Navigating a New College Culture Meeting Expectations
Visual Walkthrough: Academic Expectations
Finding Your Place in College
2. FINDING SUPPORT ON CAMPUS
Begin Creating a College Network
Mentors Are Invaluable Resources
Make Connections with Peers
Campus Staff Want to Connect
Visual Walkthrough: Find Campus Resources Online
Instructors Are Part of Your Network, Too
Make the Most of Office Hours
Share Your Academic Struggles
Ask Questions and Get Help Often
Anxiety Is Understandable
Seeking Assistance Is Key
3. MOTIVATION AND GOAL SETTING
Motivation Matters
Types of Motivation
What Motivates You Academically?
Mindset, Resilience, and Grit Matter, Too
Understanding Your Mindset
Resilience, Grit, and Achievement
Set SMART Goals
How to Create SMART Goals
Make Your Goals SMART-ER
Visual Walkthrough: Creating SMART Goals
4. USING TIME WISELY
Time Is of the Essence
Use a Planner
Choose Your Planner Wisely
Battling Procrastination
Why Do You Procrastinate, and What Can You Do?
Use a To-Do List
Visual Walkthrough: Incorporate To-Do Lists into Your Planner
Finding a Balance
Always Start with Academics
Your Schedule Will Lead the Way
All Work and No Play Isn’t a Good Solution
Be Flexible
PART II: STUDY SKILLS
5. LEARNING PREFERENCES AND STUDYING
What Is VARK?
Understanding the VARK
I Know My VARK Score: Now What?
Visual Walkthrough: Use Your VARK Learning Preference during Study Sessions What Is Myers-Briggs?
Personality Type Can Influence College Choices
Study with Your Learning Preferences in Mind
Create a Study Plan
Make Connections with Study Notes
Study with Others
Take Practice Tests
6. CRITICAL THINKING
Critical Thinking in College
Five Steps for Critical Thinking
Try Not to Inhibit Critical Thinking
Where to Use Your Critical Thinking Skills
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking When Making Decisions
Visual Walkthrough: Be a Thoughtful Decision Maker
Critical Thinking and Creativity
7. NOTE TAKING
Take Thoughtful Notes
Set the Scene
View Lectures as Conversations
Note-Taking Styles
Instructor Notes
Your Personal Style of Note Taking
Visual Walkthrough: Using the Table Format, Using the Outline and Cornell Formats, Adding Visuals
Review Your Notes Early and Often
8. READING EFFECTIVELY
Set Yourself Up for Success
Location Matters
Break Down Readings
Remember Time Management
Read Effectively
Engage with Your Reading
Take Notes
Visual Walkthrough: Take Critical Thinking Notes while You Read
Engage in Conversations
Get Support from Classmates
Meet with Instructors
9. TEST TAKING
Before the Test
The Night before
The Morning of the Test
Right before the Test
During and After the Test
Look Over the Exam
Visual Walkthrough: Taking the Test
Keep Track of Time
Focus on You (Not on Your Classmates!)
