Going out of your comfort zone and finding yourself in an entirely new environment is never easy. This is why you’ll find tons of articles and books that are all dedicated to providing tips and tricks on how to make your transition from high school to college a lot easier. While there are no fool-proof, clear-cut approaches to surviving freshman year, there are tons of simple tips you can follow that will increase the chances of making college freshman year a lot easier for you. Below are examples of often overlooked yet highly effective tips on surviving your first year in college.
Make a conscious effort to talk to people
If you’re the introverted type, you have to force yourself out of your self-made shell and go out of your way to strike up conversations with classmates and dormmates. If you feel intimidated and shy, here’s what you should keep in mind: all the other freshmen feel just as shy and awkward being in a new environment as you do. Don’t worry about them snubbing you, they might even be thankful that you made the first move to talk to them because they’re too shy to do the same.
Know when and where to ask for help
There will be times when you would just want to pack your bags and head back home. The stress of school work and maintaining personal relationships with friends and schoolmates can sometimes reach great heights such that you feel emotionally and mentally exhausted. Excellence in studies should not be achieved at the expense of your mental, physical, and emotional state. Take breaks when you feel the need to, and don’t hesitate to visit the student counselling office if you feel you need help.
Manage your finances and don’t spend on unnecessary things
Tempting though it may be, blowing your allowance on beer nights with the guys or shopping trips with the girls will only cause dents in your wallet. Remember you’re living on your own now, and you should take it as a challenge to show your parents that you deserve the independence you’ve been given.
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Tons of studies have been conducted to prove whether a bachelor’s degree really translates into higher income. And almost all concluded that having a college degree on your resume translates not only to getting a higher income, but also to having a wider range of employment opportunities. According to a report issued by the US Commerce Department’s Census Bureau, a high school graduate earns a total average of $1.2 million in his entire working life, while the average lifetime income of collge graduates falls at around $2.1 million.
Although these are just estimated figures, they’re enough to show how having a bachelor’s degree can instantly increase one’s income. Other reports conclude that a college graduate’s income is 60-70% higher than the average high school graduate. One should keep in mind, however, that even within these ranges and figures, there are still disparities and differences. So just because you have your college diploma tucked under your arm, it may not ALWAYS follow that you’ll get a higher base salary than your bachelor’s degree-lacking officemate. These conclusions also may not hold true in certain fields such as entrepreneurship or scientific inventions and discoveries.
College education = more knowledge
One of the main reasons why employers are willing to invest more in their degree-holding employees is because of the knowledge gained through college education. Take the field of electronics and technology, for example. Even though you’ve been tinkering with electronic gadgets your entire life, and know by heart how these things work, employers will tend to favor someone who spent his college years studying and applying computer networking systems theories. The specialized knowledge gained through college education is valued highly by employers because this will help their company develop systems to further improve their operations. College graduates are more bankable because they can share and contribute this knowledge to companies.
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Aside from saving tuition money, tons of high school graduates go to community college to make productive use of their time as they figure out which field or discipline they want to major in. Instead of going straight to universities and enrolling under a four-year course program that you’re still unsure of, a good option you can take is to attend community college to explore different courses and fields. To help you decide whether to go to a community college or not, we’ve outlined some of the community college pros and cons.
Disadvantages and downsides
Community colleges cannot provide the ideal college experience you dream of because of limited exposure to student diversity. There is also a limited range of curricula and course programs offered in community colleges, and students can only be granted with Associate of Arts degrees. This is why most students who go to community colleges eventually transfer to universities and four-year colleges, where they can get their bachelor’s degrees.
Pros and perks
Along with low financial costs, another major perk of going to a community college is the assistance it provides students with transitioning from high school to college. Although the work load in community college courses are lower, it’s still effective in giving students a glimpse of what’s in store for them when they do decide to pursue four-year courses in universities. Taking up courses in community colleges may also help boost the GPAs of students who didn’t do so well in high school.
Most community colleges employ an open door policy, which means they accept all applicants regardless of their previous academic performance. So if your high school GPA doesn’t meet the minimum requirements at universities, you can opt to enroll in a community college first and boost your GPA before you go back and apply to four-year colleges and universities. The class sizes in community colleges also tend to be small, which ups professor-student interaction and allows lecturers to zero in on students’ areas of difficulty.
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Getting through college and surviving the daily workload is hard enough, and it’s even more difficult if you have to deal with added family responsibilities such as looking after your kid or your elderly parents. There are lots of student parents who have succeeded juggling their college education and family responsibilities. If you have kids or are tasked with looking after elderly parents, below are some tips you can follow to help you get through college without neglecting your family responsibilities:
Plan out the schedule of your classes and exams. If necessary, take fewer units
It’s standard procedure for professors to provide a course syllabus, which outlines exam dates and other deadlines. Plan your school activities ahead, and anticipate the days when you’d have to give more attention to school work. For days when you have exams or reports due, contract the services of a baby sitter or care giver early on to look after your kids or elderly parents. If advanced planning and time management still don’t cut it, you can always lessen your load by taking fewer units per semester. Getting a college degree is not a race or competition. If taking fewer units will make it easier for you to juggle studies and family life, then by all means do it. What matters is you get that degree while working at a pace you’re comfortable with.
Know when to get help; whether from friends, a support group, or from the university
Most universities offer financial aid to students who serve as bread winners or guardians of children and elderly parents. But beyond financial aid, there are very few, if at all, state-institutionalized programs designed to cater to the needs of student parents. There are very few universities that offer day care and babysitting services. The good news though is that more and more universities and colleges are forming organizations and sororities that aim to gather student mothers and provide a support group for them.
