First-Year Experience

From your first semester, you’ll explore majors, meet industry professionals, and start building your professional brand.

• Enroll in SBS 100 - Pathways to Success: Navigating Your First Year at the Sawyer Business School to support YOU! This course will help you transition to college, make strong connections with your SBS faculty and peers, and establish foundational career development skills.
• Attend first-year focused career events and campus organization meetings to connect with executives, alumni, and student leaders.
• Build relationships with Sawyer Business School faculty and TAs for personalized conversations about your academic, internship, and career goals.
• Develop a professional, introductory career plan and develop the skills employers look for such as teamwork, communication and critical thinking (NACE, 2026).

Business isn’t just theory; it’s practice.

• Work on real client projects through SBS 101 - Business Foundations, our immersive experiential learning course, and present findings to senior-level corporate executives. Past projects include solving key strategic business issues for Saloniki, LEGO Discovery Center, and The Boston Globe.
• Participate in team-based challenges in SBS 298 – Tackling Wicked Global Problems, addressing social and business issues like food waste in Boston, helping the MBTA reduce traffic with creativity and purpose, and tackling systemic issues in the healthcare industry at both local and national levels. You’ll then present your work to select industry veterans.
• Compete in a day-long design challenge in SBS 104 – Innovative Teaming through a real-time client project.
• Experience Boston’s business ecosystem firsthand through site visits and guest speakers.

Your success is our priority.

• Dedicated first year faculty advisors and Sawyer Business School staff guide you through every academic and career decision.
• Early-alert systems and peer mentoring ensure you get the support you need before challenges grow.
• Specialized advising for honors students and high achievers connects you to research, leadership, and career advancement opportunities.

You’re never alone at SBS.

• Peer leaders, teaching assistants, and faculty help you navigate your first year.
• Cohort-based classes mean you’ll build friendships and networks from day one.
• Honors and Scholars Circle programs recognize high-achieving students, so excellence never goes unnoticed.

Every part of the First-Year Experience is informed by student feedback and outcomes.

Our programs evolve each year to ensure every Suffolk student gets the best possible start.

Every business student attends AI training sessions. All first-year business courses integrate AI in their curriculum and workflow.