Don’t Let Your Eyes Wander—Ever
Getting the Test Back
Practice, Practice, Practice
Reduce Your Stress
If You Blank
When to Get Help
10. WRITING AND INFORMATION LITERACY
General Writing Advice
Understand the Assignment
Write Rough Drafts and Obtain Feedback
Apply Critical Thinking
Step 1: Ask Questions
Step 2: Evaluate Your Reactions
Step 3: Write with a “Critical Lens”
Step 4: Make Connections
Step 5: Bring Your Experiences into the Assignment
Getting Started: The Writing Process
Before You Start Writing
While You’re Writing
Avoiding Plagiarism
Citing Your Sources
Use an Accepted Citation Style
Researching and Communicating in a Digital Age
Navigating the World of Research Technology
Using Electronic Resources at the Library
Communicating Effectively
Visual Walkthrough: Send Professional E-mails
Part III: Skills for Success
11. ACADEMIC PLANNING AND FINDING A MAJOR
Make Your Academic Plan Personal
Explore Your Interests and Goals
Acknowledge Your Skills and Values
Reflect on Your Academic Background and Experiences
Choose a Major That Is Right for You
Balance Your Goals and Interests
Be Aware of Major Requirements and Timing Constraints
Consider Your Career Goals
Select Your Courses
Combine Your Interests with Requirements
Map Out Your Academic Plan
Visual Walkthrough: Balance Your Course Load
Get Help from an Academic Advisor or Mentor
Be Smart about Class Exploration
12. MANAGING YOUR MONEY
Create and Manage a Budget
Visual Walkthrough: Budgeting
Understand Your Financial Aid Package
Types of Aid
Applying for Aid
Use Credit Cards Wisely
Choosing a Credit Card
Control Your Spending
Know When to Put the Card Away
Get Help
Your Credit History
13. EXPERIENCING DIFFERENCE
Acknowledge Differences
Keep an Open Mind
Challenge Stereotypes
Understand and Respect Difference
Create Meaningful Connections
Find a Community
Look for Campus Resources
Visual Walkthrough: Learn about Your College’s Diversity Resources
Learn from Differences
Authentic Communication
Mutual Respect
14. STAYING HEALTHY AND REDUCING STRESS
Eat, Sleep, and Exercise
Keep Your Body Fueled
Visual Walkthrough: Making Balanced Food Choices
Find a Sleep Solution
Exercise Can Make All the Difference
Manage Your Stress
Build a Community
Stay Connected
Be Good to Yourself
Be Safe Socially
Substance Abuse
Protecting Yourself against Sexual Assault
Consider Your Safety Online
15. STARTING YOUR CAREER JOURNEY
Dig into Your Interests
Narrow Down Your Career Choices
Connect Your Academic Plan to Your Career
Get Experience
Exploring Your Options
Connecting with Others
Visual Walkthrough: Résumé Writing, Cover Letter
Don’t Hesitate to Get Help
Dealing with the Unexpected
It’s Your Life
Notice What Matters to You
APPENDIX A: LIVING ON CAMPUS
APPENDIX B: LIVING OFF CAMPUS
How to Use This Book
Stepping onto campus that first day isn’t easy. But fortunately, you’re not alone. You’ll soon meet instructors, students, mentors, and many others to support you throughout your college experience. You deserve to have the tools you’ll need to succeed, which is why I’ve created this guide. It’s filled with tips, strategies, and advice to help you make the most of your time in college. The guidance offered here will help make the transition easier, your academic life more manageable and engaging, and your overall college experience more fulfilling.
This is a resource for you. As a college student, you’re in the driver’s seat and will need to take advantage of the resources available on campus, to try new techniques to help you succeed in your classes, and to ask for assistance when you need it. Your goals are certainly attainable by drawing on your motivation, building resilience, working hard, and creating a strong support system.
Jamie H. Shushan
Finding What You Need
A Pocket Guide to College Success, Second Edition, is designed to provide clear answers to your questions about what to do, where to go, and how to succeed in college. It can help you in your first year, throughout your whole college career, and in your life beyond college. In this book, you will find the tools you need to survive and thrive as you begin this new journey.
Part I, Transitioning to College, will offer you guidance and support as you adjust to college. Anew Chapter 1 will help you begin to find your place in college and address academic expectations. Chapter 2 will build upon this foundation by helping you develop a college support systemearly on so you can ask the right questions and get the help you need. Chapter 3, also new to the second edition, will give you the tools you need to persist in college, focusing on how to maintain motivation, foster resilience, and set goals to drive your own success in college and beyond. And Chapter 4 will enable you to explore time management strategies that will keep you on track in your course work and daily life.
Part II, Study Skills, will enumerate numerous skills that are essential for your success in college. Chapters 5 through 10 focus on key study skills strategies, such as using your learning preferences to help you study; practicing five steps for critical thinking; note taking; reading effectively; focusing your energies before, during, and after test taking; and systematically building your writing and information literacy key building blocks for academic achievement.
Part III, Skills for Success, emphasizes practical considerations that are relevant for your success in college and beyond. Chapter 11 will help you with academic planning and selecting a major. Chapters 12
Your fan,
through 14 will help you with aspects of college life beyond academics: managing money, embracing diversity, making healthy choices, managing stress, and navigating the social scene. Lastly, Chapter 15 empowers you with concrete strategies as you begin your career exploration.
Appendix A, Living on Campus, contains tips and advice for students who live on campus, such as avoiding conflicts with roommates, building relationships with residential advisors, and taking advantage of on-campus opportunities.
