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Journey of a First Year College Scholar
College Success Team
Created on March 13, 2024
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Transcript
CS Treasure
YourJourney Begins
Summer Break!
First Academic L
Internship Application Season
To Transfer or Not to Transfer?
CS Treasure
Broken Glasses
CS Treasure
College Success Survey
Next Year's Housing
Winter Break
Financial Challenge
CS Treasure
Time to buy books
CS Treasure
Getting Involved
Journey of a first year Scholar
Time to make your sophomore schedule
Academic Integrity
Take Care of Yourself
FAFSA Verification
Making Connections
Leadership Development
Roommate Woes
It's Welcome Week!
Study Abroad Info Session
Do I belong here?
Scholarship Alert!
Broadening Horizons
CS Treasure
YourJourney Begins
Summer Break!
First Academic L
Internship Application Season
To Transfer or Not to Transfer?
CS Treasure
Broken Glasses
CS Treasure
College Success Survey
Next Year's Housing
Winter Break
Financial Challenge
CS Treasure
Time to buy books
CS Treasure
Getting Involved
Journey of a first year Scholar
Tokens
Time to make your sophomore schedule
Academic Integrity
Take Care of Yourself
FAFSA Verification
Making Connections
Leadership Develpoment
Roommate Woes
It's Welcome Week!
Study Abroad Info Session
Do I belong here?
Scholarship Alert!
Broadening Horizons
Next
Finals Week Approaching! Create a Study Plan
Lift Treasure
Lift Treasure
Broken Glasses
Lift Treasure
College Success Survey
Lift Leadership Labs
Summer Break!
Winter Break
Financial Aid Office
Lift Treasure
Check out the campus Tutoring Center
1st Day of College
Lift Treasure
Student Org Fair
Journey of a College Scholar
Tokens
YourJourney Begins
Academic Advisor Sophmore Schedule
Scholar DirectoryGot a Ride Home!
Finals Week Approaching! Create a Study Plan
Study Break Professor Office Hours
Write an awesome headline
Tax Season! $$$
Multi-cultural Picnic
Peer Mentor Boba Time!
Massages & Ice Cream on the Quad!
You attend Welcome Week and meet a new friend!
Attend a Study Abroad info session
Career Office Resume Workshop
Summer Internship Emerge Program
Scholarship Alert!
REACH College & Career Pathways
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Study Plan
Learn about multi-cultural organizations and experience some new foods. Task: ??
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Speaking Opportunity
The Onsite College and Leadership Forum is approaching and because you have stayed engaged and connected to Chicago Scholars during your first year, you have been chosen to be the Scholar MC for the day!
While doing your monthly check-in with your Year 2 Mentor you expressed wanting to gain more experience in the healthcare field. Your Y2 Mentor works in healthcare and set up a shadowing opportunity for you at their hospital over the summer!
TASK: Create a REACH Account
REACH is the college and career pathway for high-performing under-resourced students (HiPURS) at the nexus of companies and communities. Less like homework and more like a video game, REACH rewards students for interacting with mentors, accessing bite-size career content, and completing real-life tasks in a vibrant virtual community.
Peer Mentors make a one-year commitment to the program, but many decide to continue as Peer Mentors for their entire college career. Their role is key in helping to maintain personal connections to Scholars on campus.
Learn More Here!
You were reading through the latest 10MT from Chicago Scholars and you saw Team Lift is looking for Peer Mentors for the new Scholar class. You decided to apply since you had a great first year experience and want to give back to younger Scholars!
You meet up with your Peer Mentor to get some free Boba! While there you got to meet other Chicago Scholars and learn about all the cool spots on campus. TASK: Check your email! Sign up to be a peer mentee today.
Learn More Here!
Peer Mentor
Boba Time!
YOUR ON-CAMPUS SUPPORT NETWORK Your first year in college can be a whirlwind. It can be difficult to know where to go to seek resources and answers to your questions, or where to find a community, activities and opportunities.
Meet with Financial Aid to make sure you are all set for your spring semester student bill. Task: Determine the process for making an appointment with financial aid
Task: Go into REACH Pathways to find the Create a Personal Budget quest on the Skills Tree. The first person to drop the number of gems you get for completing the quest in the chat gets 2 extra points.
Review the scenario first and then complete the task below:
Check Point #1
A. Try to find other friends or family to loan you the moneyB. Ask your boss at your part time job for more hours C. Talk to someone at the financial aid or bursar's office about setting up a payment plan to split the payments into smaller amounts
What will you choose?
