Resources for Your Sophomore
Living on Campus
Housing
Our four-year residency requirement means students are required to live in F&M-owned or -approved housing for all four years.
Housing applications for returning students are available in February each year. Your sophomore student has the option to continue living in their College House. They can also choose to apply for a House Adivser (HA) position or live in one of our two residence halls on campus: Thomas Hall and Schnader Hall.
Students who don't receive housing in one of these options participate in the annual room selection proccess, the Housing Lottery. Housing Lottery information sessions are held in March and April. All students participating in the lottery are encouraged to attend a session in any College House.
Students who did not select housing through the Housing Lottery will receive a housing assignment from the Housing Office in the weeks prior to the start of the fall semester.
Contact Housing
If you need to get in touch with your student’s College House, you can reach out to the assigned faculty mentor (don) and administrative facilitator (dean). If you have questions about F&M housing in general, you can explore our FAQ to learn more or reach out to our housing team at housing@fandm.edu for additional help.
Meal Plans
As a sophomore, your are required to purchase a meal plan unless you are commuting (though you can of course purchase a meal plan if you are!). Meal plan pricing is automatically folded into your tuition details.
Academic Advising
Many second-year students focus on exploring several academic and life decisions. Your student’s faculty adviser will support them in making these long-term decisions about major(s)/minor(s) declarations, study abroad and their desired levels of integration, leadership and involvement in the larger F&M community, and much more.
Conversations your sophomore should be having with their faculty adviser:
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- What are you thinking you want to major in? Why is this subject compelling to you? Where do you think that studying it might lead you?
- Is there more than one subject that draws your attention for a potential major? If so, how might these subjects work together as a course of study going forward?
- If you do not know what you would like to major in, think of the courses you have taken: what did you like most? Which skills did you most enjoy practicing?
- Do you want to study abroad? Is there a language you wish to learn?
- Is there a field of study you want to do special research in? A professor with whom you’d particularly like to work?
- What kinds of programs/clubs/leadership opportunities would you want to create for yourself at the College if you could?
- What are you most excited to do during your next two years?
Office of Student and Post-Graduate Development (OSPGD)
A milestone in your student’s sophomore year is their major declaration. OSPGD will guide them through every step of this important decision. Our signature programs for your sophomore include:
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- An academic fair where students can learn more about programs and meet faculty from academic departments on campus
- “Not a Major Decision” individual and group sessions to support students in the period leading up to and following major declaration
- “Living Beyond F&M Series” consisting of sessions on financial literacy, public speaking, the etiquette of the business meal, and more
- F&M’s True Blue Network, a career network platform exclusive to our community
Your Student’s OSPGD Adviser
If they haven’t done so already, encourage your student to reach out to their OSPGD adviser. Your student’s primary OSPGD adviser is assigned to them based on their College House. Their adviser will work with them one-on-one to help build a trajectory of success.
Off-Campus Study
Is your student planning on participating in off-campus study? Most students choose to study off campus during their junior year; if your student is expecting to do the same, encourage them to reach out to our off-campus study staff to get started. The advising and application process begins one academic year prior to their experience. All programs approved are for transfer credit. Students' financial aid packages for the semester can be used towards off-campus study programs.
Explore our parent guide to learn more about off-campus study and how you and your student can prepare for their experience.
Do you have any questions? We're happy to help. Feel free to reach out to us at families@fandm.edu or visit our contact page.Get in Touch With F&M