Appendix B, Living off Campus, offers guidance for students who live off campus, such as establishing a workable home/work/life balance and how getting involved in campus activities can support overall success in college.
For more details on these chapters, please see the Preface for Instructors on pages xi–xix.
Table of Contents.
Browsing through the brief table of contents at the beginning of the book will usually guide you to the information you need. If not, consult the more detailed table of contents included inside the back cover.
Getting Started Guides.
Ease your transition to college by reviewing these guides at the beginning of the text to see what you should keep in mind during your first week, month, and termin college.
Index.
If you can’t locate what you need in either table of contents, consult the index at the back of the book, beginning on page I-1. The index can be especially useful if you’re looking for something specific and you know the termfor it. For example, if you want help creating a to-do list, you could simply look under “todo list” in the index and then go to the designated pages.
Lists of Features.
Just before the end of the book, you’ll find a quick guide to some of the most often consulted parts of this book: “5 Questions” and “5 Ways” lists, Case Studies, Checklists, Getting Started Guides, Quick Tips, and Visual Walkthroughs (illustrated explanations of key points).
Preface for Instructors
APocket Guide to College Success, Second Edition, is a unique handbook for college students. In contrast to longer, traditional texts, it is organized as a “go-to” resource that’s easy to dig into whenever necessary. Creating a handy college guide that students could refer to quickly and easily has always been the driving force behind this book.
A Pocket Guide to College Success is just that a friendly resource, succinct and understandable, filled with digestible advice and doable strategies, that students fromvarious backgrounds can refer to periodically in a first-year college success course, throughout their college years, and in the years beyond college or even before they enter college life.
Despite its brevity, A Pocket Guide to College Success covers virtually all of the topics and advice typically found in much longer texts, in a format that your students will read and at a price that they will definitely appreciate.
Building on the success of the first edition, the second edition of A Pocket Guide to College Success has been carefully revised to work well in an even wider range of programs and institutions: it offers expanded guidance for open-enrollment, nonresidential students, ensuring that it’s a great fit for two- and four-year schools, in traditional first-year-experience seminars and courses, as part of “Common Read” programs, and as part of orientation programs. It will prove a great fit for programs that find full-size texts overwhelming, prohibitively expensive, or simply too much.
The second edition also provides additional support on the transition to college and features new coverage on motivation, mindset, and goal setting to help students start off on the right track. With even more emphasis on asking questions, this text focuses on helping students drive their own success by regularly reflecting on their college experiences, proactively employing study skills strategies, and creating a strong college support system.
For many students, the first termof college can feel like visiting a foreign country. Suddenly, they have to learn how to navigate new customs, unfamiliar policies, and possibly even a new language. These students, and many others besides, can use practical strategies and advice to navigate the unfamiliar terrain. Each chapter of A Pocket Guide to College Success is written with an eye toward students whose understanding and information about college life are limited.
New! Chapter 1 introduces students to the value of college, what they can expect during their transition to college, academic expectations, and how to start finding their place in college.
Chapter 2 helps students build a college support systemearly on so that they are able to ask the right questions and get the help they will need.
New! Chapter 3 outlines how students can stay motivated, foster resilience, and set long- and shorttermgoals for themselves in order to drive their own success in college.
Chapters 4 through 6 discuss time management, learning styles, study strategies, and critical thinking, all topics fundamental to success in college.
Chapters 7 through 10 focus on key study skills strategies. Study tips are explained step-by-step, and examples demonstrate how to actually use the tips, making A Pocket Guide to College Success accessible and usable.
Chapter 11 addresses two very important topics for today’s students: academic planning and selecting a major.
Chapters 12 through 14 look beyond academics toward other aspects of college life: managing money, embracing diversity, making healthy choices, managing stress, and navigating the social scene. In this way, A Pocket Guide to College Success gives students a much-needed “heads-up” about a number of college realities and provides sound advice to help themwade through the many decisions and situations they will face, hopefully improving their health, happiness, and safety in the long run.
Chapter 15 delves into the topic of career exploration and addresses how students can set themselves up for success in terms and years still to come.
Appendix A addresses the specific issues and needs of students who live on campus, and Appendix B addresses the same topics for those who live off campus.