You've just learned that your family member who supports you financially recieved a pay cut. You have a student bill due soon and dont know if you and your family member will be able to make the payment.
Link - Study Plan. Study suggestions Task: Create a list of study tips
A. Attend free campus lectures or workshops that focus on the subjectB. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss low-commitment options like pass/fail or audit courses C. Connect with a student organization or campus group related to the topic to gain informal exposure
What will you do?
You've recently developed an interest in a subject that falls outside of your declared major. While you're eager to explore it further, you're hesitant to formally enroll in a course due to an already demanding sophomore year schedule.
A. Seek counseling in your school's health center even though it is out of your comfort zone, but it might help you.B. Thank them for the suggestion, but decide it is not for you and don't go. C. Ask someone you trust—like a peer, advisor, or mentor—what their experience with counseling has been like
What will you choose?
You havent felt like yourself lately, affecting your academics and social life. You've asked your friends for advice on what you can do to help. Your friend suggests you take advantage of the free university counseling. You've never been to therapy before, so you're unsure what to anticipate.
ELD Grant
Educational Leadership Development (ELD) Grant
You attended a Study Abroad information session for your major and became very interested in studying aboard! Later that month you expressed your interest in studying abroad next semester and your concern about covering the cost with your Y2 Mentor. Your Y2 mentor reminds you that you can apply for the ELD Grant with Chicago Scholars for support. TASK: List all the requirements for the ELD grant.
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The objective of the Game: To Have FunALSO, get to the last space on the board (Summer Break) as a team. This will indicate you completed your first year of college together! Rules: There will be no dice, simply move your game piece along the board one space at a time. Each space requires you to complete a mini-task as a group. You can not move on until the task is complete. Winning the Game: You have finished the game when you reach Summer Break.
You received an email to sign up for a career exploration event with one of our amazing career partners! After the event, you were able to connect on LinkedIn with one of the HR Specialists. You also gained some valuable insight into what is needed to get a summer internship with the company.
Career Exploration Event
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Task: Find a STEM scholarship on the REACH platform and the first person to drop one in the chat gets double points.
Review the scenario first and then complete the task below:
Check Point #3
A. Start to search for summer jobs so that you can save up money for schoolB. Stay on top of the Opportunities Board on the REACH Pathways plaform for scholarship opportunities C. Connect with your school's financial aid office to see if they have any resources
What will you choose?
You are starting to think about your finances for your sophomore year. You were awarded a scholarship for your first year that will expire at the end of this school year and need to figure out how to fill the gap.
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Congrats! You completed your first semester of college! Move on to the next square.
A. . You ask other Chicago Scholars in the Community feature in REACH for advice building confidence and navigate imposter syndrome B. Connect with a current leadership board member to ask for advice C. Decide not to run
What will you choose?
You've been attending the meetings and events of a student organization on campus and they've just announced elections for their leadership board. You're interested in running for a position but dont feel confident in your ability to lead yet.
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- Speak to your professor and strategize how to pass at least
- Withdraw the class
You are near the end of the semester and have a low grade in a class. Your goal was to attend the tutoring center or meet with your TA, but you did not get around to it, thinking you'd eventually catch up. Your final exam will determine if you pass or fail. What do you do?
You attended your College Transition Days and become aware of your Chicago Scholars support system and resources before you go off to school.
What will you choose?
You are out to lunch with a friend who's a senior. They tell you they aren't graduating this semester because of missing a class they didnt know was required. It is almost time to register for sophomore year classes and you begin to worry if you're on the right track.
A. Make an advising appointment and ask for additional resources to help you make informed decisions about your academic planB. Ask your friends for advice C. Don't check in with your advisor and try to figure out yourself
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Article: Using Office Hours Effectively
Attending your professor's office hours can be the difference between a failing grade and a passing grade. TASK: Read the attached article and discuss one thing you learned with the group.
Professor Office Hours
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a. Ignore the email and textb. Take the survey, update the College Success Team on my wins and needs and get connected to the resources I need
What will you choose?
You received an email and text from the College Success Team asking you to fill out the College Success Survey. You havent had time this semester to talk with anyone on the College Success Team but have questions about things concerning your college experience.
Speak on Scholarship Panel
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Click the plus sign to learn more about the Lifeline Emergency Grant!
