This research assesses the first cohort of pathway students' needs and their academic and sociocultural experiences at a US university. A needs analysis survey, individual student interviews, and a follow-up survey were used for data collection. Understanding lectures, completing assignments, and building social relationships with domestics were among the challenges faced by pathway students due to linguistic and cultural barriers. An additional unique challenge for this particular population of international students centered around the fact that they tackle disciplinerelated courses while still refining their English skills. Additional support services to help students in pathways academically and socioculturally are crucial.