High school seniors have a familiar routine. Their class schedule, extracurricular activities, study time and meals are predictable and easy to manage. Then comes college, where a totally new environment can throw everything out of whack. The freshmen are suddenly on their own for the first time, making their own decisions and navigating a mammoth campus.

Those big changes can cause a new university student sensory and cognitive overload. To ease the transition, Ohio State University in Columbus offers new first-year students a one-credit course called Bookends. It’s designed to acclimate the student to the school’s general education program, according to Melissa Beers, senior director.

“The point is to have a conversational experience where a small group of students can sit and interact

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