Key Features of This Edition
New! Reimagined LaunchPad Solo course space supports teaching and learning. LaunchPad Solo for College Success is a powerful online course space that integrates seamlessly with most learning management systems. Available stand-alone or packaged at a significant discount, it combines highquality multimedia content and ready-made assessment; a trove of videos; the LearningCurve adaptive, game-like study system; and more. Our gradebook offers a window into your students’ performance, a streamlined interface helps students focus on what’s due next, and social commenting tools let them engage and connect.
Brief and affordable. A Pocket Guide to College Success’s comprehensive yet streamlined coverage, small size, and affordable price make it ideal for a wide range of students and uses in and out of the classroom, including orientation programs.
New! Format allows easier customization. Anew trimsize and design allow you to make A Pocket Guide to College Success truly meet the needs of your specific program. Contact a Macmillan Learning representative for more information about customizing the text.
New! Getting Started Guides provide quick overviews of what students should be focusing on in their first week, month, and termof college to jumpstart their success and ease the transition into college.
New! Support for a wider range of institutions. The new edition includes more coverage aimed at open-enrollment and nonresidential students and increased focus on returning and adult students, students who juggle jobs and families, and commuting students.
New! Chapters on Beginning Your College Journey and Motivation and Goal Setting provide additional practical strategies on how students can make their transition to college as well as how to leverage motivation, goals, and mindset to create success during college.
New! LaunchPad Solo for ACES (Academic and Career Excellence System) is a powerful, normreferenced, student self-assessment that helps students pinpoint their strengths and shortcomings. At the same time, it provides instructors and administrators the data they need to support student success,
retention, and completion class- and program-wide. It is available stand-alone or as part of a package at a low cost.
Visual Walkthroughs in the text show core concepts of college success in action and focus on important skills such as developing a study plan, marking up a textbook, and taking notes.
New! “5 Questions” lists outline key questions students should be asking themselves and others to drive their success.
Helpful learning and study features in each chapter include Case Studies, Summary Checklists, Quick Tips boxes, and “5 Ways” lists.
Fun cartoons throughout the text help anxious, stressed-out students relax with a little humor!
Instructor Resources
LaunchPad Solo for College Success. LaunchPad Solo for College Success is home to dozens of pre-built assignable and assessable digital resources designed to help students engage with key course concepts and prepare for class, including LearningCurve adaptive quizzing and video activities. Prebuilt units are easy to assign or adapt with your own material, such as readings, videos, quizzes, discussion groups, and more. LaunchPad Solo also provides access to a gradebook that provides a clear window on performance for your whole class, for individual students and individual assignments.
Unique
to LaunchPad Solo: LearningCurve for
College Success
. LearningCurve for College Success is an online, adaptive, self-quizzing programthat quickly learns what students already know and helps thempractice what they haven’t yet mastered. LearningCurve motivates students to engage with key concepts before they come to class so that they are ready to participate; it also offers reporting tools to help you discern your students’ needs. An updated version of LearningCurve available with LaunchPad Solo for College Success features a larger question pool with new multiple-choice questions.
Ordering information. LaunchPad Solo is available to package at a significant discount with select College Success titles. Please contact your Macmillan Learning representative for more information. To order LaunchPad Solo for College Success as a stand-alone product, use ISBN 978-1-319-06478-5.
ACES (The Academic and Career Excellence System). This instrument measures student strengths in twelve critical areas and prompts students to reflect on their habits, behaviors, attitudes, and skills. Norm-referenced reports indicate whether students are at a high, moderate, or low skill level in particular areas. For more information, go to launchpadworks.com.
Instructor’s Manual. The Instructor’s Manual includes chapter teaching suggestions, a list of each chapter’s features and how to use them, lecture ideas and activities, general teaching tips, and more. Available online.
Computerized Test Bank. The Computerized Test Bank contains seven hundred multiple-choice, true/false, short-answer, and essay questions designed to assess students’ understanding of key concepts. In addition, challenging scenario-based questions ask students to apply their understanding to concepts in the text. An answer key is included. Adigital text file is also available.
Lecture Slides. Available online for download, lecture slides accompany each chapter of the book and include key concepts and art fromthe text. Use the slides as provided to structure your lectures, or customize themas desired to fit your course’s needs.
