Reforms in higher education are appearing in the new guidelines that are being developed for general education curriculums across the country. Constituents leading education reform have suggested that writing be integrated across the curriculum and embedded within several discipline-based courses. Advocates of this approach require that schools and departments that have not traditionally taught writing integrate writing assignments into their disciplines. Other sources have recommended the use of writing as an essential component in developing students' thinking skills and understanding of business concepts. At the same time, there is pressure on universities to be resourceful in designing a "first-year experience" that will provide a stimulating environment for intellectual growth and the communication of information and ideas. By reexamining the first-year experience and implementing new and innovative learning strategies, universities can help students make their transition into college easier and increase student retention rates. In addition, a first-year business course that uses a hands-on, experiential approach can help students with little or no organizational experience to develop a better understanding of the connections between themselves and business. As part of a general education mandate, departments across campus were asked to integrate writing-intensive courses into their curriculums. At the same time, departments were asked to develop one course in each discipline that would teach critical thinking skills. The business school was in the process of designing a first-year course with the objective of better preparing students to meet the school's academic challenges and expectations; therefore, it made sense to incorporate writing and critical thinking assignments into the course. "Gateway to Business" was developed with the objective of integrating writing and critical thinking into the business curriculum while enhancing the first-year experience for business students. This article focuses on the course's approach to the integration of writing into the first-year experience. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)