The High School to College Transition
About Me
Hi, everyone, I'm Faith Rodgers. I am thrilled beyond words to be an incoming freshman this fall at Southern! I will be majoring in biology (with a biomedical emphasis) in pursuit of my goal to become an obstetrician. In addition to its top-notch biology program, I chose Southern because I believe this institution embodies many of the values which are important to me as a Christian.
Aside from my dedication to pursuing my academic career, I enjoy singing, reading, photography, spending time with family/friends, and, of course, blogging. In this blog post, I will share my personal insight (which I hope will assist other incoming freshmen) on successfully transitioning from high school to college. I will also share what I am doing in order to prepare for my freshman year.
Transitioning from High School to College
How should a high school graduate transition to college? This is a question I have seen asked repeatedly on the internet; I have even asked this question myself. So, I have read many articles and blogs, been dual-enrolled in college courses for two years, and received first-hand advice from college graduates and professors. I think the answer boils down to high school graduates needing to understand whether or not we have the correct mindsets necessary for success.
What do I mean? Well, college is somewhat different from high school. By law, adolescents have to attend school until age 17 or 18. Therefore, because of these compulsory attendance laws, I believe there is more pressure on secondary-education instructors to make sure we graduate despite our tendencies to want to goof off in class, procrastinate on completing assignments, or wait till the night before a test to study (cram).
These habits simply will not cut it in college. College is not mandatory; it is a choice. Yes, college professors (and faculty) are willing to help us achieve our goals and stand ready to answer any questions we may have. But unlike high-school instructors, they will not beg us to do our part. We will be viewed as adults and are expected to be self-motivated, proactive, hard-working, and committed to fulfilling our academic requirements.
Transitioning from high school to college depends solely on our mindset. We can either succeed or fail. It depends on how hard we plan to work. And, yes, it will be hard work because anything worth having will not be easy to achieve. College can be an easy transition; it just depends on a good strong commitment level.
How I Am Preparing for My Freshman Year
As thrilled as I am at having no more high school homework, I am fighting the urge to spend the summer resting, watching movies, staying up late, and sleeping in. Instead, I am preparing for my freshman year in several ways.
With the help of my parents, one way I prepared for my freshman year is by completing all paperwork required by Southern before the end of May. By doing this, I was able to understand what funds (scholarships and financial aid) were available to me. This helped me to sign up for my freshman courses ahead of time and contact my professors about the books I needed, as well as any other requirements for the class.
Another way I am preparing for being a freshman is by keeping my mind active. As I mentioned before, staying in the house all summer and sleeping late sounds amazing, but it is not a great idea. I'm keeping my brain active and my skills sharp by spending part of the summer working and volunteering. The latter part of my summer will be spent participating in Southern's SmartStart program. This gives me a head start on earning my degree and getting into the swing of what I will be doing for the next four years.
A third way I am preparing for freshman year is by using the bulk of my high-school graduation money (gotta save some for those cool Chaco sandals I want) for dormitory supplies. Surprisingly, many students are dorm-shopping early, which means many items (mattress toppers, storage containers, etc) are selling out quickly. For more information on what things are both needed and prohibited in the dorms, check out the Residence Life Handbook pages 9, 10, and 13.
These tips are not an exhaustive list of how to successfully transition from high school to college and prepare for freshman year. However, I do think they are good places to begin the process. Until next time, God bless and see you at Southern!!