A. Try to fix them yourselfB. Buy a cheap pair of readers to get by as you save for your actual prescription glasses C. Apply for Chicago Scholars' Lifeline Emergency Grant since this is an unexpected need
What will you choose?
Your roommate accidently steps on your glasses and now you can't see during your lectures. It will cost you $100 to purchase a new pair but your budget it tight.
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Chicago Scholars believes in empowering our Scholars with the knowledge needed to achieve their personal best. Financial literacy is a huge part of that. Twice a year CS hosts financial literacy workshops geared towards topics picked by our Scholars. Past events have included: budgeting, building credit, paying off debit, and filing taxes.
Financial Literacy!
TASK: What financial literacy topics do you want to learn more about?
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TASK: List the requirements to become a Peer Mentor
Peer Mentors make a one-year commitment to the program, but many decide to continue as Peer Mentors for their entire college career. Their role is key in helping to maintain personal connections to Scholars on campus.
Learn More Here!
Become a Peer Mentor
You were reading through the latest 10MT from Chicago Scholars and you saw Team Lift is looking for Peer Mentors for the new Scholar class. You decided to apply!
TASK: Find at least one scholarship that is open for college students to apply for.
CS Scholarships
CS Scholarship
We encourage Scholars to explore and apply for the following scholarship opportunities. Listings are updated regularly — check back often for updates!
Instructions
- Turn Order: Players go in birth order—youngest to oldest—and take turns advancing through each space on the board (one at a time, no dice needed for movement). - Dice Roll = CS Treasure Check: On each turn, the current player rolls two virtual dice: - If they roll doubles, they earn a CS Treasure, which means +1 bonus point if they match the majority answer that round. - If not, they continue as usual—no extra bonus. - Scenario Time: The current player reads a multiple-choice scenario aloud (A–E). All players secretly pick their answer, then reveal at the same time on a countdown ("3…2…1…reveal!"). - Scoring: - Players who match the majority answer get 1 point. - If the current player rolled doubles and matched the majority, they get +1 extra point from their CS Treasure. - Checkpoints: Some board spaces are Checkpoint Squares. When a player lands on one, the whole group must complete a fast extra challenge. - The first person to finish correctly earns +2 bonus points.
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Task: Explore the Emerge page on the CS Website, find out how Emerge Interns spend their Fridays during the summer and the first one to drop the answer in the chat gets double points.
Review the scenario first and then complete the task below:
Check Point #2
What will you choose?
It's winter break, and you notice that your friends are already starting to apply for and recieve internships for the upcoming summer. You had a challenging semester and looked forward to the downtime but hearing from your friends makes you worry that you are behind.
A. Wait to apply for internshipsB. Respond to the text from the College Success Team with information about Chicago Scholars' homegrown internship program called Emerge which connects rising sophmore and juniors to paid summer internships with vetted career partners C. Dont apply for an internship and miss out on valuable career and leadership development
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A. Go to the Student Involvement Fair to explore all the club and activity options at your schoolB. Explore your school's website to find all the club and activity options C. Focus on your studies this semester and vow to try to get involved next semester
You are settling into your new schedule and find that you are bored after class. You were involved in many activities in high school, are interested in getting involved on campus but you dont know where to start.What will you choose?
Each player must choose a color: blue, green, yellow or pink. He/she gets a tile to mark his/her position and 10 houses to indicate the properties he/she acquires during the game. Each player must take the tile of his/her color and place it on the starting square. To start playing, click on the dice and move your piece to the corresponding square. In each square there must be one or more questions. If you get it right, place one of your houses on that square - congratulations, you have a new property! Special squares: the squares with icons contain penalties such as "Player pays electricity tax: loses 2 houses". Get the question right to avoid the penalty! The player who has the highest number of houses on the board once all the squares are occupied wins.
Speak at NSO
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Click the plus sign to learn more out our AI Literacy resources in REACH!
You've got an essay due soon, and you're totally stuck. One of your friends mentions they used an AI tool to help get started on their paper. You're curious—it sounds super helpful. But you're not sure if that's cool with your professor or if it counts as cheating.
A. Use the AI just to come up with ideas, then write everything in your own words B. Email your professor to ask if using AI tools is okay for this assignment C. Let the AI draft part of your essay, then tweak it so it sounds more like you D. Skip the AI and play it safe until you know what’s allowed
What will you choose?
Click the plus sign more information about imposter syndrome!
