Sophomore SummerQuest: Finding the Right Fit for Success
Rising sophomores had a unique opportunity to explore a variety of college programs, degree options, and careers at the annual Sophomore SummerQuest, June 1–5.
An immersive event launched in 2024, Sophomore SummerQuest is designed to engage, inspire, and retain students who have not yet declared a major or who may be seeking alternative academic paths and professions.
Twenty-one students–roughly half from the greater New York area, others from Westchester and the surrounding suburbs–worked with faculty, staff, and peer mentors as they looked back at the success and challenges of their first year.
While staying in the Fort Awesome residence, they participated in a dynamic series of discovery workshops showcasing the Schools of Natural and Social Sciences, Film and Media, Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Experiential Learning. Students also had access to:
- Career development support
- One-on-one meetups with academic advisors
- Tips for preparing resumes
- Building professional support networks and LinkedIn profiles
SSQ’s main purpose is to help students stay in college and succeed. Project Director Peggy Kelly cites the successful outcome for students who remained enrolled at Purchase after participating in last year’s SSQ.
“Of the 24 students who participated, 22 returned to Purchase in the fall, for a 91 percent retention rate. That is far above the first-year retention rate of the college as a whole,” says Kelly.
Peer mentors prepared by discussing expectations of the program and by practicing team building and effective communication. For rising senior Zynn Ventura, a peer mentor pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, helping rising sophomores find their way and fine-tune their goals was a win-win for everyone.
“As a peer mentor, I shared my successes and interests,” says Ventura.
“I connected with the participants and explained how I was in their shoes in my freshman year, and the things I did to improve myself as a student, both socially and academically.”
Between busy sessions, there were moments to relax and unwind through shared meals, athletic activities, a movie, a scavenger hunt, and a trip to The Met in New York City.
SSQ is funded by a Title V Grant known as LISTO (Leveraging Impactful Strategies and Transforming Outcomes), which aims to assist students on their pathway to graduation and is part of a $3 million grant funded by the U.S. Dept of Education.
Ventura says she enrolled at Purchase for the kind of support she received from the campus community, the kind she would later “pay forward” at SummerQuest.
“I chose Purchase because of the opportunities and community. I know where to go if I need help. There are amazing advisors and counselors and many resources. Purchase has everything I’d been looking for to guide me on the right path.”
—Deb Anders