I've got a few friends heading into their first year of college and a younger sister who is half way through high school. Their questions seem to all stem from this question: is college a major shock compared to high school?
My answer to that is no.
However, my answer is kind of loaded.
I am a bit of a nomad at times. I was homeschooled when I was young, then went to a private school, and graduated from a public school. I started my college career in a small private university and am now transferring to a medium sized state school. My range is broad, but I like it that way. Do I believe high school really prepared me as I would have liked? No, not really. In the sense of having a solid idea of what I wanted to study and my preferences for types of colleges, high school didn't really do much for me. The biggest change from high school to college is being on your own. Independence has its way of working itself into your college self whether you realize it or not. This is great because it allows for the growing up stage in life. You do make more independent decisions in college and you are able to choose for yourself some things that were always up to your parents.
Here are 7 things you need to know about college:
1. Don't freak out about grades
If you are a straight A student, great.
If you're not, great.
When it comes to college, work ethic is what will carry you through. Yes, good grades are excellent and will help take the edge off, but they are not the end all. Good grades seem to be more important in high school when it comes to impressing colleges. Now, depending on what you study may determine how important grades are (nurses). As long as you practice time management and effective study habits in high school, you will be set for college.
2. Don't change your study habits
Unless you are really struggling and the way you study is not effective for you, don't change what you have been doing. If it works for you, stick with it. Those habits will suffice in college as well. There is no outrageous shock when it comes to college academics. Your professors will help, and you will be eased into it probably more than you'd expect.
3. Use your resources
There are plenty of people and resources to help you find your way and figure everything out- use them. USE YOUR RESOURCES. Meet people, introduce yourself, and get to know more people than you think is necessary, because you never know when you are on crunch time for something and need help or need an answer. You will have contacts readily available and a face for that resource to associate with.
4. Get to know your professors
Shake hands with your professors. On the first day of class, I have always made it a priority to shake my professor's hand, introduce myself, ask a question or two and just be an acquaintance first if nothing else. They will appreciate this. They are people too. Allow them to put a face to a name, especially if your name pops up in their long list of emails for the day, it helps to associate that name with a person.
5. Apply for work study
It is SO helpful and rewarding to get a pay check while in school. Student jobs are readily available at universities, and even though it is minimum wage and probably less than 20 hours a week, an extra chunk of change goes a long way.
6. Keep in touch with best friends and family
You will get to school and your lifestyle, time, and schedule will change drastically. Other questions that my friends have asked me are, "What about all my friends back home? How do I know who to stay in touch with?"
The people you want to remain close to will be priority, and hopefully that person feels the same way. You are about to enter a new lifestyle with new people and new friend groups. You will NOT have time for everyone- that's just the way it is. Bounce around, send a few catch-up texts, but don't overwhelm yourself with trying to maintain every friendship you ever made in high school. The most important ones will always be there, but MAKE FAMILY PRIORITY.
7. Get to know yourself
It's surreal and sometimes bizarre to look back when I realize I am half way through college. I have changed and grown a lot. Good things happen, bad things happen, and unexpected things happen. You need to focus on yourself and your goals, and keep steady relationships, especially family, close. Stay humble and kind, and find yourself and learn things that you never did before. You are investing a lot of time and money into this stage of your life- make it count.