A. Dont talk to anyone and do nothing about it. B. Talk to your Chicago Scholars Y2 Mentor for advice and resourcesC. Find other first gen college students on tik tok who share their experiences and tips
What will you choose?
You are in the middle of your first year and feel "imposter syndrome". You dont feel like you deserve to be there. No one around you has ever expressed feeling this, and you do not know how to cope.
Click the plus sign for a pro-tip about buying books!
It is the beginning of the semester and you need to purchase books for class. You run into your friend Doechii, who is in the same classes as you, on your way to the bookstore. Doechii went to the bookstore and rented them out for the semester, which allowed her to buy practically everything for half the price. You discovered that Amazon leases out textbooks. You are now provided with possibilities that you were unaware existed.What will you choose?
A. Rent from Amazon or campus bookstoreB. Buy from the bookstoreC. Dont buy books for class and find free resources
Article: Maximizing Your College Career Services
Attending your campus's Career Services Office can be extremely, beneficial to your career journey. TASK: Read the attached article and discuss one thing you learned with the group.
Career Services Offices
YOU MADE IT! You finished your first year of college! While it wasnt a perfect experience, you navigated each challenge with the help of critical thinking, community and tapping into all your resources.
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You got an email to complete the College Success Survey (CSS)! The CSS is a great way to update Chicago Scholars on how your college journey is going. We want to celebrate your WINS with you! It is also a great way to let CS know if you need financial, academic, career, or scholarship support. TASK: Don't forget! Complete your CSS
College Success Survey (CSS)
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Congrats! You completed your first semester of college! Move on to the next square.
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Yayy! You made it to Welcome Week. Now it's time to learn about campus and meet some cool people! Task: Find the dates of the welcome week for your assigned college campus. List three activities happening that week.
Click the plus sign to learn more about Residential Assistants!
A. You tag along with your residential assistant (RA) and other floormates.B. You stay in your dorm, scroll on TikTok and miss out on free stuff, and new connections
It's Welcome Week and your school has tons of events planned to welcome students back to campus! You and your roommate planned to attend some of the events but your roommate canceled last minute. What will you choose?
What wll you choose?
You learn that tuition will go up next school year and while you were able to cover the cost of college this year, you worry about how you will be able to manage the increase in cost. There is a local college that has significantly cheaper tuition and you consider transerfing to save money.
A. You reach out to the College Success Team for advice before you make a decision on your next steps. They help you to consider all your options and create a plan.B. You make quick decision to take the semester off and save money C. You choose to stay in school but worry about how you will keep up
Lifeline Application
TASK: Review the Lifeline application and write down the requirements.
Lifeline
Broken Glasses!
Your roommate accidentally steps on your glasses and now you can’t see during your lectures without them. It’ll cost $100 to purchase a new prescription pair. Because this happened unexpectedly and you didn’t budget for this expense, you appy to Lifeline. You request funds for the glasses as it’s important to your success in class.
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You read the monthly 10 Minute Tea newsletter and learn about a career exploration event with one of our amazing career partners!After the event, you were able to connect on LinkedIn with one of the HR Specialists. You also gained some valuable insight into what is needed to get a summer internship with the company.
Career Exploration Event
The campus wellness center is offering massages and Ice Cream to help with mid-term stress. You learn about all the resources the wellness center provides. Task: Create a list of mental health services provided by your assigned institution.
Massages & Ice Cream
Campus Wellness Center
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A. Try to join a study group with your classmates who did well on the quizB. Hire a tutorC. Visit your school's free tutoring center
What will you do?
You just received your grade back from a quiz in your hardest class. Even though you studied and have kept up with your assignments, you recieved a D. Your professor will give a bigger exam in a few weeks but you worry about how you will perform.
A. Apply to be a Residential Assistant so that you wont have to pay for housing or a meal planB. Move off campus to an apartment that you will share with 3 of your close friendsC. You find a more expensive dorm that fits your needs (i.e. closer to classes and activities) and check in with financial aid to see if there are funds available to help with the extra cost
What will you choose?
It is time to start thinking about your housing plans for the next school year. You have a couple of friends that want you to join them in renting an apartment off campus.
While doing your monthly check-in with your Y2 Mentor you expressed wanting to gain more experience in the healthcare field. Your Y2 Mentor works in healthcare and set up a shadowing opportunity for you at their hospital over the summer!
Click the plus sign to access the College Scholar Directory!