French Fries Are Not Vegetables. This comprehensive instructional DVD features multiple resources for class and professional use. This video is also available on LaunchPad Solo for College Success. Curriculum Solutions. Our new CurriculumSolutions group brings together the quality and reputation of Bedford/St. Martin’s content with Hayden-McNeil’s expertise in publishing original customprint and digital products. With our new capabilities, we are excited to deliver customized course solutions at an affordable price. Make A Pocket Guide to College Success, Second Edition, fit your course and goals by integrating your own institutional materials, including only the parts of the text you intend to use in your course, or both. Please contact your local Macmillan Learning sales representative for more information and to see samples.
The CS Select customdatabase allows you to create a textbook for your College Success course that reflects your course objectives and uses just the content you need. Start with one of our core texts, and then rearrange chapters, delete chapters, and add additional content including your own original content to create just the book you’re looking for. Get started by visiting macmillanlearning.com/csSelect.
TradeUp. Bring more value and choice to your students’ first-year experience by packaging A Pocket Guide to College Success, Second Edition, with one of a thousand titles fromMacmillan publishers at a 50 percent discount fromthe regular price. Contact your Macmillan Learning sales representative for more information.
Student Resources
LaunchPad Solo for College Success. LaunchPad Solo is an online course solution that offers our acclaimed content, including videos, LearningCurve adaptive quizzes, and more. For more information, see the Instructor Resources section.
Unique to LaunchPad Solo: LearningCurve for College Success. LearningCurve for College Success is an online, adaptive, self-quizzing programthat quickly learns what students already know and helps thempractice what they haven’t yet mastered.
Ordering information. LaunchPad Solo is available to package at a significant discount with select College Success titles. Please contact your Macmillan Learning sales representative for more information. To order LaunchPad Solo for College Success as a stand-alone product, use ISBN 978-1-319-06478-5.
E-book Options. E-books offer an affordable alternative for students. You can find PDF versions of our books when you shop online at our publishing partners’ sites. Learn more at macmillanlearning.com/ebooks.
Bedford/St. Martin’s Insider’s Guides. These concise and student-friendly booklets on topics that are critical to college success are a perfect complement to your textbook and course. One Insider’s Guide can be packaged with any Bedford/St. Martin’s textbook. Additional Insider’s Guides can also be packaged for additional cost. Topics include:
New! Insider’s Guide to College Etiquette, Second Edition
New! Insider’s Guide for Returning Veterans
New! Insider’s Guide to Transferring
Insider’s Guide to Academic Planning
Insider’s Guide to Beating Test Anxiety
Insider’s Guide to Building Confidence
Insider’s Guide to Career Services
Insider’s Guide to College Ethics and Personal Responsibility
Insider’s Guide to Community College
Insider’s Guide to Credit Cards, Second Edition
Insider’s Guide to Getting Involved on Campus
Insider’s Guide to Global Citizenship
Insider’s Guide to Time Management, Second Edition
For more information on ordering one of these guides free with the text, go to macmillanlearning.com/collegesuccess.
The Bedford/St. Martin’s Planner. Everything that students need to plan and use their time effectively is included, along with advice on preparing schedules and to-do lists; blank schedules and calendars (monthly and weekly) for planning are offered as well. Integrated into the planner are tips and advice on fixing common grammar errors, note taking, and succeeding on tests; an address book; and an annotated list of useful Web sites. The planner fits easily into a backpack or purse, so students can take it anywhere. To order the planner as a stand-alone product, use ISBN 978-0-312-57447-5. To package the planner, please contact your local Macmillan Learning sales representative.
