Furman’s award-winning Pathways Program® is the only two-year advising program of its kind in the nation, designed to ensure every student maximizes their college experience. In your Junior and Senior year, major-specific programming ensures you get disciplinary experiences and opportunities to graduate career-ready.

The Furman experience is purposefully designed to make sure you get the most value out of your four-year college journey. This personalized, proven approach transforms your education from a collection of classes into a high-impact, powerful pursuit tailored to your goals.

This TFA slider describes the students journey, a year per slide.

How Your Pathways Journey Unfolds

Year 1: Build Your Foundation

Every week, your Pathways class will meet with your dedicated advisor and peer mentor to reflect on your experiences. You will complete the CliftonStrengths assessment, discuss campus resources, and build essential skills for college success. "Pathways and my Pathways mentor taught me how to be a student and build good study habits, and encouraged me to reach my full potential. I feel confident and prepared to take on any challenge and make the most of my education." — Delilah Evelyn '23, Education major
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Year 2: Connect Your Passion to Profession

You will begin thinking strategically about your future. Build your resume, complete career conversations with alumni in your field, learn how to communicate your skills and secure access to research, internships, and study away opportunities that align with your goals.
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Year 3: Apply Your Knowledge

Your academic department takes over by providing discipline specific programming to support you along your academic and professional path. Engage in advanced research, complete professional internships, and begin building your network in your chosen field.
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Year 4: Launch Your Career

Refine your expertise through capstone experiences, finalize graduate school or career plans, and graduate with the experience, connections, and confidence that prepares you for success.
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Proven Results of the Pathways Program

Pathways delivers measurable outcomes that speak to the program’s effectiveness: 

  • Increased student retention overall, with larger gains for students who are first in their families to attend college 
  • Increased sense of purpose in students from first-year to sophomore year
  • Stronger agreement that Furman clearly communicates about resources to prepare students for life after college compared to pre-Pathways 
  • Increased use of campus resources related to career development and engaged learning  

“Pathways gave me access to the resources Furman provides, which helped to advance my career path and focus on my strengths. With strengths assessment and putting me in contact with Furman alumni in my field of interest, I was able to better envision myself in the workplace and recognize the value I bring to solving a problem.”

— Adrian Gonzalez ’24, Physics and Applied Mathematics

National Recognition

The Pathways Program® has earned recognition from NACADA (The Global Community for Academic Advising) and the John N. Gardner Institute, establishing Furman as a national leader in student advising and support in the first and second year. Furman’s approach to integrating career competencies and exploration throughout a student’s four years has also earned us the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2025 Career Services Excellence Award

This innovative approach creates integrated, four-year experience that includes preparation for life after graduation.

Your Success, Our Investment

Every year, Furman invests $1.8 million internships and research. When you secure an unpaid or low paid internship or research experience, summer funding is available through Furman so that you can fully focus on the experience to build your resume and expand your professional network.  The Pathways program ensures that all students reflect on what experiences are right for their path and are aware of the processes and timelines for securing and participating in these experiences.

“As a first-generation college student and as a Peer Mentor, one benefit that is really transparent throughout the Pathways Peer Mentoring Program is that it creates a level playing field for ALL students regardless of background, as it provides students with a basic understanding of college that ultimately pave the way for ALL first-year students to excel, thrive, and succeed.”

— Vincent McCoy ’22, Educational Studies major

Michelle Horhota - Pathways Feature

 

“Exposing students to possibilities while they are undergraduates gives them a more concrete idea of what they want to do. At graduation they have a better sense of how what they have learned at Furman informs what they want to do next, and the steps they need to take to get there.”

Michelle Horhota
Associate Dean for Mentoring and Advising; Professor of Psychology

 

This carousel is presenting alumnus.
Vuyo Mkhatshwa

Students From the Pathways Program

"Prior to the pathways program, I had a very rigid view of my career prospects and I had strong belief that there was a fixed path/way to go about achieving it, however now I’ve seen that there are lots more ways to go about it through trying various new courses, experiences and opportunities."
Vuyo Mkhatshwa
Erin Prins

Students From the Pathways Program

"If I could sum up what I have learned from Pathways in one phrase, it would be to constantly be reflecting on the opportunities around you and the strengths, passions, and values that you possess."
Erin Prins
Hayley Glenn

Students From the Pathways Program

"Pathways gave us all the chance to step back and critically evaluate where we were and where we wanted to be. It was a good, constant reminder every week that put things into perspective when we all needed it most."
Hayley Glenn
Riley Kopchinsk

Students From the Pathways Program

"I loved seeing the same people every week as we began our journey through college, and this is something that I am going to miss "
Riley Kopchinsk
Grayson  Snead

Students From the Pathways Program

"I looked forward to seeing a few people every week, It was refreshing to know that I was not expected to come in and kill college life, I was allowed to have questions or be confused, there were people that were more than willing to help me through it. It was also refreshing to know that I was not alone in my struggles, everyone else was going through it too."
Grayson Snead
Meet Our Peer Mentors

Meet Our Peer Mentors

Connect with current students who understand the Pathways experience and can share insights about how the program has shaped their journey.

Begin Your Application

Begin Your Application

Join a community that ensures your preparation for whatever comes next.

Visit Furman

Visit Furman

Experience our campus and see how every element of the Furman experience supports your academic and personal growth.

Meet the Pathways Leadership Team

Michelle Horhota

Michelle Horhota

Associate Dean for Mentoring and Advising; Professor of Psychology
Headshot of Brad Harmon

Brad Harmon

Assistant Dean for the First-Year and Second-Year Experience
Courtney Firman

Courtney Firman-Watkins

Pathways Program Coordinator