NC State’s New Student Programs (NSP) unit aims to help each incoming student acclimate to the Wolfpack community by supporting their holistic needs through various programs and services. 

Each summer, one of the critical ways that NSP accomplishes this goal is by hosting Summer Start, a unique opportunity for incoming first-year and transfer students to jumpstart their undergraduate experience. During this five to six week program, these students have the opportunity to take Summer Session II classes, live on campus, build connections through on- and off-campus events and learn tips and tricks to navigate NC State through peer mentorship. 

“Summer Start is an opportunity for these students to dive into NC State before the rigors of the fall semester.”

“Summer Start is an opportunity for these students to dive into NC State before the rigors of the fall semester,” said Chris Stockdale, an NSP assistant director and Summer Start’s program director. “It’s a fun way to really get comfortable on campus and get to know what NC State is all about.” 

Getting a Head Start for the Fall

About 75% of students enrolled in Summer Start stay in either Owen or Tucker Hall during the program, right in the heart of NC State’s main campus. 

When the students return for the fall semester, this allows them to have prior knowledge about how to navigate campus to find their classes and activities. 

“It was amazing,” said Jill Tanner, a third-year student studying English literature. “I knew campus really well when I came back in the fall. I was used to walking around and knowing where to go, figuring out my schedule and where my classes were. I had some friends that were in the Summer Start program that I had classes with. It was a really helpful experience.” 

Building those friendships is a key piece of the Summer Start experience. Throughout the month-plus program each summer, NSP offers students a chance to get to know campus and make connections with their fellow participants through 40-50 programs and events hosted by other campus departments. 

These events include arts and crafts sessions, karaoke, study breaks and more, with something for everyone.

“As a participant, it was such a great experience,” said Sammi Lazer, a second-year student studying textile technology. “I had so much fun at all of the events, I got a chance to make friends. It was nice to adjust to college life, get to know people, take a class, get used to living away from home. The whole experience was amazing for me.”

Summer Start also hosts three off-campus excursions throughout the program – trips to TopGolf, a bowling alley and a Durham Bulls baseball game. 

“It was nice to adjust to college life, get to know people, take a class, get used to living away from home.”

Stockdale said that the friendships students build through these events are the most important element of Summer Start, allowing them to enter their first semester at NC State with a pre-built community. 

“I want these students to be able to leave the program saying ‘I have friends going into the fall semester,’” Stockdale said. “But I also want them to say ‘this program really helped me feel more confident going into the fall.’ From the programs and events we have, from the peer mentorship they’re getting, from the classes they’re taking, I want them to take all that and feel as comfortable as possible going into the fall.” 

Getting Acclimated Through Peer Mentorship

While students can learn a wealth of vital information about their upcoming time at NC State from faculty and staff, some of the most valuable tips and tricks about navigating campus come from their fellow students who have walked in their shoes. 

For this reason, one of Summer Start’s core components is peer mentorship – the program includes several student mentors responsible for 11-14 mentees. Throughout the summer, the mentors check in with each of their mentees once a week to see how they’re adjusting to campus and what questions they might have. 

“My mentor really helped me,” Tanner said. “We were around the same age. We were going into the same year. She showed me the ropes and told me what to expect. It was really nice to be able to go to her. If I had problems or was upset, she knew what to do and she knew how to help me because she had been through it. It was really refreshing to hear from someone who was my age.” 

Many previous Summer Start participants, including Tanner and Lazer, come back as mentors to help incoming students have the same positive experience that they did in the program. 

Tanner, who attended Summer Start as a transfer student from Johnston Community College, said that she hopes to help students who come from a similar background adjust to NC State. 

“I knew I wanted to do it, because I wanted to be there for transfer students and those coming from community colleges,” Tanner said. “It’s been helpful. With my experiences previously, I knew what to tell them and what to expect. I feel more prepared because I was a mentee myself.”

That preparation of experiencing the program as a participant is key for the Summer Start mentors to know what information is most helpful to share with their mentees, and fulfill the program’s goal of giving incoming students a head start on a successful first fall semester and NC State journey.  

“I love it so much,” Lazer said. “It’s such a warm feeling inside. Going into it, I was really excited to help people. It’s so cute when I give them advice or tell them something and then they start smiling, because you can see how excited they are and how helpful that advice was. It’s honestly one of the best feelings ever.”