Nine Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE I Started College

(+ 8 situations you can expect sooner or later)

College parties are way cooler than high

school parties.

It is really hard to go to class when you didn’t

get any sleep the night before.

College Requires More Independence

• College professors rarely give study help• Few ancillary materials• Forget about getting test

questions

• They expect you to know study strategies• If you don’t know effective

strategies, they expect you to learn how to get them

College Courses Move at a Faster Pace

• College classes move much faster than high-school classes• 1 year of high school = 1

semester of college• 3-4 chapters in a week• Topics are covered in greater

detail• “You are responsible for

everything in the text, even if it is not covered in lecture”

College Requires Critical Thinking

• Forget about memorization!!• Think DEEP thoughts

• Examples:• Critique an essay on the death

penalty• Read and respond to a historian’s

point of view of the Vietnamese conflict

• Compare and contrast Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs with Expectancy Theory

College Has Few Safety Nets

• The contract• SYLLABUS

• Don’t count on bonuses and extra credit

• Grades are usually determined by your performance on a few tests and papers• Slacking on even one assignment

can ruin your grade

College Requires Longer and More Effective Studying

• Forget about:• “I never even read the book and I

still aced that class!”

• What is effective studying anyways?• Is studying for an essay exam

different than a multiple choice test?

College Provides Few Chances for Evaluation

• Are fewer tests better?

College Has More Freedom…..and Greater Responsibility

• Mom & Dad aren’t there to keep track of us anymore

• You must prioritize your tasks• Balance between what you have

to do and what you want to do

College Provides Anonymity

• Just another face in the crowd?

• Reality: you are only as anonymous as you want to be• Get to know your professors• Join campus clubs with faculty

sponsors• Take part in campus activities

with other students who share your interests

College Requires You to be Proactive

• Proactive?

• You are responsible for understanding resources on your campus and getting help

• Check out resources BEFORE you need them• Library• Learning Center/Tutoring• Learning Disability Services• Counseling Center• Student Center

Eight Situations You Can Expect Sooner or

Later

A roommate who sucks #!#!

Professors Who Take Roll

• Many don’t, but some DO

• Let’s say it together “Attending class helps you learn!”

An Early Morning Class

• Most college students are not morning people

• Schedule your responsibilities to get some rest!

A Course or Professor You Don’t Like

Which route will you take???

Route A:

Make excuses to not go to class and blame the

teacher

Route B:

Tough it out and find something to

like

Cramming for a Test

• Make the most of some strategies to deal with this

• Plan ahead for the future!!

Motivation Problems

• A lack of motivation can negatively affect schoolwork

• Set specific goals and monitor feedback

Personal Problems

• Life happens!• Build in flexibility, just in case• Use campus services• Develop friendships with peers

who will support you

Frustration

• “It’s not what happens to you. It’s how you cope”

• Deal with situations as they arise• Work out• Go for a walk• Talk with a friend

Over-Commitment

• College students are busy people!

• Treat college like a full-time job

When a Problem Arises………

When a Problem Arises….

• There are rules and procedures regarding how to resolve a problem at college

• Define the problem

• With a class?• Communication issue?• Course material?• Course standards?

• Outside of class?• Remember the places you visited and the

services they provide

You have a concern with

your instructor.

Discuss concern with instructor

If resolved, process is

over

If resolved, process is

over

If issue is not resolved, talk to department chair

If issue is still not resolved, talk to

Dean of EducationIssue is usually

resolved at this time

A Potential Scenario

You started off the semester on the wrong foot by arriving late and unprepared for class several times, and you can sense that your professor is not happy with your behavior. To make matters worse, you made a D on the first exam, and you are sure that she has written you off as a poor student. You would like to talk with her so that you can show her you are a good student-it’s just you have been distracted with personal issues-but you’ve been told that she does not accept excuses from students about their personal lives. The one time you did approach her, she didn’t seem interested in talking with you. In fact, you believe that she was rude. What do you do?

Never forget that Dr. V has your

back!!

“The more I know, the less I understand.

All the things I thought I figured out, I have to learn again”

Don Henley

Nine Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE I Started College