The College Not Shown In The Movies
Pop culture portrays college as endless free time and stress-free “all nighters” in the library. In reality, the transition from high school to college can be extremely challenging for many students, and they are often not set up for success.
As our seniors continue to receive acceptance letters, it’s important for them to prepare for the next step. Here are some ways to do that:
Waking Up/Free Time: If you’re living in a dorm, don’t count on wake up calls to rush you out the door – instead, make your alarm your new best friend. Think about how long it takes you to get ready in the morning–add time for breakfast and your walk to class. Pack your backpack the night before and charge your devices. Identify your free time on your calendar and make sure you complete your to-do list before going out.
Getting to Classes: Your schedule won’t be the same every day, so you’ll need to remember when (and where) your classes are. Set alarms on your phone with extra time to get there so you are in your seat and prepared for the start of class. Use a daily schedule to map out when you’ll eat and use larger pockets of time for reading or completing assignments.
Due Dates: College professors don’t write your homework on the board every class. Instead you are given a syllabus on day one, and then expected to stay on top of your work independently. Pro tip: use a 120 day dry-erase calendar (or 30 day calendars) and write down all your assignments for the semester. Alternatively, enter your assignments on your electronic calendar as an “all day” task, so it is on top and doesn’t get lost in between events.
Late Work: Say goodbye to submitting missing assignments at the end of the quarter. College due dates are strict and you will get penalized for being late. To stay on top of things, refer to your calendar and class portal daily. Estimate how much time each assignment will take and begin plugging those into your daily schedule. Break down large assignments into smaller tasks over a number of days.
Does your student need help making the transition to college successful? Our coaches can help! Contact us to set up a free discovery call and learn more.