Four-Year Experience
SUMMIT, our innovative approach to liberal arts, is not just a core curriculum. It’s a holistic journey through your four years here.
First, you build a base, the fundamental skills and knowledge you’ll need to succeed in college and beyond. As you climb, you’ll choose specific academic and co-curricular experiences that will best prepare you for post-Agnes success.
The five elements of SUMMIT you’ll interact with throughout your four years are:
First Year
Your SUMMIT experience begins before you even arrive on campus. You’ll meet two members of your board of advisors. Your SUMMIT Advisor, an academic professional, will guide you for all four years here, helping you make the most of your Agnes Scott career. Your Peer Advisor, a trained upperclass student, will introduce you to campus and help you adjust to college life.
During orientation, you’ll be introduced to the leadership development piece of SUMMIT through Legacy, a two-day leadership retreat. You’ll form relationships with your peers and participate in activities to help you learn more about Agnes Scott, Atlanta, and even yourself. Your first-semester Leadership 101 seminar will build foundational leadership and academic skills, but we won't stop there. Also in first year, we'll introduce you to the first part of our professional success initiative with our SUMMIT academic and career labs, focused on academic success, professional growth and financial wellness.
In the spring during the college's annual Peak Week (the week that proceeds spring break, reserved for experiential learning around the themes of global learning, leadership development and post-Agnes success), you’ll take your Global Journeys course, which includes a week-long faculty-led study of global issues at a relevant destination. To us, global learning means understanding a place and culture in a deep and purposeful way. You’ll gain much more than a tourist-level insight and an introduction into being an engaged global citizen.
Learn more about the First-Year Experience.
Second Year
SUMMIT’s most significant contribution to your second year is SCALE (Sophomore Class Atlanta Leadership Experience). The spring semester course features a weeklong immersion with an Atlanta company or nonprofit. You’ll choose an organization or project that aligns with your interests and career goals. You’ll observe and interact with the organization’s leaders and gain valuable insight into the professional world.
By the end of your second year, you’ll be working with a Major Advisor for your chosen major. Together, your Major Advisor and your SUMMIT Advisor make sure you’re choosing courses and co-curricular activities to support your goals. As you declare your major, you'll be introduced to our Career Communities, led by Career Coaches, and you'll select a community to join, bringing you together with successful alumnae and employers, and opening doors to real-world learning.
Your second year is also a good time to think about any additional global learning offerings you’d like to pursue — maybe a Global Study Tour or a full semester abroad. Make sure to check in with the Study Abroad Advisor in the SUMMIT Center for Global Learning. Your Career Advisors are here for you too, as you pursue internships and professional development experiences.
Junior and Senior Year
In your junior and senior years, you largely define your SUMMIT experience. Your team of advisors continues to serve as an important resource as you tailor your education and activities to best serve you in post-college life.
Thinking about graduate school? Seek out research opportunities. Want to take your leadership skills to an even higher level? Pursue the SUMMIT Leadership Medal. See yourself doing international work? Apply for internships abroad. We'll help bridge your academic preparation and postgraduate success by offering Applied Career Experiences (ACEs), week-long boot camps offered during Peak Week, with expert facilitators engaging you in topics formed off of your unique interests and trends in evolving professional skill sets.
During these years, you’ll also apply the digital literacy skills you’ve developed throughout your coursework. You’ll reflect on your relationship with technology and how it can best serve you as you transition into post-college life.