Academic transition
Journalist and speaker Harlan Cohen, author of The Naked Roommate, often refers to five transitions students go through when they begin college: academic, social, emotional, physical, and financial. I'd like to dedicate the next few posts to discussing my thoughts about each of these, beginning with the academic transition. Here are some of my thoughts about what incoming freshmen need to do academically:
1. Develop a system for managing your time. This could be a physical planner, a Google Calendar, or an app on your phone. Be sure your planning is realistic and leaves plenty of time for sleep, exercise, socializing, and meals. Rather than procrastinating, chunk your projects so that you can do your best work.
2. Form study habits that will serve you well. Study in an environment where you can focus, and be honest with yourself about what your needs are. Use flash cards and mnemonic devices. Study a little bit at a time rather than cramming at the last minute.
3. Connect with your professors. Take advantage of their office hours to help you assimilate difficult material. Go over questions you have after receiving back your graded papers and exams. Think of these people as mentors who can guide you and help you find opportunities.
4. Take advantage of academic resources. These may include people such as graduate assistants, tutors, librarians, counselors, and others. They also may include the syllabus for your course, optional readings, study guides, and other materials your professor posts online for you. Most colleges have an academic success center or other equivalent space where you can schedule meetings with a peer tutor, find audiobooks, and receive support for a learning disability. You might be taking a freshman seminar during fall semester where you will be introduced to many of these resources. They are usually free or available for a nominal fee. Take advantage of these resources!
To learn more about academic transitions from high school to college, use the contact form on my website to reach out!
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