From August 25 to September 4, new Honors College (HC) students received a warm welcome and found plenty of chances to bond with their future peers and mentors. Alongside the 710 new first-year students, 69 sophomores also joined the expanded HC community for the first time throughout the events of Welcome Week.
The Residence Life volunteers and HC student leaders rose early on August 25 to provide a friendly helping hand to new students and their families across the Honors College community on all four Rutgers–New Brunswick campuses, helping keep the move-in process organized. Conversations were already being struck up between new students as well as with returning student volunteers. Sir Henry also made a surprise visit to the HC Headquarters, bringing smiles to both ret
urning and new students.
“During high school, I did a dual enrollment program and finished my associate’s degree,” said Kushi Rao (‘30, SAS/HC). “The HC offers a lot of opportunities, and I feel it’s the best place to get involved in research and start my career. I enjoy doing hands-on research in a wet lab, hopefully something to do with genetics. I also hope to get involved in the campus community, like joining a dance team.”
Both new and returning students participated in the HC Common Read program. In addition to reading Dr. Ricardo Nuila’s The People's Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine and participating in online discussions over the summer, students had a unique opportunity to interact directly with the author during Welcome Week when he visited campus. Throughout the year, students will continue to engage with the 2026-28 theme of ethical dilemmas in modern medicine.
Welcome Week provided many opportunities for students to start forming connections that may leave an impact far beyond their years at the HC. At events such as Movie Night and Carnival, students began reaching out to potential new friends, while at the Involvement Fair and Intercultural Meetup, they learned about HC organizations that can support their future success.
“My favorite event was the Welcome Barbeque,” said Aryaa Vyas (‘30, SAS/HC). “It was great to be able to socialize with a lot of different people.”
This fall marks the first year that the Honors College is admitting new sophomores. During the welcome event for the first class of new HC sophomores, Dean Bowers introduced them to the newest steps of their college journey.
“I think it will be very nice to be part of a more tight-knit community because Rutgers sometimes feels overwhelmingly large,” said Venya Tiwari (‘29, SOE/HC), a sophomore who transferred into the HC. “I’m also a commuter, so having dedicated spaces where I can study and meet people who are just as interested in learning more is important to me.”
Whether for students arriving on the Rutgers campus for the first time, returning students who have become newly enrolled in the HC, or even HC upper-grade students, starting a new academic year can sometimes feel overwhelming. With friends, mentors, and staff on campus, students have many outlets where they can find support.
“It’s really important to keep your own needs in mind before thinking about your relationships and the broader community,” said Dean Klein. “Since starting college is a big transition, the first step is caring for yourself in your new environment. After that, I encourage you to branch out. For example, the HC Coffeehouse events are fun community-building events where students can showcase their talents and interests and just come together as part of a community. I love that supportive atmosphere.”
“Education is not a solo activity. It involves the students, their friends, the faculty, and other people in the field,” said Dean Bowers. “It’s important to embrace that in your approach to growing and to get started early in making those connections.”