Why should you sign up?

A Valuable Living and Learning Community!

You have a ready-made study group of people who are taking many of the same classes. With the support of others in your FIG, you’ll find that studying is more fun. Study groups help you earn higher grades.
When you sign up for a FIG, you are automatically enrolled in three or four classes—essentially guaranteed enrollment in those hard to get first-year classes. Many FIGs can lead to possible majors, and all meet University Studies requirements. Classes are scheduled at times most students find convenient. You’ll want to select additional courses to fill out your schedule during New Student Orientation. Your academic adviser will help you with those choices.
You will be living in a residence hall with others in your FIG. FIGs offer exciting, shared learning and living environments that will launch you into a fun and successful first-year experience. Your Resident Assistant (RA) will also be involved in your FIG.

What will I gain?

Involvement in campus life is a proven key to success in college. If you enroll in a FIG, you’ll make the most of your education through both organized and informal activities with UW faculty members and other students, yet you’ll still have time to do things on your own. Studies show that students in FIGs at UW, and nationwide, attain a higher overall grade point average and a better chance of success than students not in FIGs. FIGs open doors and introduce you to opportunities.