Some Stuff to Think About and Maybe Use

Below is material on various educational subjects. Note that some of it   might be more relevant to high schoolers whom you are trying to help.

• Just what you always wanted – more questions!

Not to worry, the purpose is simply to give yourself feedback that helps you better understand where you are on your higher education path.

*How would you describe the assistance received from your college academic advisor?

*Has your self-confidence increased or decreased since you entered college? Why?

*Is the level of classroom diversity higher/same/lower compared with your expectation?

*Are you happy/neutral/sad about your GPA? Why?

*What is the most important lesson you have learned about life as a college student?

*Have your parents and siblings adjusted to the reality of “The New You?”

 

• Eight suggestions for success at college (NY Times: 5-24-07)

*Find or form a group of students to study with, so you can master the material.

*Whenever the opportunity arises, sign up to be a tutor.

*Try not to be disturbed if people are surprised by your academic success.

*For those pursuing STEM degrees, start with the introductory courses, even if the college is telling you to skip those courses based on your AP performance in high school.

*Go to the tutorial center and to professors’ office hours often – before you need help.

*Get to the class before the professor, sit in the front row with other students in your study group and ask plenty of questions.

*Look for opportunities to work as teaching assistants in the classroom.

*Just because you don’t get an A doesn’t mean you’re doomed.

 

• Would you believe only 41% of students at 4-year colleges graduate in 4 years.

The six biggest reasons for problems in graduating on time:

*Working too many hours: 40% are at a job for 30 hours or more per week.

*Only taking 12 credits per semester instead of 15.

*Transferring (done by 1/3 of students) results in a significant loss of credits.

*Not having the best sequence of courses for the major.

*Not being involved in an activity brings social isolation, which hurts academic progress.

*High school is 80% class time, 20% homework. College is reversed, a challenge both academically and with respect to time management.

 

Additional reasons, as suggested by a current college student:

 

*Having a baby

*Financial aid not accessible

*Lack of clarity about their path

 

• A quick help list of websites

Collegescorecard.ed.gov                    Compares schools: cost, graduation rates, salary outcomes

FAFSA.ed.gov                                    Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans

Finaid.org                                            All kinds of financial aid information

Fiskeguide.com                                   Highly respected guide to colleges

Cappex.com                                        Find colleges and scholarships

Glassdoor.com                                    Jobs and salaries

Studentclearinghouse.org                   Verify educational attainment, student outcome research

 

As always, having a trusted person with whom to discuss your search is valuable. The combination of website information, your desired characteristics in a college, and multiple thorough discussions with experienced people should produce a positive situation.

 

• Some more websites

 

College Measures                               general

Payscale                                              as name implies

College Reality Check                         return on investment

Edvisors                                               private student loans

College Scorecard.ed.gov/data           analytical data supposedly; website is messy

Students Matter                                  litigation

NJTransfer                                        credit transferring

Glassdoor.com                                pay levels and other information

HiSet                                               new test comparable to the GED

CEW.Georgetown.edu/whatsitworth             return on investment

First Five Years Fund                     early childhood development

Verizon Family Base                      usage controls

Common Sense Media                  analysis of media usage

 

• The proactive student

 

(I am not sure where the thoughts below came from exactly – and they are not in any particular order: probably the answer is that there were multiple sources, including the writer thankfully.)

 

The high school student who is on a path to success is one who is proactive. The people with whom they interact – guidance counselors, parents, mentors, siblings, friends –  are assistants or coaches or supporters, but —  they cannot do what you must do for you.

 

Therefore, High School students (and others as well), here are some must-dos:

 

*Practice self-discipline: distinguish between needs and wants.

 

*Regard real reading as central to gaining knowledge.

 

*Recognize that parties can happen anytime, unlike required school papers.

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*Take initiative: do research on college requirements, talk with everybody who can contribute    to your understanding of the higher education or job world path.

 

*Learn the basics of personal finance and begin to gain an understanding of college debt.

 

*When you are meeting somebody during a college tour or applying for a scholarship or interviewing for a job, arrive early and have some questions for the other person.  You     gain more from a conversation than from a monologue.

 

*Get involved on a consistent basis with a school activity or outside volunteering commitment.

 

*Take responsibility: tell your parents if they are doing too much for you.

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*Avoid being addicted to social media.

 

*Understand that everybody is nervous about college: time management, becoming         independent, roommates, money, homesickness, academics (!), networking.

 

*Realize that these same students are like you: eager for new experiences, new friends, new      environments, new levels of independence, new subjects of interest, new activities, new        academic accomplishments.

 

Being proactive helps you in two fundamental ways.

First, it means you are taking ownership of decisions which are yours to make.

Second, it makes you better prepared for those times when you need to talk

 about important issues with those in your support group.

 

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