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.
Priority deadline: April 30, 2025
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.