High school is drawing to a close and your teen is
probably feeling excited, nervous and everything in between. College is on the
horizon—everything he or she has worked toward. It is indeed a special time of
life, but there is so much coming that your teen may not even realize. Yes,
your teen likely knows that college is harder and different than high school.
Certainly, he or she knows the impact that college can have on his or her
future. But what are some of the things your teen might not realize are coming?
Here are five things for your teen to expect next year when beginning the
college journey:
1. It’s all on them! One
of the key differences between high school and college is the expectation that students—nobody
else—are responsible for themselves. Professors expect students to listen in
class, speak up with questions if they don’t understand something, and keep up
with reading and homework. Students are given a lot of freedom, which means
they are responsible for keeping on top of it all and reaching out for help if
they need it. The consequences include academic probation for grades that fall
below a certain GPA and forced withdrawal if students don’t raise those grades
quickly enough.
2. Class sizes vary. Until
they are on campus and in a classroom, most students might not fully grasp that
the number of students in a college classroom can vary widely. A lot depends on
whether a student goes to a large university or smaller college, but even at
smaller schools, introductory, general education classes might have upwards of
100 students (and the number could approach 300-400 at a big university).
Especially as freshmen, it’s important that students go to class ready to learn
and take thorough notes. It’s also a good idea to visit professors during
office hours if they need extra help.
3. Critical thinking skills are
essential. The whole goal of college is to help
students prepare for successful careers—and nurturing the development of
critical thinking skills is a big part of that. Professors in college want
students to analyze information as they learn it, make their own inferences,
and make connections about what they learn. They also want students to be
self-aware about what they understand well and what they are still learning or
struggling with.
4. Now is the time for time
management. College offers so many opportunities to
socialize, get involved on campus and explore new interests. It’s easy for
students to become overwhelmed by the volume of homework and studying in
addition to everything else. Time management is critical for college success.
Students should plan out their weeks to ensure they have time to meet all of
their academic commitments, using some sort of system, whether that’s a
planner, smartphone calendar, homework app or some combination of these tools.
Good time managers also embrace a solid organizational system (to minimize
wasted time and procrastination) and incorporate sufficient sleep and down time
into their schedules.
5. The major matters sooner than
later. Teens who go into college without a major declared
do have a little time to decide, but many fields of study start steering
students toward a certain curriculum as early as sophomore year. Although
students shouldn’t feel pressured to “just pick something,” they should take
the initiative to discover career interests that would fit their skills and
personality. The college career center is a useful resource that every student
should visit early and often. They’ll help undecided students explore different
fields and majors and get them on the right path sooner than later.
Dr. Dennis Shaw of the Ankeny Huntington
Learning Center encourages parents to
keep the lines of communication open with their college-bound teens in the
months leading up to college. “The transition from high school to college is a
big one and it’s understandable that teens want to kick
back and relax over summer before they leave home and begin their new
adventure,” he says. “We always tell parents that this summer is a good
opportunity to have those important conversations with their teens about the
exciting and vastly different experience that is upon them. Teens who
understand that change is coming but eagerly embrace a positive, motivated
attitude will experience great success.”
To learn more about how to prepare teens for
college-level academics, contact the Ankeny
Huntington Learning Center at (515)965-3864.
About Huntington
Huntington is the tutoring
and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized
instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle
school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps
for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington
programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students
succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in
1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education
possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For
franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.
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LLC. Huntington Learning Center®, the
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