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Step Ahead: Before Your First Year  at McDaniel

The transition to college can both be exciting and challenging, and we know that students with disabilities may benefit from additional support as they prepare for campus life. The Step Ahead Program supports incoming students build the academic, social, and independent living skills needed for a confident start at McDaniel College.

A Unique Early Move-In Program for Students with Disabilities

Established in 2012, Step Ahead is a unique early move-in program for students registered with SASS. First-year and transfer students move onto campus six days before New Student Orientation to begin establishing a support network and a college routine.  For more than a decade, Step Ahead has made a difference in students’ introduction to college life. 

During Step Ahead, SASS staff, academic counselors, and peer mentors will support you in making the most of the resources available to you in SASS and around campus.

Through skill building, field trips, and workshops, you’ll get a head start on: 

  • Utilizing SASS assistive technology 
  • Connecting with SASS staff and academic counselors
  • Learning campus layout and locations 
  • Independent living  
  • Interacting with peers 
  • Navigating mealtimes 
  • Venturing off campus for a fun outing
  • … and more through academic workshops! 

The academic workshops cover topics like: 

Incoming fall first-year and transfer students who register with SASS are eligible for Step Ahead. Students enrolled in Elevate Tier 1 receive priority registration, for up to 25 spots. 

Registration for Step Ahead opens May 1

  • Registering with the SASS Office prior to May 1 guarantees you will receive the Step Ahead application as soon as it opens on May 1.
  • Students who register with SASS after May 1 will receive the Step Ahead application once their registration is complete.
  • Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full.
  • Participation in Step Ahead requires the submission of documentation and the completion of the intake meeting.

The fee to participate in the 2025 Step Ahead program is $550, which covers the cost of early move-in, plus meals, activities, transportation, and supplies.

Research-Backed Support That Eases the Transition to College

In 2016, SASS Director Melanie Conley and other staff published research on McDaniel’s Step Ahead program and the support it provides to incoming college students with disabilities. The study highlights how early move-in and structured academic workshops help reduce anxiety, build confidence, and foster a sense of belonging — especially for students who may feel uncertain about starting college.

Feeling unable to predict what college will be like is a common anxiety for first-year students, so living on campus for five days before first-year orientation is comforting to many participants ... This access can be especially beneficial for first-generation and/or low-income students who may feel more reticent than their peers due to a sense of otherness or being an outsider to the college experience. Regardless of background, the academic workshops in Step Ahead build self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and normalize the experience of navigating higher education with a disability. 

— Step Ahead Study, Conley et al., 2016

Read about the Step Ahead study.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Step Ahead program?

Step Ahead is a college transition program that helps first-year and transfer students registered with Student Accessibility Support Services (SASS) prepare for the academic, social, and residential expectations of college through early move-in and guided programming.

Who is eligible for Step Ahead?

Incoming fall first-year and transfer students who are registered with SASS. 

What activities are included in Step Ahead?

Step Ahead focuses on developing academic skills with workshops, promoting social engagement with field trips and fun, and fostering independence with peer mentors for modeling and staff for support, while providing students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their residence hall, shared bathroom facilities, dining services, and the campus environment. The primary objective of the program is to assist students in understanding and effectively utilizing their accommodations at the college level, while also fostering connections with peers and staff and increasing awareness of SASS and other campus resources.

What skills will I learn during Step Ahead?

Students develop academic, social, and independent living skills, including understanding college-level accommodations, executive functioning strategies, campus navigation, and daily self-management routines.

Do Elevate Tier 1 students get priority registration?

Yes, Tier 1 students receive priority registration for Step Ahead, for up to 25 spots.

How is Step Ahead different from McDaniel Local and New Student Orientation?

McDaniel Local introduces you to the community on and around the Hill, and New Student Orientation is built around McDaniel traditions and welcoming you to your first semester. Step Ahead takes place the week before New Student Orientation, after you’ve already completed McDaniel Local earlier in the summer. With Step Ahead, you move onto campus a week early to begin getting acquainted with campus. Step Ahead workshops and activities are all planned around preparing you for the start of your first year of college and using SASS services and other campus resources. 

Can parents attend any part of Step Ahead?

Parents are invited to a “Farewell for Now” dinner that takes place after Step Ahead move-in, with a presentation and Q&A on “Where do I step as my student Steps Ahead?” following the dinner.

Is housing provided during Step Ahead?

Yes, Step Ahead students move directly into their designated student residences for their first year at McDaniel.

Is there a cost to participate in Step Ahead?

Yes, Step Ahead is a fee-based program but it is also supported by generous donors who want Step Ahead to be available to as many students as possible. Students are welcome to inquire with the SASS Office about financial assistance for Step Ahead. The fee covers early move-in housing, plus all meals, activities, transportation, and supplies.

How do I register for Step Ahead?

Registration for Step Ahead opens May 1. All students registered with SASS receive information and the application at that time. As every new student registers throughout the summer, they receive that information as well. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full (which may be in May, June, or July depending on demand). 

Participation in Step Ahead requires the submission of documentation and the completion of the intake meeting.

What is the schedule like during the six days?

Workshops and activities begin at 9 a.m. and typically run until 9 or 10 p.m. A tentative schedule is included in the application. Attendance in workshops and most activities is required; however, the schedule also allows for downtime, breaks, and socialization. 

During Step Ahead, students should not schedule appointments or other commitments, as they are fully immersed in the six-day program.
 

What if I’m an athlete or other student who already receives early move-in — can I still participate in Step Ahead?

Unfortunately, students who participate in a fall sport (soccer, field hockey, football, cross country) cannot participate in Step Ahead, as their practice schedules conflict with Step Ahead activities. 

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Westminster, MD, 21157
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