<p>My D is all set for the Freshman Connection starting in Fall, and we are also STRONGLY "encouraging" (she says we're forcing) her to do the August 1- 20 Freshman First session. The thinking is that it gets her onto the campus to get a feel for it in a more casual, yet structured way, gets to meet and integrate with other freshman not in FC, and also get her first taste of college. Anybody have any experiences with the Freshman First session and feedback/considerations I can use as she tries to pout her way out of this? :) Thanks</p>
<p>well, i guess it differs person to person, but i did freshman first, and I absolutely LOVED it. It was so fun, because you would only work for like half the day, and then you basically had campus to yourself for the rest of the time. We went into DC, went to Eppley everyday, got to eat at basically every restaurant on Rt. 1… it is definitely a good introduction to the area. </p>
<p>And again, I probably had better luck than most, but I met my best friends at college during Freshman First. Some of us were in the same apt, some were downstairs, but there was a group of ten of us that basically spent all of our time together, and we’re all still close. I actually roomed this year with my roomie from FF, and I’m also now sharing an apartment with another friend. Last year, we were in different res. halls and we still made sure to see each other all the time, esp. since some of us were on south campus together, we saw each other almost every night for dinner. Two other friends are living in Commons together, and we still see each other either for lunch, or at least once on weekends. Like I honestly can’t imagine what my life at Maryland would have been like without them, they are absolutely my core group at school, and we probably never would’ve met except for FF. </p>
<p>So I obviously can’t say enough good things about it, but maybe that’s just cuz we all became best friends, I couldn’t say if that was the norm, but your D should at least find out!</p>
<p>Did you also do Freshman Connection? And any idea how many of those in the FF also were Freshman Connection? …and, of your friends, that you met through FF how many were also FC? Sorry for the questioning. I’m trying to fact her into submission. Thanks</p>
<p>actually, no one i got to know during Freshman First did FC, which i know doesn’t help your cause 
but again, its a big program, and I probably got to know only 20 or so kids well, so its very possible that there was a group of freshman connection students who I just didn’t get to know…
You might be able to call office of extended studies and ask them? I don’t know if they would have data like that, but they might :)</p>
<p>Wish my answer was more helpful, and hopefully your daughter has a great experienceif she decides to do freshman first!</p>