First Year Transition

There are a lot of changes to adapt to all at once. Fortunately, each Saint Leo student has a built-in support network—a group of people whose first priority is you.

Adjusting to College Life

Every residence hall floor has its very own RA to help you make connections and maintain balance. Along with professional staff, they keep you positive and engaged, whether you need advice on stress management, homesickness, living with a roommate or budgeting personal finances. University Ministry and counseling services also help nurture the mind-body-spirit connection.

Choosing a Major

Don't yet know what you want to be when you "grow up"? Exploration is part of the process at Saint Leo. Our career counselors and academic advisors work one-on-one with you to help figure out interests and strengths. Plus, our general education curriculum exposes you to a variety of subjects—one of which might just be your new calling. Our professors are super-passionate about what they do. Many students tell us they feel drawn to a major by connecting with faculty in these intro-level classes.

Picking Classes

At a larger school, your academic advisor might be a staff member whose fulltime job is shuttling a nameless, faceless parade of students from freshman year through graduation. But at Saint Leo, your academic advisor—once you've declared your major—is a fulltime professor in your area of study. If you're undecided about what you want to study, you'll work with a staff advisor who will help you through the process of choosing the right classes and major for you. Many students have daily contact with their advisors, whether in the classroom, at a basketball game, or chatting over coffee about degree requirements and internship opportunities.

Tutoring & Academic Resources

The Center for Academic Vision & Excellence (CAVE)  —located on the first floor of Kirk Hall—is not just for students experiencing difficulty, but for all students looking to improve academic performance. Make an appointment or drop in anytime. The Center also helps you hone basic study skills, time management and exam-taking tactics. The reference librarians at the Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library will help you find whatever research you need to turn that "B" paper into a solid "A." More than half the Library's holdings are available electronically—access sources from your laptop, iPad or smartphone.

Affording College

A college degree is probably the biggest, most important investment you and your family are going to make. We realize that. That's why we work with you to secure funding and help with backing costs throughout your four years. Ninety-three percent of Saint Leo's traditional-age students receive financial aid of some sort, and over 91% receive grant and scholarship aid they don't have to pay back. Many students hold work-study positions in administrative departments, which not only pays the bills, but also develops valuable, lasting relationships between students and faculty/staff members.

Questions? Contact First Year Experience at (352) 588-8499