Smart Start is a summer bridge program that will prepare you for college, get you connected with Germanna support services, and help you make the right plan to finish your college degree.
With Smart Start, you will:
- Take a free class
- Earn college credit
- Connect with campus resources
- Choose a program of study
- Make a plan to complete your degree
Smart Start First-Gen: July 21-24, 2025
Location: Fredericksburg Area Campus
If you're a first-generation student—an individual whose parents or primary caregivers have not earned a degree from a postsecondary institution in the US—our Smart Start program is for you.
Program Details:
- Free SDV 100 "College Success Skills" course
- Two special guest speakers
- Fun, engaging four-day orientation

Take SDV 100 "College Success Skills"
Taking SDV 100 "College Success Skills" before your fall semester is the smart start to earning your college degree. SDV 100 is a required course for all degree-seeking students and will equip you with the tools to be successful at Germanna and beyond.