Showing posts with label transition to college. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transition to college. Show all posts

24 January 2013

Pointers for Underprepared College Students

Many academically successfully students find themselves in a tough quagmire following graduation from high school: though they’ve managed to attain top grades, they haven’t adequately prepared themselves for the difficult, relatively structureless environment of college. During high school, their teachers took a personal interest and the time to talk to them if their work was below par; their parents regularly checked up on them to make sure that they comprehended and finished their homework; the tests and essays they were assigned were not nearly as hard as those at the college level; and they usually know all of the students in each class they have. Academic life tends to be grand for these students; however, they will have a much harder path to travel once they reach the post secondary education level.

In college they will not easily find friends and their teachers will not pamper them by coming around the classroom to see how they are doing on their assignments or plead with them to catch up on their work. It is totally up to them to take the initiative to have academic success now because they are adults who are paying for their own education. They can experience a fabulous social life and academic success by heeding the pointers discussed below.

Attendance


It is vital for them to take class attendance seriously. By attending all of their classes, they will avoid having their final grade reduced, hear information that might appear as questions on their exams and have an easier time understanding their textbooks. It is imperative for them to always come to class on time to avoid missing key information, interrupting the class and getting expelled.

Responsibility and Diligence


They must take responsibility for their own success and do what it takes to be great students. They must take notes because they are likely to forget most of what the professor says if they do not. They can make the most of the note taking process by using a tape recorder during the class lectures, sharing notes with their classmates and using shorthand, a method of note taking that involves abbreviating key words while writing them down. It is also up to students to be diligent while they are on the campus. It is crucial for them to ask the professors questions about any course material that confuses them. They must also take advantage of the extra help that is offered to them by visiting their professors during their scheduled office hours and attending the student labs. The labs provide tutors for subjects such as math and writing.

Getting a head start on writing term papers


The students will have many term papers to write until they graduate. Once they are assigned a term paper, they should begin writing it as soon as possible. By doing it now instead of starting toward the deadline, they will have more time to write the paper well and make all of the necessary edits, while reducing their anxiety. Also, they should show the teacher what they have written for their rough draft in order to see if they are on the right track.

Studying properly


It is also essential for them to study well. They can achieve this by using repetition as they read their notes and textbooks; being in a study group; and focusing most heavily on the first few sentences of each paragraph and reading each chapter summary in their textbooks. Developing solid study skills is critically important for these students because, unlike at the high school level, they are without constant adult support and supervision.

Social Aspect


In order to develop friendships in college, the students must make an attempt to become friends with their classmates and exchange telephone numbers; they must take the initiative in social settings to a greater extent than was expected at the secondary school level. For academically successful but under-prepared students, social connections should be tempered so as to reinforce and support academic success; these students should learn to independently develop novel social connections, but also keep their focus on academics to a substantial extent.

Terrence Harrisburg frequently contributes commentary and articles on education, educational policy, online learning and other related topics; for those who may be interested in online learning check
http://www.onlineschool.com/online-schools/ for more information.

06 November 2012

The Top 5 Necesseties for Your Dorm Room

So, you are finally going off to college. It's an exciting time, but it's also a scary time. How can you be sure that you'll have absolutely everything that you need? In addition to that, how can you bring some of the comforts of home with you to make your transition to college life easier? The first years of college also involve pinching pennies. Making the extra money from your loans, work studies or part time job work for you are important. What can you bring to college to help you to save money? Here are the top 5 things you need for your dorm room in order to improve your college experience.

1. Computer-  It doesn't have to be a laptop, it doesn't have to be fancy and it doesn't have to run the latest video games, but it does have to be able to boot up, search the Internet with reasonable efficiency and handle word processing software. Going to the library every time you have to write a paper gets annoying really quickly. Doing your homework will require some element of Internet research on a regular basis, so quick access to the Internet is really necessary for a college student in this day and age. Having a computer is extremely helpful, but can be made even more so by the addition of one peripheral, which brings us to our next item.

2. Printer- Whether it is laserjet, inkjet, old or new, a printer for your dorm room can save you not only the hassle of having to use school printers and wait in lines at the computer lab, but also the cost incurred every time you have to print out a few pages for an assignment. The occasional cost of buying paper or replacing cartridges as necessary is likely less than you will spend per year on printing at the computer lab, and is worth the convenience of knowing that the killer essay you worked on til 2 am is ready to go for your 8 am class.

3. Cell Phone- Chances are pretty good that you already have one of these, but if you don't, it's something to consider. If you are not on a cell phone plan with your parents, ask if you can be. It will allow you to keep in touch with them and with friends at home or away. If not, most major providers offer prepaid phone options which allow you to pay for your phone with cash per month and simply cut off service before allowing overages. If you are going to go on a traditional plan, however, make sure you know the limits of the plan. Don't stick mom and dad with a 500 dollar phone bill!

4. Mini Fridge- You might get stuck arguing with your parents on this one, but the convenience of having a small fridge for drinks not only keeps you from wandering around late at night looking for a cold drink, but it also saves you from paying ridiculous soda machine prices. Stocking your fridge with a case of water from the store is much cheaper than hitting up the soda machine. It can also be used to store healthy snacks for after hours.

5. Closet Organizer- Let's face it. You don't want to wake up more than ten minutes before class. Neither do most college students. For this reason alone, having an organizer for your closet that allows you to find socks, shoes, accessories and other things easily and quickly is a huge help. It also allows you to keep your belongings separate from those of your roommate, preventing unnecessary arguments. You will finally stop losing your stuff, and potentially learn some elements of organization.

This article was composed by Ty Whitworth for the team at Santa Fe University; be sure to view their degree options, including their famous creative writing degree option.