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Guide first-year students to their passion

$450
15%
Raised toward our $3,000 Goal
4 Donors
Project has ended
Project ended on October 31, at 11:59 PM PDT
Project Owners

Help first-year students find their passion through L&S Pathways!

UC Berkeley attracts the best and brightest students, but our university’s size and complexity can be overwhelming for new students, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college. To help ease the transition to college life and Berkeley academics, the College of Letters & Science launched the First-Year Pathways program in fall 2023. 

L&S First-Year Pathways allows students to:

  • Explore compelling and timely topics through an interdisciplinary lens
  • Join small cohorts of up to 25 students in hub courses and in discussion sections of lecture classes
  • Form personal relationships with emblematic faculty members
  • Enjoy learning and bonding activities outside of the classroom
  • Progress toward graduation through the completion of L&S breadth requirements

Based on positive feedback from last year's cohort, we expanded the program to include a cluster of courses around democracy and a full-year cluster designed specifically for pre-med students. We try to bring these students outside of the classroom for experiential learning opportunities, which tend to cost around $3,000 for a full class.

The L&S First-Year Pathways is one of several key initiatives carried out through the L&S Leadership Fund. Your gift will broadly support L&S's efforts to improve the new student experience and supports the top priorities for the College of Letters & Science. Uses of funding also include, but are not limited to, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships, Big Ideas Courses, and additional advising resources. Funding that surpasses the goal will continue to support the operations of the College of Letters & Science. 

The first semester of college is often the most challenging time for our undergraduates. Tilt the scales toward success with a timely gift to the L&S Leadership Fund.


L&S First-Year Pathways students curated a BAMPFA art exhibition in December 2023 (Photo by Brian Wollitz)


Our way
of Thanking You

$50

Social Shout-out

We will thank you by name from the College of Letters & Science’s social media accounts (unless you choose to remain anonymous).

0 of Unlimited Claimed
Estimated Delivery: November 2024

$100

Signed Photograph

We will send you a photograph from one of the First-Year Pathways classes signed by a faculty leader.

0 of Unlimited Claimed
Estimated Delivery: November 2024

$1,000

Video from the Executive Dean

Jennifer Johnson-Hanks, the executive dean of the College of Letters & Science, will send you a video thanking you for your contribution.

0 of Unlimited Claimed
Estimated Delivery: November 2024
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