Do you have the skills it takes to succeed in college? A new reality-television show follows 15 UT students as they compete to be named the ultimate college freshman.

In “The Freshmen 15,” fifteen first-year students compete in weekly challenges that test their ability to handle typical college experiences. The winner of the show will receive a semester of free tuition.

“It’s kind of like survivor, but with challenges that pertain to things you do in college,” said Jennah Wise, an athletic training major and participant in the show. “You have to really use your head, be creative and think fast.”

The reality show was created to showcase what UT has to offer and to assist students with the rising cost of tuition, said John Andosca, creator and producer of “The Freshmen15.” A 2007 UT alumnus, Andosca’s company JPA Entertainment LLC is producing the show.

More than 200 students were interviewed to be part of the show and the cast was narrowed down to 15 students, 14 freshmen and one transfer student.

The students will compete in challenges and are judged by a panel or voted off by their peers.

“Challenges are designed to test their college life skills,” Andosca said. “We’re looking for a well-round student with life skills.”

In one challenge the students participate in an “all nighter,” with students locked in the library overnight to create a 5-page paper and presentation. Another challenge has students running a bake sale fundraiser.

“The challenges are very relevant to college students. They’re very challenging and they relate to the college student life. Some may be more extreme, giving an idea of how college life may be,” said Amit Goyal, a bio-chemistry major and participant in the show. “The show highlights the transition from high school to college.”

Andosca is working with a team of student from UTTV, a student organization that provides broadcasting around campus, to film the show. UT’s student government is also assisting with challenges.

The academic scholarship is furnished by UT Department of Marketing and Communication.

“The Freshmen 15” will air every Sunday evening at 1 a.m. on CW affiliate station W-T05. The first show aired on March 21. Full episodes are available at www.f15show.com.

Tags: University of Toledo

This entry was posted on Friday, March 26th, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under Community, Education.
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