specialized topic, taught by an expert in the field, while also learning about campus resources to help you have a more successful experience at WSU.

Two students pose for a photo at the Pride Prom.

Student Interest Groups

If you're new on campus and want to make friends, get connected and learn tips and tricks for navigating your time at WSU, then Student Interest Groups are the thing for you!

Three students happily playing video games while sitting on a couch.

Living Learning Communities

A Living Learning Community (LLC) is a group of students who choose to live together to enjoy a built-in support system of mentoring, networking, and an overall enhanced sense of community. LLC students also get a jump start in creating connections within their academic college.

Student speaking with employers at a career fair.

Shocker Career Accelerator

Craft your college resume, get started with on-campus employment, and prep for your career with the Shocker Career Accelerator. Learn how to build marketable skills and gain professional work experience before graduation through targeted internships, applied learning opportunities, one-on-one career counseling, workshops, career fairs, and more!

First Year Research Experience

The First Year Research Experience in STEM aims to build a community of STEM students, faculty and professionals to support STEM majors or potential majors as they form identities as members of the scientific community. FYRE is supported by funding from the Helen Clay Frick Foundation.

A student mentor demonstrating how to carry out a task on a laptop computer.

Office of Diversity and Inclusion PASS Peer Mentoring

Get Involved with PASS!

There are multiple ways you can get involved, such as being a mentee, a peer mentor or becoming a tutor! You will also receive various benefits by participating in Promoting Academic Student Success!

Events

Photo of three students laughing and lounging while working on a project together in an apartment.

Success Academy

First Steps to Success

Clash of the Colleges

Photo of convocation presenters onstage.

Academic Convocation

Photo of three male students smiling for the camera at an outdoor event.

Welcomefest

Late evening photograph of the Keeper of the Plains with the fires lit around it.