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Your first year at The College of Idaho is more than just an academic beginning — it’s the start of a transformative journey. Through our intentionally designed first-year experience, you can expect to find your footing, your people and your path. From outdoor retreats and learning communities to meaningful mentorships and global conversations, we help first-year students build lifelong connections and a sense of purpose starting on day one.
It begins with a campus that challenges you to think big and a community that shows up for one another. It builds through the bonds you form in your residence hall, the perspectives you gain in your first-year seminar and the energy you bring to clubs, recreation and student life. Together, these moments shape a first-year experience you won’t find anywhere else. Explore what that means at CofI.
Living on campus is where your first-year experience comes to life. You build lifelong friendships, gain confidence and create the memories that define college. And our first-year living communities are more than residence halls — they’re a hub for late-night bonfires, cultural festivals, spontaneous hangouts and real connection.
Experience Living on Campus
Clubs. Service. Ministry. Arts. At The College of Idaho, it’s easy for first-year students to find their passion or start something brand new. With an energized campus and 50+ student organizations to choose from, you can always find an activity, take on leadership roles and meet fellow Yotes who share your interests.
Discover Ways to Get Involved
CofI’s Outdoor Program blends campus recreation, intramural sports and one-of-a-kind off-campus adventures. Students hike, raft, ski and climb while exploring new places — sometimes for fun and sometimes for course credit.
Explore Our Outdoor ProgramStarting college comes with a lot of new experiences all at once. Welcome Week is your introduction to Yote life, filled with social events, campus tours, informative sessions and special moments with your new friends that make your transition to CofI as smooth as possible.
As a first-year student, you’ll join a learning community led by passionate professors from different subject areas and rooted in the Coyote Core. Through a two-course series that includes a first-year seminar and a civilization course, you can expect to engage in writing, dialogue and discovery that prepares you for college-level classes and lifelong learning.
During my first meal on campus as a freshman who didn’t know a soul, I took the first seat I could find in the cafeteria next to two students from Egypt. This would become one of the most fascinating lunches of my life. The College community is full of impressive people from the U.S. and all over the world, and to be able to get to know them and engage with them every day has been the highlight of my college experience.
B.A. in Biology with minors in English Literature and Psychology & Health.
The moment I set foot in college, I knew that I needed more than just an education; I craved a sense of belonging and community. Fortunately, The College of Idaho provided me with exactly that – a tight-knit, supportive YoteFam of faculty and students who were dedicated to helping me reach my full potential. The people here take a leap of faith in each other, lifting each other up and celebrating their differences.
B.A. in Business Administration and Computer Science with a minor in Theatre.
The first CofI professor I met was Dr. Mark Gunderson, and I recall being amazed at his open honesty, his sense of humanity, and his broad knowledge base. As I met more College faculty, I realized that Dr. Gunderson is not an outlier – he is an excellent example of how incredible all CofI faculty are. Though there are other universities I could have gone to, that was a huge factor that made the College very appealing.
B.A in Environmental Studies and Literature & Creative Writing with a minor in Classics and a specialization in Conservation Biology.
I chose CofI because of the genuine nature I experienced from the people when I first visited. I felt as if the faculty wanted me to be here because of who I was and my skill set, and not just to add another number to their roster. Not only was CofI able to provide a close-knit community, which was very important to me, but they were able to provide a small school environment with big world exposure and thinking.
B.A in Music Performance with minors in Creative Writing, Human Performance and Psychology & Health.
After being accepted to The College of Idaho and touring the campus, I felt as though I had connected with the faculty and others in as little as a few hours compared to my weekend-long tours at other universities. My mom told me that when I spoke about CofI, I lit up in a way that led her to believe that this was the place that I needed to be.
B.A. in Biomedical Science with minors in Psychology & Health and Spanish and a Pre-Med specialization.
You won’t have to navigate your first year at The College of Idaho alone. From academic advising and tutoring to health services and campus safety, these resources are part of your everyday experience — here to help you stay focused, supported and ready for what’s next.
Your first year of college sets the tone for everything that comes next. At The College of Idaho, the first-year experience is more than orientation and classes. It’s about leadership, discovery and a community that knows your name. So, what are you waiting for?
2112 Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell, ID 83605
208-459-5011 • 800-2C-IDAHO
