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Freshman year can be tough for new college students, and by the time sophomore year comes around, students might think they’ve crushed the college experience.
What many students soon discover is that sophomore year poses its own challenges—notably, the “sophomore slump,” in which second-year students lose focus, motivation, and disconnect from the campus community.
That’s where “The Sophomore Tea” at Central Connecticut State University comes in, a project of the Office of Student Affairs and Media Center.
Launched in the fall 2023 semester, “The Sophomore Tea” is a student-led podcast that covers all things sophomore at Central. Hosts Cal Borst ’22 and senior Amari Contreras invite students and staff to spill the tea on common challenges that come up for sophomores and share tips on how to make the most out of the college experience. The season’s first episode, “What No One Tells you about College,” kicks off with a hot topic: “Is college exactly what you thought it would be?” Borst and Contreras go on to discuss their own adjustments and lessons learned as new college students.
“College is a big, big step. You’re going to go through times that are tough, but just know there are people here for you,” Contreras says during episode 1. “There’s no reason why you should go in and do this alone. Take care of yourself.”
Throughout season one, Borst and Contreras invite students and staff to share insights on other student-centric topics, including student wellness, academic advising, student clubs and activities, career development services, and much more. The season ends with an in-depth interview with Central President Zulma R. Toro.
Listen to and watch the first season of “The Sophomore Tea” on YouTube. Season two will begin recording later this summer.