Journal Writing: ABeginning. Designed to give students an opportunity to use writing as a way to explore their thoughts and feelings, this writing journal includes a generous supply of inspirational quotes placed throughout the pages, tips for journaling, and suggested journal topics. To order the journal as a stand-alone product, use ISBN 978-0-312-59027-7.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank my colleagues at Bedford/St. Martin’s Vice President-Editorial Edwin Hill; Publisher Erika Gutierrez; Development Manager Susan McLaughlin; Senior Executive Editor Simon Glick; Associate Production Editor Matt Glazer; Marketing Manager Kayti Corfield; and First Edition Editor Julie Kelly for their important contributions, expertise, and hard work. I amespecially grateful to my editor, Bethany Gordon, for her vision, guidance, creativity, and dedication every step of the way. I also extend my deepest appreciation to Maxine Rodburg, whose endless support and encouragement made this exciting journey possible. And sincere thanks to Clayton Spencer, Don Pfister, Nancy Sommers, Bill Wright-Swadel, and Bob Cohen for opening so many doors. To the remarkable CSAGraduates I have been truly fortunate to teach you inspired me to write this guide and I ameternally grateful. Finally, to my family Carol Horr, JimHorr, Brian Harr, and Stacy Harr, as well as my husband, David Shushan, and children, Kevin and Nathan special thanks for believing in me.
Thanks to all the instructors who participated in reviews to help shape this edition: Ginny Botts, University of Central Florida; Stacy Brown, Community College of Aurora; Corey Burgess, Illinois State University; Richard Conway, Nassau Community College; Stella Fox, Nassau Community College; Karen Ganss, Southern Utah University; Allen Mullis, Tennessee Technological University; Nicole Nagy, Madonna University; Denise Rode, Northern Illinois University; Danielle Rowland, University of Washington Bothell & Cascadia Community College; Leslie Jo Sena, Washington State University; Miya Squires, Butte Community College; Brenda Tuberville, Rogers State University. We would also like to continue to thank our reviewers fromthe first edition: Carrie Cokely, Curry College; Karen Costa, Mount Wachusett Community College; Marcy Graham, Truman State University; Judith Kaufman, Fairleigh Dickinson University; Joseph Kornoski, Montgomery County Community College; Joanna Kourtidis, University of St. Francis; Jodi Kuznia, St. Cloud State University; Linda D. Morgan, University of Alaska–Anchorage; Katherine O’Brien, Kent State University at Stark; Carl Olds, University of Central Arkansas; Cynthia Pascal, The Art Institute of Washington; Stacey Peterson, University of North Dakota; Heather Simpson, Michigan Technological University; John Sugg, Wingate University; James Uhlenkamp, Graceland University; Denise Wilkinson, Virginia Wesleyan College; Shane Williamson, Lindenwood University; Craig Zywicki, Iowa State University.
I Transitioning to College
1
Getting Started Guide
Your First Week in College
Gather the basics. Pick up your student ID, set up your student e-mail account, and purchase any course materials you need for your classes such as books, pens, and notebooks.
2
Use a planner to get organized. Figure out if you’ll use paper or an electronic planner, and begin adding your class times and locations, any job hours, commute time, and other commitments including meetings, orientation sessions, family obligations, and so on.
3 Get oriented. Take time to familiarize yourself with campus before you need to be somewhere. Locate the buildings where your classes are held, the location of your job if you have one, places to eat, the library, the student center, the financial aid office, and so on.
4
Focus on your living situation. If you live on campus, unpack and begin to get settled in your new place; meet with your roommate(s) to discuss ground rules; and figure out where to eat your meals and how your meal plan works If you commute, figure out your best mode of transportation and how much commuting time you need to allow. If you have a family, research childcare or eldercare options, if necessary.
5 Introduce yourself to peers and campus staff. Find ways to interact with your peers and strike up a conversation in your classes, during campus events and orientation, or during meals. Also, don’t forget to begin reaching out to upperclassmen and campus staff when opportunities arise. Schedule an appointment
with a campus staff member in your school’s advising, financial aid, or career counseling office, etc., to address any questions you may have.
1
Getting Started Guide
Your First Month in College
Ask questions. Get into the habit of asking instructors, mentors, peers, upperclassmen, and campus staff any questions that arise for you.
2
3
Determine how you will spend your time outside of class. Think about what else you either need or want to include in your daily and weekly routines. You may already have a job or may need to find one. You might want to schedule time for exercise or volunteering. And you’ll also need to fit in any family obligations you have.
Figure out when and where you will complete assignments and study for tests. Determine when you have open blocks of time each day and where and when you are able to stay focused and get work done efficiently. Make notes of blocks of time when you are most efficient and add those as regular study times in your planner. Write down where you’ll study, too.
