The thought of leaving the confines and comforts of high school may be unnerving. College is just at the end of the semester of senior year. The entrance exams and applications will consume your time and linger in your mind. However, this next stage of your life is not as daunting as you think it is.
Prepare and plan for the upcoming tests and interviews to stay confident. Teachers from a senior high school in Manila cite the following ways to help you get ready for college.
1. Read books before starting.
College life does not begin when you step in the classroom for your first class, it starts before it. Once you get into the program and school you want, you can browse the curriculum and ask for a reading list. Some instructors and professors are willing to help eager students by recommending books.
Read these to get ahead of your peers and get at least a brief background of the topics included in your field. This provides you with an advantage and is also a possible building block for good study habits.
2. Strengthen academic weaknesses.
College level classes are more difficult compared to the ones you have taken in high school. If you think there are gaps in your understanding and skill, address them before you start university.
Enroll in classes outside of school hours or find home tuition to help you. Strengthen your foundational knowledge of the concepts before moving on to more complex ones, especially in math and science.
3. Build good habits.
Achievers in school do not just happen overnight; they have built habits over the years that made them who they are. This takes time to build as you would need to practice every day.
One bad habit you need to break is cramming; this may work while you are still in high school, but it will be difficult to continue in college. Start by studying a chapter a day or reading for an hour; this is short enough to sustain over an extended period of time. Also, take notes and pay attention to detail while in class, this helps you in tests and class participation.
4. Find a mentor.
You will need someone to help you along the process of application, finding the right program, and preparing for the text. A mentor will guide you, pat you on the back, encourage you or offer constructive criticism to get you back on track. This person can be your guidance counselor or a teacher you trust.
5. Participate in extracurricular activities.
To become a holistic person, you will need more than just books. Colleges will review your activities outside the classroom when choosing applicants.
Join a club based on your interests, whether it is sports or related to academics. This also helps you develop good habits such as self-discipline, become more confident and develop an assertive attitude.
These are only some of the things you can do to prepare and plan for the next level of your life. High school will pass quickly; preparing before you leave will enable you to build a foundation for success in college.