College Planning

Be aware of freshmen mistakes

College is a new life experience and it is likely that freshmen students will end up making mistakes during the first year. Students are experiencing a new sense of freedom and with this can come some challenges. In this blog, I will discuss some common mistakes that freshmen can make and how to prevent them.

College is not an extension of high school and some first year students have trouble adjusting to the new academic demands. Students may need to develop new study habits that allow for more time spent studying. Freshmen will find many academic resources that are available to them. Professors maintain office hours; writing centers will be on campus as well as tutors and study skills centers. There are generally more supportive services offered at a private college than at a public institution.  It will be up to the student to seek assistance, as these resources are readily available. Students will be assigned an academic advisor who is accessible to them. This person offers academic counseling and insight into possible major choices.

Freshmen will be balancing their budgets while away from home. They may try to save some money by not purchasing all books for their required courses. Students should buy the books for all courses; this isn’t an expense to try to save on. Students can check with friends or on the internet for used books.

Students will be choosing their course schedules and offerings. Freshmen shouldn’t register for an overload of courses during their first year. A successful first year should include 12-14 hours during the first semester. Adjusting to the academic side of college can take some time; this is an area where the academic counselor can offer assistance.

Most students come to campus with a laptop and there are computers labs on campus for access. Freshmen should read and pay attention to their college email account, as many professors will utilize email for effective communication. Many college wide messages are also sent via email.

Some freshmen students choose to work whether it is on campus or off. A balance must be struck between coursework and paid work.  For first year students, twenty hours would be the recommended maximum hours that should be worked in a week. Freshmen students will need to work on enhancing their time management skills. Students will find themselves having a great deal of free time that will be filled with many new responsibilities.

New challenges will bring new responsibilities. College is a place to learn and to grow. Those who are successful will create a healthy balance between the academic side and the social side of college. College is what you make of it. Students should recognize college as an investment that will provide valuable return on their future.

In next week’s blog, I will outline additional mistakes that freshman can make and I will also offer suggested interventions.

The awakening of the college student

In the fall of 2010, President Obama announced that the United States would not be able to compete in a global economy with almost 50% of our enrolled college students not earning degrees.  The President has proposed “a college access and completion fund” to assist some students and ultimately encourage completion of college. This proposal is a start and will assist some with the financial side but there is another side to direct attention to.

The other piece is keeping college students challenged and involved while enrolled in college. In Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America’s Public Universities, by William Bowen, Matthew Chingos, and Michael McPherson, it is reported “that 1/3 of students from privileged socioeconomic backgrounds-top half of the income distribution, with at least one parent with a college degree-failed to graduate.” These students are quitting due to lack of motivation and interest.” Money was not the issue for these students.

 It is true that some college courses can be viewed as boring. Long lecture style courses can be unappealing. The Provost at the University of Florida, Joseph Glover, states that his school offers many on line courses. He refers to online courses as the “future of the higher education.”

There is another view to discuss that stresses “a learner-centered” process in which students become more actively involved in their own education.” This style of teaching and learning is labeled as active learning. When students are involved, they begin to own the process and the information that is being translated.

 Mark Carnes is the creator of “Reacting to the Past.” He and others worked on this learning mechanism for 16 years. This work involves students engaged in detailed intellectual games based on classic texts. The concept is as follows: each game lasts for about one month and there are hundreds of pages of rules and roles that will be incorporated on behalf of the students. The following is an example of a game set; it is 1633, Jesuit scholars are supporting Aristotle’s physics and they must contend with the supporters of Galileo’s beliefs. These games are being utilized at more than 300 institutions.

 Professors are seeing success when utilizing the game sets. Fessler, professor of History at Dordt College (Iowa) dedicated a set to the French Revolution. Students volunteered to come to the class 30 minutes early so that they could finish their set, which was involved and heated. Students feel committed and invested in their role in the set.  Students worked together while solving problems.

 Reagin and Driver, professors at Pace University also experienced success with the sets. Their class used a set in the Puritan era. The students were debating all night. 

 The students who were participating in these intellectual games were less likely to become involved in online games, parties and other distractions. The students were creating a community through discussion, debate and sharing.

 Lastly, students learn more when challenged to think in untried ways. The additional financial assistance will help some students but students need to attend class and truly be present. Student will be more successful when they are actively participating in the learning process.

 

Psychological problems among college students and services available

College is a big step in the life of a young adult.  For many, it comes with excitement and concern. College can be intimidating for those who experience anxiety and or have a learning disability. 

Last year, on campus counseling centers reported an increase in students with severe psychological problems.  A report conducted by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors, stated that anxiety was the number one complaint among students. Depression had been the most reported previous complaint. Victor Barr, survey coordinator and Director of the counseling center at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville reported that he is unsure why the change yet it has been a change that was “inching up for several years.”

The survey was done in the fall of 2010 with 424 Directors responding. The respondents note that there has been an increase from the previous academic year in the number of clients with severe psychological problems at their institutions.

Some experts in the field state that students feel overwhelming pressure to be successful in college and that they must make the most of the investment. This could lead to the high level of anxiety felt by students.

Seventy seven percent of Directors reported an increase in students with severe problems. In order to deal with these issues some schools have hired case managers to monitor more complex issues. Approximately seventy five percent of directors stated that they need more psychiatric services to assist those with complex mental health issues.

Students who have learning disabilities will find that most colleges provide some level of services as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act.  There are colleges that offer specific comprehensive programs like Curry College, Boston University and Marist College. These schools are well known for their programs. Students should learn about campus resources by meeting with their academic advisor who can provide more guidance and a thoughtful plan.

Lastly, college can be an intimidating new world to any student. If a student experiences mental health issues or a learning disability, there are many services, strategies and campus personnel available to help. With the right plan in place, students will surpass their toughest challenges and work to be successful. Students must be advocates for themselves to reach their goals.