A. Spend more time in common areas like the student union or campus coffee shop to casually meet peopleB. Join the College Scholar Directory to connect with other college Scholars going to your school or in your regionC. Wait until you feel more settled academically before trying to make new friends
What will you do?
You're adjusting to life as a first-year college Scholar and starting to feel the excitement of a new environment—but also a little isolated. You want to make new friends and build meaningful connections, but you're unsure of how to meet people beyond your classes.
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Task: Drop the link to the website used to submit FAFSA applications in the chat. The first do so gets 2 extra points.
Review the scenario first and then complete the task below:
Check Point #4
A. Contact your school’s financial aid office right away to get a clear list of what documents you need B. Look for the verification instructions in your student portal or FAFSA confirmation email C. Put it off for now and focus on schoolwork, hoping it won’t affect your aid packag
What will you choose?
You submitted your FAFSA and thought you were all set—until you received a notification saying you've been selected for verification. Now, you're being asked to provide extra documents, like tax forms or proof of identity. You're confused about what exactly you need to do and concerned that delays could impact your financial aid
A. Ignore it, knowing you will get a new roommate next yearB. Talk with your roommate about it and explain how you're feelingC. Reach out to your Residential Assistant (RA) to help mediate this conversation
What will you do?
Your roommate has been blasting music while you're trying to sleep, using your things without asking, and not cleaning their side of the room. This affects your space and your attitude towards them. You have tried to model good roommate behavior, but they do not notice or care.
The Scholar Directory is a great way to connect with Scholars on your campus or in your area. If you are interested in being a part of the Scholar Directory use the link below to sign up today! https://chicagoscholars.tfaforms.net/4618017
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While talking to your Y2 Mentor about summer internships you learned about the Emerge Summer Career and Leadership Program. Emerge Summer Career and Leadership Program matches Scholars with meaningful, paid internships at our partner businesses and organizations
EmergeProgram
Emerge Summer Career and Leadership Program
Summer Internship
TASK: What are the requirements to participate in the Emerge Program?
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Click the plus sign to learn more about the Educational and Leadership Development Grant (ELD)!
You attended a study abroad information session for your major and learn that studying abroad can improve cultural understanding, foster leadership development and more! Although you are interested in studying abroad, you are worried about the cost to fund the trip. What will you do?
A. You become discouraged and decide studying abroad is not in the cards for youB. You remember hearing about the Educational and Leadership Development Grant from your Lift Summer workshops and find that you can apply for up to 5k for study abroad, research, unpaid inernships, conferences and more
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Speaking Opportunity
The Onsite College and Leadership Forum is approaching and because you have stayed engaged and connected to Chicago Scholars during your first year, you have been chosen to be the Scholar MC for the day!
While doing your monthly check-in with your Year 2 Mentor you expressed wanting to gain more experience in the healthcare field. Your Y2 Mentor works in healthcare and set up a shadowing opportunity for you at their hospital over the summer!
Peer Mentors make a one-year commitment to the program, but many decide to continue as Peer Mentors for their entire college career. Their role is key in helping to maintain personal connections to Scholars on campus.
Learn More Here!
You were reading through the latest 10MT from Chicago Scholars and you saw Team Lift is looking for Peer Mentors for the new Scholar class. You decided to apply since you had a great first year experience and want to give back to younger Scholars!
A. Try to find other friends or family to loan you the moneyB. Ask your boss at your part time job for more hours C. Talk to someone at the financial aid or bursar's office about setting up a payment plan to split the payments into smaller amounts
What will you choose?
You've just learned that your family member who supports you financially recieved a pay cut. You have a student bill due soon and dont know if you and your family member will be able to make the payment.
A. Attend free campus lectures or workshops that focus on the subjectB. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss low-commitment options like pass/fail or audit courses C. Connect with a student organization or campus group related to the topic to gain informal exposure
What will you do?
You've recently developed an interest in a subject that falls outside of your declared major. While you're eager to explore it further, you're hesitant to formally enroll in a course due to an already demanding sophomore year schedule.
A. Seek counseling in your school's health center even though it is out of your comfort zone, but it might help you.B. Thank them for the suggestion, but decide it is not for you and don't go. C. Ask someone you trust—like a peer, advisor, or mentor—what their experience with counseling has been like
What will you choose?
You havent felt like yourself lately, affecting your academics and social life. You've asked your friends for advice on what you can do to help. Your friend suggests you take advantage of the free university counseling. You've never been to therapy before, so you're unsure what to anticipate.
