The beginning of second semester coincides with the addition of 43 new first-years to campus through the Winter Start program. The Winter Start program is a term of condition for some students to enroll at Colorado College, or for other students, an alternative to the traditional gap year. Extensive information on the program can be found under the admissions tab on CC’s website. Each year, about 40 students begin their CC career in January after spending the fall semester off campus. Some students stay local and work, while others travel the world. The Fall Semester Abroad program offers the opportunity for students to travel Europe and take four blocks before they arrive on campus. Other programs like National Outdoor Leadership School or field studies programs have credits transferrable to CC as well. Even without credits in the fall semester, Winter Starts can easily catch up with AP credit or summer courses and graduate on time with the fall starts. However, many Winter Starts choose to spend a full four years on campus and graduate the following winter.
The purpose of the program is to give students a worthwhile experience of a gap year without the pressure of committing to an entire year. For some, this is particularly important financially.
Current Winter Start Madison Wilkinson knew she was set on wanting to do a gap year, yet found the Winter Start program a happy compromise and economical choice for her and her parents. In her fall off, Wilkinson studied at The School for Field Studies, which focuses on the environment and research, through a hands-on approach to learning.
Another Winter Start, Matt Fitzgibbon, used his fall to design his own backpacking trip to India in the Himalayas and eventually back in the states on the Appalachian Trail. While applying to CC he checked the option that he would be willing to spend the first semester off campus. Now on campus, he said he values the small group setting of getting oriented with other Winter Starts.
Finally, Winter Start Jack Truesdale participated in the First Semester Abroad (FSA) program through CC to get four block credits in Europe. Truesdale applied specifically for the program as he wanted to do a gap year or travel Europe but didn’t have a specific plan. The FSA offered four classes in four countries.
Truesdale commented on how it was a bit different than a typical CC block as there were only 12 other students in the program and it was very intense, with classes often having weekend commitments as well. Still, he said it was incredible to get in depth in topics in foreign countries where they were particularly relevant. The semester was full of “really cool experiences like a 13 mile hike to Austria from the Czech Republic.”
All the Winter Starts agreed they were very excited to start CC life. Some were a bit nervous to join the larger pool of the CC community, but found the orientation trip at Baca a valuable opportunity to get to know the rest of the Winter Starts. The Priddy Trips offered the same community service portion as the New Student Orientation trips, with projects ranging from fire management to work at the La Puente support shelter. Cultural days were also very similar, with trips to sand dunes and hot springs. Students said the Priddy Trips were very conducive to bonding and discussion to ease the transition to CC.
Before the Priddy Trip, the new students felt the same discomfort typical of transition that the fall starts did upon arriving on campus, but this soon diminished over the course of the trip. Wilkinson commented how she is “seeing more of the same faces and getting more comfortable.”
Some students were worried about having to begin class again after so long. Winter Starts beginning with a First Year Experience are able to use this time to get back into a routine. However, FSA students are exempt from having to take an FYE.
Truesdale commented on how he and the other students from the Europe trip were excited about this as they had already had four CC blocks with only each other. He believed an FYE for two blocks back on campus would limit the FSA students from fully assimilating into the rest of the CC community when they were already used to the block system.
In addition, there was a much smaller selection of FYE’s to choose from. Some students felt as if none of the topics resonated with them. By taking an FYE, Winter Starts only have two traditional blocks in their first year, which is a time to explore different academic areas before having to declare a major sophomore year. While the FYE is a valuable program for incoming fall starts to get adjusted to CC life, some students questioned if there is a better way for Winter Starts to begin classes so they don’t have to sacrifice as much of their first year, or at least have a larger range of classes to choose from.
Past Winter Starts that were interviewed agreed that while their FYE was not their first choice in subject matters, they got a lot out of the class. Hannah Neustadt, class of 2017, was chosen to be a Winter Start and accepted as CC was her top choice. Because of this, she was able to go to New Zealand with NOLS and gained one transfer credit. With the help of AP and summer credits, she can graduate on time with her class. Neustadt valued the experience for several reasons, one of which being that she really enjoyed her semester abroad and it would have been much harder to leave an established life at CC and already limited time with the friends she has made here.
Sara Colombo, also a member of the class of 2017, was also chosen to be a Winter Start. Because she is from New Zealand, she finished school six months earlier than American students and had a whole year before she started classes on campus.
Colombo worked several jobs, took full time classes at a university, and worked as a research assistant in a lab, giving her both credits and money to use at CC.
“My transition was okay. The trip to Baca and having all Winter Starts in the same FYE was a perfect transition as we became very close, very fast,” she said. “However, as an international student who did not attend WSO, there were moments that I felt excluded, exoticized for where I came from and confused by the conversations that surround U.S. culture and politics.”
In addition, when asked what CC could work on, Colombo commented, “I think there is always a looming question of how the Winter Start program works. Many don’t understand how they are chosen. Some believe that they are the first off the waitlist, which is not true, but if one is to fall into misbelief, you have a self-fulfilling prophecy on your hands—students who believe that they are not as good as fall start students due to the time that they started. CC should open up about the program, thus to diminish speculation and rumors.”
Many Winter Start leaders were once Winter Starts themselves. Upon speaking with leaders and tripees, some great relationships have formed.
Camille Ginsburg, class of 2018, was a Winter Start herself, taking the fall semester of her first year with NOLS in the Rockies. Ginsburg’s leader and program made the transition to CC “so easy” that she “wanted to be a part of it for a new incoming class.” Ginsburg commented on how WSO was different than NSO because all the groups stayed at Baca, so they got to know each other better and had more familiar faces once on campus. The focus for leaders is still “introducing students to CC and its unique culture,” said Ginsburg.
While the transition can be tough, the WSO program emphasizes making close bonds within the Winter Start group so they have something to go off when they get to CC. Ginsburg recommended joining clubs and Intramural teams to branch out.
“As leaders it is also important to remind the winter starts that the fall starts are eager to meet them too and if they just pursue their interests they’ll start to meet people outside of the Winter Start bubble,” she finished.