Going to a new school can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if it's in a new state.
For BYU-Idaho computer science student Carl Hylton, this'll be his first semester away from his home in Virginia.
“Yeah, I was just sad... my mom, you know we both flew on the plane together because she left, she’s going to Louisiana. And you know I’m going out here to BYU-Idaho, so it was sad for sure. Maybe some tears were shed who knows.
Hylton became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a little over two years ago. Meeting the missionaries and learning about the gospel helped him realize he wanted something more from school.
“Oh well one thing that inspired me to come out here was God himself. I met the missionaries in my home state called Virginia, Richmond Virginia... I met them there and I talked to them learned the gospel did missionary lessons. Eventually I befriended them and befriended the ward, and I was like okay, I want to have an education that revolves around God where we pray.”
Although it’s a change of scenery he’s grateful for the opportunity to attend a church school where Christ is at the center of everything. BYU-Idaho offers resources for students academically and spiritually, to prepare them for the future as disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in their homes, church and communities.
Dean of Students Nick Rammell says there are opportunities and resources for Freshman and Transfer Students to Acclimate to BYU-Idaho.
“They'll have them connected with, a peer mentor and groups of students in that BYU-I 101 class… In apartment living to connect with new roommates and to connect with a ward. Lots of support on the academic side, those early weeks, especially these freshman friendly courses, there's a lot of emphasis on exposure to resource and where do we go for help.”
One helpful resource is the mentor program on campus.
“Every new student is going to have a mentor assigned to them. There's also a way to request a peer mentor for additional support. Those new student mentors are for pre-arrival. And then your first semester at BYU-Idaho.”
Students can talk to faculty mentors, tutoring, and the Advising Center which helps with studying, planning classes and picking a major. The biggest hold up is asking for help. Rammell says the Dean of Students office can help even if they don't have all the answers.
“The cool thing is, everybody's pulling in the same direction, and it's, students being successful to develop disciples of the savior who know how to lead… We do that by providing world class education.”
To find resources for new or transfer students, go to Student Guide | BYU-Idaho.
For BYU-Idaho Radio, I’m Breanna Latouche.