A. Start to search for summer jobs so that you can save up money for schoolB. Stay on top of the Opportunities Board on the REACH Pathways plaform for scholarship opportunities C. Connect with your school's financial aid office to see if they have any resources
What will you choose?
You are starting to think about your finances for your sophomore year. You were awarded a scholarship for your first year that will expire at the end of this school year and need to figure out how to fill the gap.
A. . You ask other Chicago Scholars in the Community feature in REACH for advice building confidence and navigate imposter syndrome B. Connect with a current leadership board member to ask for advice C. Decide not to run
What will you choose?
You've been attending the meetings and events of a student organization on campus and they've just announced elections for their leadership board. You're interested in running for a position but dont feel confident in your ability to lead yet.
- Speak to your professor and strategize how to pass at least
- Withdraw the class
You are near the end of the semester and have a low grade in a class. Your goal was to attend the tutoring center or meet with your TA, but you did not get around to it, thinking you'd eventually catch up. Your final exam will determine if you pass or fail. What do you do?
You attended your College Transition Days and become aware of your Chicago Scholars support system and resources before you go off to school.
What will you choose?
You are out to lunch with a friend who's a senior. They tell you they aren't graduating this semester because of missing a class they didnt know was required. It is almost time to register for sophomore year classes and you begin to worry if you're on the right track.
A. Make an advising appointment and ask for additional resources to help you make informed decisions about your academic planB. Ask your friends for advice C. Don't check in with your advisor and try to figure out yourself
a. Ignore the email and textb. Take the survey, update the College Success Team on my wins and needs and get connected to the resources I need
What will you choose?
You received an email and text from the College Success Team asking you to fill out the College Success Survey. You havent had time this semester to talk with anyone on the College Success Team but have questions about things concerning your college experience.
Click the plus sign to learn more about the Lifeline Emergency Grant!
A. Try to fix them yourselfB. Buy a cheap pair of readers to get by as you save for your actual prescription glasses C. Apply for Chicago Scholars' Lifeline Emergency Grant since this is an unexpected need
What will you choose?
Your roommate accidently steps on your glasses and now you can't see during your lectures. It will cost you $100 to purchase a new pair but your budget it tight.
Instructions
- Turn Order: Players go in birth order—youngest to oldest—and take turns advancing through each space on the board (one at a time, no dice needed for movement). - Dice Roll = CS Treasure Check: On each turn, the current player rolls two virtual dice: - If they roll doubles, they earn a CS Treasure, which means +1 bonus point if they match the majority answer that round. - If not, they continue as usual—no extra bonus. - Scenario Time: The current player reads a multiple-choice scenario aloud (A–E). All players secretly pick their answer, then reveal at the same time on a countdown ("3…2…1…reveal!"). - Scoring: - Players who match the majority answer get 1 point. - If the current player rolled doubles and matched the majority, they get +1 extra point from their CS Treasure. - Checkpoints: Some board spaces are Checkpoint Squares. When a player lands on one, the whole group must complete a fast extra challenge. - The first person to finish correctly earns +2 bonus points.
What will you choose?
It's winter break, and you notice that your friends are already starting to apply for and recieve internships for the upcoming summer. You had a challenging semester and looked forward to the downtime but hearing from your friends makes you worry that you are behind.
A. Wait to apply for internshipsB. Respond to the text from the College Success Team with information about Chicago Scholars' homegrown internship program called Emerge which connects rising sophmore and juniors to paid summer internships with vetted career partners C. Dont apply for an internship and miss out on valuable career and leadership development
A. Go to the Student Involvement Fair to explore all the club and activity options at your schoolB. Explore your school's website to find all the club and activity options C. Focus on your studies this semester and vow to try to get involved next semester
You are settling into your new schedule and find that you are bored after class. You were involved in many activities in high school, are interested in getting involved on campus but you dont know where to start.What will you choose?
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You've got an essay due soon, and you're totally stuck. One of your friends mentions they used an AI tool to help get started on their paper. You're curious—it sounds super helpful. But you're not sure if that's cool with your professor or if it counts as cheating.
A. Use the AI just to come up with ideas, then write everything in your own words B. Email your professor to ask if using AI tools is okay for this assignment C. Let the AI draft part of your essay, then tweak it so it sounds more like you D. Skip the AI and play it safe until you know what’s allowed
What will you choose?
