SMART Start

The adjustment to college is a known challenge for many first-year students.

A new environment, a new social community, and demanding academics – plus the expectation to manage oneself for the first time – lead many students to feel overwhelmed and underwater. These feelings are often magnified in neurodivergent students who may encounter barriers related to executive functioning and transitions.

SMART Start is an interactive workshop series designed to help incoming Harvard students develop executive functioning skills that encourage persistence and are crucial to college success. In small and large group discussions and through a series of exercises, students will learn strategies for:

• Managing their time.
• Prioritizing their work.
• Sustaining attention.
• Identifying the resources available at Harvard.

The SMART Start series is hosted by the ARC’s Learning Specialist, Sam Orsagh-Yentis, on Zoom. Students who identify as neurodivergent are encouraged to attend, but a formal diagnosis is not necessary. Attendance is limited and daily attendance is required.

If you’ve ever been challenged to break down assignments, balance your commitments, prioritize your tasks, or maintain focus, this series may be a great fit for you!