Welcome to Marietta College.
Starting college is a big moment—but you don’t have to navigate it on your own. From day one on campus, you’ll be part of a close‑knit community that knows you, supports you, and invests deeply in who you are and who you’re becoming.
At Marietta, your first year isn’t just about adjusting to college life. It’s about building connections, discovering your strengths, and beginning an education rooted in experience, purpose, and belonging.
This is a place made for you.
You belong here—not because you fit a mold, but because you are you
Marietta is built on relationships. Here, you won’t get lost in the crowd. Professors, advisors, staff, and fellow students take the time to know you fully—your goals, your interests, and your potential.
From day one, you’ll find:
- Faculty who teach, mentor, and encourage you
- Advisors who help you confidently navigate your first year
- Peers who become teammates, collaborators, and friends
- A campus culture where asking questions and being yourself matters.
Finding your place
Belonging doesn’t happen overnight—but at Marietta, it happens naturally.
Whether it’s through residence life, student organizations, athletics, campus traditions, or late‑night conversations, you’ll find places and people that feel like home. Your first year is a time to explore, connect, and discover where you feel energized and inspired.
You’ll make memories.
You’ll build relationships.
You’ll begin to see what’s possible.
First-Year Expectations
You may have questions, doubts, and even apprehension about your first year in college. That’s not unusual! We understand that you haven’t done this before and we have a specific first-year philosophy that guides our programs to help you through those moments.
The First-Year Experience at Marietta is shaped based on a philosophy that includes:
- Helping you engage in academics
- Helping you engage in campus and community
- Helping you engage in self-discovery
PioSOAR
PioSOAR takes place before fall semester begins, usually in late spring or early summer. The purpose of PioSOAR is to help you know what to expect when you arrive on campus to begin classes. You will choose the PioSOAR session you plan to attend and there you will:
- meet other incoming and returning students, as well as faculty and staff who will welcome you and help you feel at home,
- learn about opportunities and responsibilities of academic life at the College,
- create a class schedule with a faculty advisor,
- help your college journey begin on the right foot.
H.O.M.E.
H.O.M.E. is a four-day program that occurs during the week before fall classes begin. The purpose of HOME is to get involved with activities that help you focus on your strengths as a student and as a leader. During HOME you will:
- develop meaningful, lasting friendships,
- learn “how to college”
- participate in fun activities and adventures that help you learn more about your college and the region you will call home.
PIO 101
PIO 101 is a three-credit-hour (3 cr) class that first-year students are required to take in their first semester. The purpose of the class is to help you:
- expand your perspectives and explore an interesting topic that sparks your curiosity — from Spies to The Evolution of Medicine and Public Health,
- learn about information literacy, to read and think critically, discuss civilly, and to interact with a variety of points of view,
- understand expectations of college-level work,
- discover the opportunities and help available on campus for academic and personal challenges.
VIEW PIO 101 OFFERINGS
(check PIO and click Apply Filters to see PIO courses)
The first-year philosophy in action
During these events you will be welcomed and guided by professors, advisors, peer mentors, orientation leaders, staff members, and fellow students, who will:
- Help you engage in academics through key campus resources, such as:
- your academic advisor,
- the Milone Center for Academic and Career Success
- peer mentors and tutors,
- the Records Office.
- Help you engage in campus and community through:
- first-year experience programming,
- Community Living programming,
- clubs, organizations, events, and athletics,
- opportunities to participate in service and civic engagement.
- Help you engage in self-discovery as you:
- set goals for your major, secondary concentration and career
- gain hand-on experience through Landmark Experiences, like internships and faculty-mentored research,
- explore opportunities to study abroad
- connect with Pio-to-Pio mentors and counselors in the Health and Wellness Center to foster your mental, emotional and professional health.
Exploring your options as a first-year student
You don’t have to have it all figured out on day one! Your first year is about more than choosing a major—it’s about discovering who you are and where you want to go.
Many students arrive with a clear academic path—and just as many start by exploring their interests. Both are part of the Marietta experience. If you’re still discovering what excites you, you can begin as an Undecided Major with areas of interest, giving yourself the time and space to find the path that fits you best.
Being undecided isn’t being unsure—it’s being open to possibility.
During your first year, you’ll take courses across a range of disciplines to help you explore what interests you most. These classes are designed not only to spark curiosity, but also to count toward your general education requirements, so you’re making steady progress toward graduation while you explore.
You Have Time to Discover Your Direction
There’s no pressure to declare a major right away. In fact, students have until the second semester of their sophomore year to choose.
What matters most is that you start exploring—and you won’t be doing that alone. Along the way, you’ll have support from faculty advisors and staff who are invested in helping you find your direction.
It’s also important to know that choosing a major early doesn’t mean you’re locked in. Many students refine or change their major during their first year as they learn more about themselves and their interests.
Note: A few programs—such as Petroleum Engineering and Sports Medicine—are more structured and may require you to begin courses early to stay on track for four-year completion.
Support along the way
At Marietta, your experience is personal. You’ll have access to resources that help you connect your interests to your future.
The Milone Center for Academic and Career Success offers tools, guidance, and opportunities to help you:
- explore potential majors and careers
- discover your strengths and interests
- begin planning for what comes next
Your Story Starts NOW
Your first year at Marietta College is more than a transition—it’s the foundation for everything that follows. It’s where confidence grows, connections deepen, and purpose begins to take shape.
You’re not just starting college; you’re starting something meaningful.