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A. Dont talk to anyone and do nothing about it. B. Talk to your Chicago Scholars Y2 Mentor for advice and resourcesC. Find other first gen college students on tik tok who share their experiences and tips
What will you choose?
You are in the middle of your first year and feel "imposter syndrome". You dont feel like you deserve to be there. No one around you has ever expressed feeling this, and you do not know how to cope.
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It is the beginning of the semester and you need to purchase books for class. You run into your friend Doechii, who is in the same classes as you, on your way to the bookstore. Doechii went to the bookstore and rented them out for the semester, which allowed her to buy practically everything for half the price. You discovered that Amazon leases out textbooks. You are now provided with possibilities that you were unaware existed.What will you choose?
A. Rent from Amazon or campus bookstoreB. Buy from the bookstoreC. Dont buy books for class and find free resources
YOU MADE IT! You finished your first year of college! While it wasnt a perfect experience, you navigated each challenge with the help of critical thinking, community and tapping into all your resources.
Congrats! You completed your first semester of college! Move on to the next square.
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A. You tag along with your residential assistant (RA) and other floormates.B. You stay in your dorm, scroll on TikTok and miss out on free stuff, and new connections
It's Welcome Week and your school has tons of events planned to welcome students back to campus! You and your roommate planned to attend some of the events but your roommate canceled last minute. What will you choose?
What wll you choose?
You learn that tuition will go up next school year and while you were able to cover the cost of college this year, you worry about how you will be able to manage the increase in cost. There is a local college that has significantly cheaper tuition and you consider transerfing to save money.
A. You reach out to the College Success Team for advice before you make a decision on your next steps. They help you to consider all your options and create a plan.B. You make quick decision to take the semester off and save money C. You choose to stay in school but worry about how you will keep up
You read the monthly 10 Minute Tea newsletter and learn about a career exploration event with one of our amazing career partners!After the event, you were able to connect on LinkedIn with one of the HR Specialists. You also gained some valuable insight into what is needed to get a summer internship with the company.
Career Exploration Event
A. Try to join a study group with your classmates who did well on the quizB. Hire a tutorC. Visit your school's free tutoring center
What will you do?
You just received your grade back from a quiz in your hardest class. Even though you studied and have kept up with your assignments, you recieved a D. Your professor will give a bigger exam in a few weeks but you worry about how you will perform.
A. Apply to be a Residential Assistant so that you wont have to pay for housing or a meal planB. Move off campus to an apartment that you will share with 3 of your close friendsC. You find a more expensive dorm that fits your needs (i.e. closer to classes and activities) and check in with financial aid to see if there are funds available to help with the extra cost
What will you choose?
It is time to start thinking about your housing plans for the next school year. You have a couple of friends that want you to join them in renting an apartment off campus.
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A. Spend more time in common areas like the student union or campus coffee shop to casually meet peopleB. Join the College Scholar Directory to connect with other college Scholars going to your school or in your regionC. Wait until you feel more settled academically before trying to make new friends
What will you do?
You're adjusting to life as a first-year college Scholar and starting to feel the excitement of a new environment—but also a little isolated. You want to make new friends and build meaningful connections, but you're unsure of how to meet people beyond your classes.
A. Contact your school’s financial aid office right away to get a clear list of what documents you need B. Look for the verification instructions in your student portal or FAFSA confirmation email C. Put it off for now and focus on schoolwork, hoping it won’t affect your aid packag
What will you choose?
You submitted your FAFSA and thought you were all set—until you received a notification saying you've been selected for verification. Now, you're being asked to provide extra documents, like tax forms or proof of identity. You're confused about what exactly you need to do and concerned that delays could impact your financial aid
A. Ignore it, knowing you will get a new roommate next yearB. Talk with your roommate about it and explain how you're feelingC. Reach out to your Residential Assistant (RA) to help mediate this conversation
What will you do?
Your roommate has been blasting music while you're trying to sleep, using your things without asking, and not cleaning their side of the room. This affects your space and your attitude towards them. You have tried to model good roommate behavior, but they do not notice or care.
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You attended a study abroad information session for your major and learn that studying abroad can improve cultural understanding, foster leadership development and more! Although you are interested in studying abroad, you are worried about the cost to fund the trip. What will you do?
A. You become discouraged and decide studying abroad is not in the cards for youB. You remember hearing about the Educational and Leadership Development Grant from your College Transition Days and find that you can apply for funding for study abroad, research, unpaid inernships, conferences and more