4 Reflect on your daily routine. Notice what is working and what isn’t about your work/life balance. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you leaving enough time to get to your classes and other obligations? How is your commute working? Are you able to fit in social activities, your family commitments, and time to relax? Be flexible and make alternative decisions on how you spend your time based on your answers to these questions.
5 Assess how you’re feeling about course work and take action if necessary. Do you understand the material? If not,
where are you having difficulty? Determine if you might be able to form a study group with your classmates. If necessary, meet with your instructor during office hours to discuss material and ask questions, or research your college’s academic support services.
1
Your First Term in College
Continue making connections. Meet regularly with peers outside of class, connect with instructors during office hours, and participate in activities that are meaningful for you. Also, meet with an advisor or mentor at least once or twice during the term.
2
Make changes to your schedule as needed. Reflect on what worked and what didn’t work, and make adjustments to your schedule to set yourself up for success in the next term. For example, if academics were harder than you expected, figure out how to fit in more study time. If you want to be more involved, you may need to investigate more deeply the activities that suit your interests and passions
3 Fit in activities that keep you healthy. In your planner, write down when you plan to engage in activities you’d like to do to keep your body and mind feeling good Maybe that means taking regular walks, meeting a friend for coffee between study sessions, or going to the gym.
4
Get help if you need it. College can be challenging academically, personally, and socially. There are many possible resources, such as campus support offices, peers and mentors, and counseling centers, that can offer you the support you need.
5
Prepare for next term. Jump into next term having learned from your first term! Reflect on what worked and didn’t work academically and socially, and what you might want to change or explore as you embark on a new term and register for next term’s classes. Be sure to meet any course registration deadlines and
involve your instructors, mentors, and peers as you make decisions.
1 Beginning Your College Journey
Why Go to College? 8
Navigating a New College Culture 11
As you begin your college journey, you may feel especially eager and excited. Or you might be quite nervous about the challenges ahead. Whether this is your first time attending college or you’re coming back after a break, you may have a lot of anticipation, mixed emotions, and questions as you embark on this new chapter of your life. How will college change me? What will be expected of me in my classes? Where can I find support if I need it? Give yourself time to answer these questions. And recognize that the transition to college is a big one. You will be spending your energy in significant ways as you make an enormous investment in your future. You will be asked to stretch beyond your comfort zone both personally and academically, but if you rise to meet the challenge, new opportunities can open up in your life. In addition, you’ll likely have many new experiences and meet people fromall walks of life. This chapter also explores how to navigate a new college culture and expectations as well as the steps you can take to begin carving out your place in college.
To access the LearningCurve study tool, video activities, and more, go to LaunchPad Solo for College Success. macmillanlearning.com/collegesuccessmedia
Why Go to College?
You are likely attending college for a variety of reasons. Perhaps college feels like the logical next step after graduating fromhigh school. Maybe you’re excited to be the first in your family to go to college, or you’re returning to school after a break to pursue a new career. Or maybe you don’t know yet what you want to do and hope that college will help you find your passion or teach you the skills necessary to get a good job in the future. Whatever your reasons, this experience can open up new opportunities, and help you grow academically and personally.
More Opportunity
Your decision to attend college is a powerful one and something to take great pride in. Pause a moment to congratulate yourself and reflect on the path ahead. Your college path will be unique and distinct fromthe paths of those around you. The academic, social, and personal experiences that come your way will push your thinking, challenge your beliefs, and open up more opportunity for you in a number of ways.
To appreciate how your decision to go to college will likely impact your future, it’s helpful to look at a number of factors. Studies have shown that higher levels of education positively affect earnings and economic growth, job status and satisfaction, health and security, and parental and civic engagement. For example, recent reports reveal that college graduates compared to high school graduates often experience the following benefits:
Higher earnings1
Lower rates of unemployment and poverty2
More full-time job security
Opportunity to climb socioeconomic ladder
More satisfying career
Health insurance benefits and pensions3
Healthier lifestyles
More volunteerismand voter participation
Children experience more engagement and education at home
These benefits are significant when you consider the positive impact they have on your standard of living and your family’s well-being, not to mention the potential community and societal benefits. Going to college is a transformative experience. It is a privilege that will help you grow in significant ways if you open up your mind to all that’s possible, and work hard to make those future opportunities a reality.
