Tips for Transitioning from High School to College
While many students easily transition into their first semester at ODU, it's likely that many of them at some time or another will also experience some transition issues. This is a time for them to learn new ways of coping and how to seek out support and help when they need it.
What are the differences between high school and college?
- Students who come from the top of their high school class may be shocked to realize that their college classmates have the same academic ability. Good grades in high school could often be obtained with minimal effort. This will not be true in college.
- Faculty expect students to be self-disciplined and committed to participate in learning. A lot of learning will happen in studying for class, not just listening in class.
- Faculty highly value students' eagerness to meet during office hours or set up appointments, but contact will not be as frequent as with high school teachers.
- College students use more independence to seek assistance. College students use academic support services, tutors, and career advisers.
- High school students are often motivated by parents and teachers and have limited freedom. College students must accept responsibility for their actions and apply self-motivation.
- College offers more distractions, and time management will become very important.
Learn to Say No
As a student, school should be the most important thing on your mind. That doesn't mean you cannot also relax and spend time with friends. However, eating out, going out to movies, and other social activities can increase expenses. It is important to decide what portion of your available money will go towards socializing and stick to it. If your friends are going out and ask you to go and you don't have any extra money, just politely say no. Although this might seem boring, in the long run managing your finances will pay off will make your college experience a much more pleasant one.
Are you ready to go it alone?
Today's college students often turn to their parents for advice and support. Parents are great resources and can provide valuable insights. They've learned from their own successes and failures and can share much wisdom from their own experiences. However, there's fine line between parents who help and parents who smother when college decisions are at stake. Do your parents insist on contacting college officials without telling you? Did they contact your new roommate before you did? Do they intend to meet with your academic adviser with you? Preparing to go to college isn't easy for you or your parents. Are you ready to go it alone? Entering college may be the opportunity to establish fresh boundaries with each other. It's a chance to respectfully proclaim: I am grateful for your willingness to help, but I need to do this on my own. Parental guidance is fine, but college is a time to learn self-reliance.
