Your First Year

First-Year Forum and The Course Project

Since its beginning, a cornerstone of Bennington College has been self-directed education. The First-Year Forum (FYF) was created to help you transition to this way of learning with confidence, structure, and support.

FYF offers two alternating experiences, the classroom and the workshops, that help you succeed in your first year while you begin to shape the direction of your education. Through these experiences, you reflect on what you are learning and connect ideas across courses and experiences, and begin defining a focus for your academic work.

The FYF course project and advising materials are designed around shared outcomes that support both academic growth and community-building. You will:

• Establish relationships with faculty and student leaders
• Learn how to access campus resources
• Engage with your group as a community of collaborators
• Practice exploring the unfamiliar as part of your liberal arts education
• Understand your Plan Process and how it shapes your education

Your course project brings these goals together. Through reflection, collaborative research, exploration of unfamiliar topics, and engagement with faculty, the library, and other campus resources, you actively practice the habits of inquiry and independence that define a Bennington education.

Building Self-Awareness, Skills, and Confidence

At Bennington College, career development begins with self-awareness. Understanding your interests, strengths, values, and motivators is foundational to making meaningful academic and professional decisions. 
Starting in your first year and through the Career Development & Field Work Term Office, you will receive individualized guidance designed to help you explore career possibilities, develop practical skills, and gain real-world experience that prepares you for life after graduation.

Our advisors will work with you throughout your first year and beyond to support thoughtful exploration and intentional planning. Whether you are clarifying goals, preparing for Field Work Term, or mapping out post-graduate plans, advisors provide personalized coaching in key areas, including:

• Career Exploration – Ongoing support with identifying career interests, building networks, and planning next steps after graduation.
• Field Work Term Search Planning – Support with identifying potential opportunities, developing effective search strategies, and gaining industry-specific insights.
• Application Material Review – One-on-one feedback on resumes, cover letters, portfolios, and other application materials.
• Interview Coaching – Mock interviews with constructive feedback and guidance on communicating skills, experiences, and goals with confidence.
• Post-Graduate Job Search Planning – Creating a focused and strategic roadmap aligned with each student’s values, interests, personality, and strengths.

Personalized Career Pathways and One-on-One Advising

You will work closely with Career Development & Field Work Term advisors in individualized sessions designed to turn curiosity into clear direction. Through reflective conversations and practical planning, advisors help students actively explore their interests, motivators, and values while connecting those insights to academic pathways and career possibilities.
Together, students and advisors:

• Identify career and graduate school outcomes connected to each student’s academic emphasis areas
• Explore multiple career pathways and experiential learning opportunities aligned with evolving interests
• Connect classroom learning to real-world skills and professional experiences
• Develop a personalized action plan with concrete steps toward short-term milestones and long-term career goals