![\"Grit](\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/triosss\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2026\/06\/Graduation2026_437.jpg\")
<\/a>We sat down with Summer Bridge 2023 alum, Grit Her<\/strong>,\u00a0to talk about his experience with the program. Because of previous college coursework, and careful planning while at Augsburg, Grit finished his Augsburg degree in just three years! Grit graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics with a minor in Statistics.<\/p>\n What advice do you have for new or prospective TRIO\/SSS students?<\/b><\/p>\n My advice for new TRIO\/SSS students would be to get involved on campus. Your TRIO\/SSS advisor will help you with your academic planning throughout your four years here at Augsburg, so don\u2019t worry too much and take time to explore campus and the many different departments we have. Take this time to be adventurous. Use your freshman and sophomore years to really get to know people, make friends, and enjoy the college experience. Go to club events, they\u2019re open and free to everyone. Volunteer during events, maybe even join the board the following year. Also, if you’re engaged on campus, put your face and name out there, and get to know people, it can help get a work-study job when you apply. Use this time now to start building connections for your future not only as a student, but for your career. Leadership experience on campus and work experience look great on your resume.<\/span><\/p>\n Tell us about your experience with the Summer Bridge program and how it has helped you in college.<\/b><\/p>\n I loved the Summer Bridge program! If I went back in time and was asked to do the Summer Bridge program again*, I would say, “yes.” It really allowed me to get to know campus better by giving me an earlier start on school. You start school a little earlier than most freshmen and get to experience college without the full pressure of what you go through in the fall. You take 6-8 credits and get to acclimate to the new level of difficulty in assignments and teaching styles. You eventually know the campus like the back of your hand. During the fall semester, you\u2019ll already know where campus resources are, where the best study spots are, and how to get to classes. In college you have to make new friends, because not everybody you know from before will come to college with you. The Summer Bridge program does a really good job at building community because it provides a \u201csmall to our students and big for the world\u201d cohort every year. You meet all these different people from different backgrounds; it\u2019s like converging into the world. You learn to talk to people, develop boundaries, and build friendships as adults. To this day, I am happy and confident to say that I am still in touch with these people I built connections and relationships with, and so I hope you really consider this opportunity because it will change your life.<\/span><\/p>\n *Grit did relive his Summer Bridge experience in 2025 when he served as a Peer Mentor for the incoming Bridge class.<\/em><\/p>\n What are some things that you wish you would have known earlier in your academic career?<\/b><\/p>\n I wish I would have applied to more scholarships when I was a freshman. More scholarships will save you a ton of money in the long run and support you through college, whether it be books, housing, or tuition. Do it while you are a freshman or sophomore when you have the time. Once you reach junior or senior year, you will have less time on your hands to apply to even one and this is speaking from experience. There are major scholarships and programs out there that can support you, the Dell Scholarship for example, keep looking. Also, I would say that as a freshman or sophomore, apply to internships. I wish I would have known to apply to an internship instead of working part-time during my freshman year. Businesses look for internship experience. Starting early will give you an advantage when it comes to career applications.<\/span><\/p>\n What are some of the services that TRIO\/SSS provides students?<\/b><\/p>\n TRIO\/SSS helps you with your academic advising for your years as a college student. Your TRIO\/SSS advisor, along with your faculty mentor, will help you plan the classes you need for your major, and minor if you choose to have one. TRIO\/SSS also hosts educational and informational events that teach you college survival skills, etiquette, and serve as supporting pillars. What I love most about TRIO\/SSS is that they listen. They provide a shoulder you can lean on when you’re going through something difficult and a space for when you have something exciting to share. Sign up for TRIO\/SSS you won\u2019t regret it, trust me.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We sat down with Summer Bridge 2023 alum, Grit Her,\u00a0to talk about his experience with the program. Because of previous college coursework, and careful planning while at Augsburg, Grit finished his Augsburg degree in just three years! Grit graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics with a minor in Statistics. 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