Some students are dipping their toes into college life at William Woods University.
Every year, starting in the last three weeks of June, the Freshman Advantage program at WWU allows students to take college classes, live in college dorms and get a taste of what higher education in Fulton has to offer.
"This is the 13th year of the program, which got started in 2004," Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Undergraduate College Aimee Sapp said. "This is what's known as a bridging program, which helps students transition from high school to university. Back in 2004, the university identified that students would enjoy a program. We started it ASAP, and it has been growing ever since."
Sapp said the FA groups are capped at 72 students, which keeps the groups tight knit.
"The smaller size helps everyone build lasting relationships with everyone in the program," she said. "We have gotten incredible feedback from everyone who participates, and the students really enjoy their time here."
Student feedback, Sapp said, has indicated that after leaving the program they felt 100 percent comfortable with the transition into college life. Another benefit, she added, was the strong friendships students build during their time at FA. While some students enter college knowing absolutely no one, FA students have a large friend group on day one.
"The students are held to the same academic standards as a regular semester," Sapp said. "FA is like a mini-semester, which ends up being very challenging for students. Professors compact their 16-week courses into three, with all the homework and projects that would regularly be assigned."
Sapp said FA is not spent entirely in the classroom. College is supposed to be fun, after all.
"The FA students are divided into three teams which compete against each other throughout the program," she said. "The competitions really help to build even stronger relationships between the students, the mentors and the staff."
FA participant and Mexico, Missouri, native León Brown didn't have far to travel to get to WWU, but his academic journey is just getting started.
"I graduated from Mexico High School, and I came to WWU for the American Sign Language program," Brown said. "I was sitting in speech class one day, and had the random thought about how deaf people think. So, I came to WWU to find out. I plan on being a ASL interpreting and accounting double major."
Brown said he became interested in FA during a WWU open house day.
"The (administrators) were talking about the program, and I became really interested," he said. "After chatting with my advisor, I signed up."
While some students think they know how FA will be, Brown said he is keeping an open mind.
"I have no real hopes or expectations right now," he said. "It's a really nice atmosphere so far. Everyone is very awkward and freshmen-like."
FA mentor Daryl Parungao, a Fulton native and sophomore at WWU, said her love of her hometown drew her to the program.
"I was born in the Philippines, and moved to Fulton when I was four," she said. "But I am from Fulton, and was raised here. Both my sisters went to WWU, and I have always loved this place. I signed up for FA so that I could make sure other kids love it here as much as I do."
Parungao said she is very active all around the WWU campus, and her organizational involvement and academic accolades is extensive.
"I like to be involved in things," she said. "So when I heard that Dr. Sapp was accepting applications for mentors, I threw my hat in the ring."
After being accepted into the program, Parungao said she sees her role in a whole new light.
"College is terrifying for everyone; they are just as nervous as you are," she said. "My job is making sure the kids have someone to look up to, someone who has been in their shoes. We also help them with homework when we need to, and we are always an open ear."
The number one rule for the short three-week program is to make good first impressions, Parungao said.
"FA doesn't end when the three weeks are up," she said. "The way you act and perform here lasts all four years."