STATESBORO- The transition from high school to college is not always an easy one.

As young adults are faced with accepting the challenges of independence, many colleges and universities make that move easier with on-campus programs like SOAR, Georgia Southern University’s Student, Orientation, Advisement and Registration program.

“We conduct eight two-day SOAR sessions for incoming freshmen,” says Georgia Southern University Admissions Director Susan Davies. “In each session, about 250 students, or about nine percent of the freshman class, come to campus prepared to get a taste of what university life will be like.”

“They stay in a residence hall with other incoming students, meet their advisors, register for the first semester’s courses, and learn about Georgia Southern University’s history and traditions. Not only is the SOAR experience fun, it is, without a doubt, the best way to prepare for a successful freshman year.”

At Georgia Southern, the eight available SOAR sessions fill up fast, according to Davies. Right now, only the July 10-11 and July 14-15 sessions have openings for students who plan to attend Georgia Southern University.

Parents are invited to accompany their student to SOAR and attend sessions in a schedule parallel to that of their students. Each session provides parents with presentations about what their student’s first year will include, both academically and socially. Experienced staff and faculty are available to answer parents’ questions on anything from financial aid, housing and scholarships to academic programs and personal safety.

“The emphasis on student success doesn’t stop when students come to campus for their first year,” said Chris Caplinger, director of the First-Year Experience Program at Georgia Southern. “At Georgia Southern University we greet students in small groups at ‘Conversations with Professors,’ an academic welcome to their freshman year. We continue with a required freshman seminar that gives students the tools needed to succeed.”

“At Georgia Southern University, our goal is to convert high school graduates to successful freshmen, and those freshmen to successful graduates,” says Davies. “Attending SOAR will get incoming students started on the right track.”

To make a reservation for SOAR, visit http://admissions.georgiasouthern.edu or call the Georgia Southern University Admissions Office at (912) 478-5391.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers more than 120 degree programs serving nearly 17,000 students.  Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement.   The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education.