Preparing Incoming Freshman for College

When it comes to college, pop culture often portrays it as endless free time and stress-free “all nighters” in the library.

However, the reality of transitioning from high school to college can be extremely challenging for many students, and they are often not set up for success.

As our seniors continue to receive acceptance letters, it’s important for them to prepare for the next step.

Here are some tips to help make the transition a success:

Wake Up and Plan Your Free Time

Living in a dorm means no more wake-up calls from your parents. Instead, make your alarm your new best friend.

Plan how long it takes you to get ready in the morning, add time for breakfast and your walk to class, and pack your backpack the night before.

Identify your free time on your calendar and make sure you complete your to-do list before going out.

Getting to Classes

Your schedule won’t be the same every day, so you’ll need to remember when (and where) your classes are. Set alarms on your phone with extra time to get there so you are in your seat and prepared for the start of class. Use a daily schedule to map out when you’ll eat and use larger pockets of time for reading or completing assignments.

Due Dates

College professors don’t write your homework on the board every class. Instead you are given a syllabus on day one, and then expected to stay on top of your work independently.

Pro tip: use a 120 day dry-erase calendar (or 30 day calendars) and write down all your assignments for the semester. Alternatively, enter your assignments on your electronic calendar as an “all day” task, so it is on top and doesn’t get lost in between events.

Late Work

Say goodbye to submitting missing assignments at the end of the quarter. College due dates are strict, and you will get penalized for being late.

To stay on top of things, refer to your calendar and class portal daily. Estimate how much time each assignment will take and begin plugging those into your daily schedule. Break down large assignments into smaller tasks over a number of days.

Get Help from Our Coaches

If your student needs help making the transition to college successful, our coaches can help. Contact us to set up a free discovery call and learn more about our services.