Seawolves F1rst Supportive Pathways

Sonoma State’s Seawolves F1rst Initiative provides incoming First-Time First-Year (FTFY) students with support opportunities to smoothly transition from high school to college and successfully complete their English and math coursework requirements in their first year. 

How to Apply

• Want to get a "jump start" on your academic success at SSU? Apply to join other first-year students and come to campus early as part of our Jump Start program.
• Learn the keys to academic success, participate in pre-term workshops, meet other first-year students, and get adjusted to campus before the semester begins.
• Early move-in cost is covered for all students with an on-campus housing contract for Fall 2025. Meals and all program supplies will be provided to all participants. 
• To apply to the Fall 2025 Jump Start program, please complete the application below. In early June, all incoming first-year students will receive an email and hard copy invitation to apply as well.

Apply today: Jump Start Application

NOTES: The Jump Start program is open to all incoming first-year students. Applying to the program does not guarantee admittance. Students participating in Summer Bridge may not participate in Jump Start.

Due Dates

• The last date to apply to the Jump Start program is: June 18, 2025
• Accepted participants will be notified via email: June 20, 2025
• If accepted, students must commit to attendance by: July 2, 2025

I’ve been accepted, what’s next?

• Complete participation agreement: to be determined

• Move-in day for accepted and confirmed participants: August 11, 2025
• Jump Start programming: Evening Monday, August 11 - Wednesday, August 13. 

*Participation in ALL Jump Start programming is required.*

What do past students say about the Jump Start Program?

The overwhelming majority of past Jump Start participants said Jump Start helped them:

• Learn their way around campus
• Be prepared for the first day of class
• Understand how to access and use support services like tutoring and advising
• Gain confidence in communicating with their professors
• Acquire effective strategies for studying and managing their time

Questions or want more information before applying? Email academicprograms@sonoma.edu.

Incoming first-year students will receive a notification in mid-June regarding their English and Math course enrollments for the upcoming academic year. This letter includes information on course pre-enrollment and academic advising through the Early Assessment Program (EAP) office hours, available via Zoom and in-person throughout the summer.

For more details, visit the EAP Website at eap.sonoma.edu.

For direct inquiries, contact Karoline Gaitan at eap@sonoma.edu. 

• First-Year Learning Communities (FLCs), part of the First and Second Year Transition programsFAST Programs (FAST), offers year-long General Education courses designed for first-year students.
• These courses integrate transition support to help students adjust to academic and student life at SSU with the support of a peer mentor, fostering connections with faculty and peers.

FLC participants tend to have

• higher GPAs
• better persistence rates, and
• a stronger sense of community

For more details visit the FAST website at fast.sonoma.edu or follow us on Instagram (@ssufast).

Questions? Contact us at fastprogram@sonoma.edu.

• Students will be pre-enrolled in fall and/or spring English and math courses as determined by college preparation and major requirements.
• Students may also be pre-enrolled in a first-year learning community (FLC) based on their major department's recommendation and personal academic interests: 

FLC Interest Survey coming soon!

• Students will learn more about FLCs and additional English/math coursework options based during Summer Orientation when meeting with academic advisors to register for remaining fall coursework.