Making the transition from high school to college can actually be a lot more difficult than people think.
There is so much emphasis put on getting into college that we often forget to talk about how to help students make the transition so they can be successful once they get to college. The process can often be overwhelming. So, before you head to college, here are 10 things you need to know and how you should make the transition:
1. You will have a lot of freedom.
One thing that often surprises students is exactly how much freedom they’ll have. Essentially, you can do whatever you want. You make your own decisions; you schedule your own life. Unlike high school, there is no homeroom, there are no lunch breaks, and there won’t be a set curriculum you have to follow. On the social side, there are no curfews. You’re free to pull all-nighters for any reason whatsoever whenever you want.
How to transition…
Take your time to get your bearings. Don’t get too caught up in this newfound freedom (otherwise, you may find yourself sleeping through all your classes just because you can). Let yourself adjust to the flexibility by creating a routine you stick to initially. Then you can shift things around in your schedule to fit with the college lifestyle you want.
2. You will be treated like an adult.
Again, you make your own decisions. There are no parent permissions slips that need to be signed. No one will be double checking your assignment deadlines. Your parents and professors won’t be pressing you to make sure you go to class or attend information sessions. You and you alone call the shots on what you want to learn and what you want your college experience to be.
How to transition…
A lot of this is just time management. You may already have a great time management tool you used in high school. If not, it’s time to put that calendar or phone reminders to use. iCal, Google Calendar, or even a physical planner will come in handy to help you sort out your class schedule, meetings and social events.
3. You have to be financially responsible.
Be aware of your financial situation. If you signed a financial aid package or have scholarships, make sure you know what the conditions and details are. You don’t want to lose your scholarship or financial aid due to a careless oversight. If you have loans, it’s smart to start planning how you’ll pay them back, especially if you have interest piling up on those loans.
Once you’re in college, the expenses don’t stop there. There are textbooks, student organization dues, meal plans, and more. It’s easy to get sucked into all the festivities, especially because you don’t want to be missing out!
How to transition…
Build a budget. You can use free resources like Mint.com to help you stick to your monthly budgets, and help you save money. Just remember there is always going to be another concert, another dinner, another outing. So, pick and choose which ones you want to go to and be diligent about not over-spending.
4. You need to handle/overcome your own issues.
You are bound to run into a few issues. Whether it’s difficulty in class or roommate conflict, these are things you’ll need to handle on your own (or have the initiative to seek out helpful resources). Be ready to have adult conversations with your professors and roommates.
How to transition…
Be considerate and be straightforward. Everyone has different ways of handling conflict. What works for you may not work for someone else, but you need to learn how to come to a compromise. It’s always best to resolve an issue as quickly and honestly as possible. And don’t be afraid to ask for help if it’s available.
5. You are responsible for your own learning.
What do you want to major in? What electives to you want to take? Do you want to study abroad? These are questions only you can answer. Of course, most students have general requirements they’ll need to take, but even within those parameters, there are often tons of options to choose from.
How to transition…
Start with a lighter course load your first semester of Freshmen year. Everything is so new in college that you don’t want to inadvertently overwhelm yourself with super tough classes. Take easier general requirement classes to get yourself used to the new lecture style and college grading curves. Just remember it’s a lot harder to bring your GPA up than it is to bring it down.
6. You will always have new classmates.
For most of high school, you were probably stuck with the same people you’ve known all your life. That’s about to change. Every semester, you will get a new set of classmates from different academic programs, so you’ll get the chance to socialize and meet more new people! You’ll settle into a more consistent set of classmates once you decide on your major.
How to transition…
Be open to meeting new people. This isn’t so different from meeting new people in your dorms, just in a classroom setting. It’s a great way to meet people from other undergraduate schools and departments you aren’t a part of.
7. Class attendance is up to you.
Remember how your learning is up to you? Well, same goes for attendance. Some classes will give a percentage grade for class attendance. Small classes, or discussions groups, will have roll call, while big lectures might take attendance through lecture-wide clicker questions at the beginning of lectures. There also classes where attendance doesn’t matter, so you can definitely pass a course without ever having gone to class.
How to transition…
Know how your grades break down. Don’t look down on the 5% that class attendance will contribute to your grade. It can sometimes be the deciding factor on between whether you get a B+ or A-. At the end of the day, you know yourself and how you learn best, so be realistic with yourself about whether class attendance will be necessary for you. For the vast majority of students, it is.
8. There is a lot of college reading.
There is a lot of reading in college. Most of your homework will be assigned reading. There are plenty of memes out there that claim “assigned reading = no homework”. While you can easily make that the case, actually doing the reading will help you with studying for the final in the long run. Trust us, it’s not fun to cram hundreds of pages of reading in last minute. It’ll also help you understand what’s going on in class and let you participate more in discussion.
How to transition…
Whether you want to do the reading is up to you. Sometimes the reading is really dense and is difficult to get through. You need to learn how you best digest the material. Some students read it out loud so they can hear it. Others will highlight important texts, while others takes notes as they read. To help master certain concepts, see if there are existing outlines from older students that can break down what you need to know.
9. There are A LOT of student organizations.
You’ll find out in your third or fourth week in college exactly how many student organizations there are. There will be a Student Activities Club fair somewhere on campus for all students to learn about new clubs and for students to get involved. Don’t miss it! It’s fun to see all the student clubs out and about, and a great opportunity for you to ask questions and learn more.
How to transition…
Don’t be too eager and put your name down on everything. You’ll come to regret it when your inbox is flooded with emails. There will likely be further information sessions you can go to and learn more if you’re really interested. Jot those dates down and join after you’ve taken the time to find out more about each club. It’ll make it easier for you to navigate the student clubs. It can get so overwhelming when you’re flooded with emails that you end up not wanting to get involved in anything.
10. It’s hard to stand out.
You might be a small fish in the big pond. You might be even be a big fish in the big pond. Whichever one you are, the point is, you’re in a big pond. If you came from a small private high school, the change will be even more apparent. From going to a high school class of 100-200 students to a college class of 1,500+ students. The competition is a lot stiffer and there are a lot of really smart, capable, talented people around you. On the plus side, you’ll have more people to learn from and more peers to challenge you.
How to transition…
You don’t have to be the lead. While it’s super exciting to be the lead in a university play, or the president of a student club, that shouldn’t be the end-all be-all! You aren’t participating simply with the goal to be a lead member. You joined the student organization because you share those interests and would like to continue learning and engaging in those interests, so remember that! Enjoy the process for what it is.
And remember: if you ever feel the pangs of the imposter syndrome, trust us, you’re not alone. Many of your peers feel the same way. But you got there of your own accord and you deserve to be there just like every other deserving person in your class.
Hope you found this helpful! Don’t rush yourself and don’t let yourself be consumed by what others might be posting on social media. Adjusting to college life is not easy, because it’s not just about becoming a college student, but about becoming a more independent version of you.
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