First semester freshmen entering the College of Engineering have the chance to get off to a great start at UT-Austin by enrolling in a First-Year Interest Group (FIG). The mission is to help students succeed by supporting them academically, developmentally, and socially. This is achieved by cohort registration and a supplemental seminar designed to not only acquaint the FIG members with faculty, staff and students, but also to introduce them to university facilities and resources. The program allows incoming first year students to be placed in the same two or three classes. Courses are organized around a theme or an academic area. In addition to taking classes in common with a small group of students in the interest group, students will:
- Satisfy degree requirements
- Forge a link between academics and social experience
- Form study groups
- Have regular contact with peer and staff advisors
- Be introduced to academic resources at UT-Austin