First-Year Experience

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Whether you’re coming from across the state or around the world, Hope College is your place to grow and be known.

We’re here to help you successfully transition to life at a liberal arts college:

Connect with others in a community that truly appreciates diversity
Build relationships with peers and faculty from different backgrounds
Learn more about yourself — your strengths, values, interests and goals
Pursue the habits and practices that will help you succeed in the classroom

Welcome to the Hope community — your community. We’re glad you’re here.

New Student Orientation

New student orientation is a four-day program to help incoming students transition successfully to Hope College. The program includes sessions on academics, campus resources and college life for new students and their families.

First-Year Seminar

Hope’s first-year seminar offers students an engaging intellectual transition to the college through studying a critical intellectual topic, reading primary texts and discussing them in a seminar format, and learning about the purpose of a liberal arts education.

First-Year Advising

Your first-year seminar professor will serve as your first academic advisor and will support your discernment of strengths and interests, your exploration of academic and professional goals, and your academic planning and class registration.

First-Gen Students

1GenHope creates an environment that helps first-generation college students thrive at Hope College. Through intentional programs, students build connections, receive pivotal information about campus resources, and celebrate what it means to be 1Gen.

Day1 Research Communities

Hope’s innovative Day1 programs offer first-year students unique research opportunities in science, engineering and math. Students will gain professionally relevant skills and tackle real-world problems through research that begins on day one of your college experience.

Phelps Scholars Program

A unique combination of residential life, academic engagement and social activities, the Phelps Scholars Program at Hope is a one-year commitment and prepares students to be leaders in an increasingly global society. Phelps Scholars are enriched by the experience of living in community with others from a broad range of cultural backgrounds, and together they explore the issues of diversity that shape our world.

International Students

Welcome! We’re so glad you’ve made Hope College your home away from home. Our international students are an integral part of Hope’s population, adding to the vibrant student life our campus embodies.

Summer Bridge Programs

Summer Bridge is a two-week program designed for highly motivated incoming first-year students who are interested in building a strong foundation for their experience at Hope.

Step2Success

Step2Success (S2S) is an orientation program that helps incoming students from diverse backgrounds to build connections and establish a sense of community, belonging and support during their transition to Hope College.