There are existing programs in colleges that help student parents; you just have to do your research and seek them out. An effective way would be to ask the student counselling office if they offer such programs. If they don’t offer babysitting or day care services, consult them on other ways through which they may be able to help you deal with the double responsibility of looking after your family and juggling college work.
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For some people, deciding which major to take in college needs no re-thinking. They immediately know what they want and what they’re most passionate about. But for most high school graduates, choosing the field they will major in and study for in the next four to five years takes a considerable amount of time and contemplation. Below are two simple tips you can follow in deciding which major to take in college:
Never let anyone decide for you or dictate which major to take
Many students fall into the trap of choosing a major that they only feel mildly passionate about because of peer and family pressure. Just because you belong to a family of lawyers or medical practitioners doesn’t mean you have to tread the same path. Most students who let their parents or relatives decide their major for them end up quitting easily when they’re faced with major academic trials. This is because they can justify quitting by saying that they never really wanted to take up that major, and that they were just forced into it. It’s important to remember that while support from family and relatives is essential in surviving college, it is you and not your parents or relatives (not even your friends) who will go to class every single day and deal with the other implications of your decision on a daily basis.
Choose a major that you can apply to the professional field or industry you want to work in
Although career options nowadays are no longer limited to specific majors and academic disciplines, it’s still important to take into consideration the job options and opportunities that your major will open up for you. If you’re interested in a lot of fields, one way through which you can narrow down your options is by deciding which industry you’d truly be happy working in. So much so that you might even be willing to work in that field with insubstantial pay. If you have that much passion for a specific field or industry, chances are, the courses related to it are the ones you’ll most enjoy studying and learning about.
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If you read sample college admission essays, you’ll see that the most effective ones are those that provide detailed and illustrative background information on the applicant. This information becomes even more effective in making you stand out if it’s backed by letters of recommendation from credible individuals. Because admissions essays are an important part of college admissions processes, applicants should be wary about including information and insights about themselves that they won’t be able to demonstrate during the interview, or prove through letters of recommendation.
Next to admissions essays, letters of recommendation are tools used by committee members to gauge an applicant’s personality and suitability for inclusion in their academic community. These letters are important because they provide the application reviewers a sort of insider perspective on how the applicant demonstrated her or his skills in high school. Some colleges require recommendation letters from specific personnel, such as an academic professor, counselor, or head coach (if applying for athletic programs). Before choosing reference persons to write your recommendation letter, ask yourself the following questions:
* Do they have the time to make the letter and submit it on time?
* Do they know you well enough to describe your academic competency? Have you performed well in this person’s class? Have you turned in excellent papers?
* Do they have a good enough relationship with you for them to give you a glowing recommendation? Have you worked closely with this person in the course of your high school education? Can he or she vouch for your talents and potential?
* Are they credible and respected academic figures in your high school?
Asking these questions will help you decide whether your chosen persons are ideal writers of your recommendation letters. If you look at sample college admission essays, there’s a part there that tackles personal background. This is the part that should be supported by recommendation letters. We recommend browsing through sample college admission essays found online so you can get a better idea of how recommendation letters and admissions essays work hand in hand to provide credible and convincing information about college applicants.
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Looking to enter the best colleges and universities in the United States? Here are the five best
historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) that offer excellent education to both men and
women. Learn more about the curriculum, values, and admission requirements of each institution.
Spelman College
Spelman College is a private and independent historically black college for women. It was founded in
1881 and is known for promoting the values of leadership, academic excellence, achievement, and environment development and improvement. Women of all races are invited to join the college so that they may participate in learning the liberal arts and the sciences.
Admission requirements: Common Application, application fee, personal essay, transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, signature page and two letters of recommendation
Howard University
Howard University was founded in 1867 and carries with it until today an academic culture of avid
intellectual pursuit, a diverse student body, and a directed vision of success. Men and women from
different countries are invited to apply to Howard University where they will learn not just about the fields that interest them but also about the sciences and the humanities.
Admission requirements: Application form, scores in standardized tests, transcripts, recommendation letters, admission essays
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private all-black men’s college that provides a liberal arts education.
Morehouse College is an avenue for fostering spiritual and humanistic values and for providing a sense of belonging among black male students. A long list of famous people are associated with Morehouse College, which includes Martin Luther King Jr., Maynard Jackson, Donn Clenendon, and Shelton “Spike” Lee.
Admission requirements: Application form, standardized test scores, recommendation letters, transcripts, admission essays
Hampton University
Hampton University is a private institution that is also non-sectarian, non-profit, and co-educational. The university welcomes applicants of all races to date and is recognized for its liberal arts and technical education. Applicants, in addition, may enroll to various post-graduate and professional programs should they choose to.
Admission requirements: Downloadable application forms that also contain checklists of all required application items
Fisk University
Fisk University was founded in 1867 and is popular for its slogan, “Success in D.E.T.A.I.L.S. (diversity, excellence, teamwork, accountability, integrity, leadership, and service).” Some famous people associated with the university are John Hope Franklin, Thurgood Marshall, John W. Work Sr., John W. Work Jr., and John W. Work III.
Admission requirements: Downloadable Common Application that includes a checklist of all enrollment requirements.
Note that most of these colleges will require you to submit admission essays. To write excellent admission essays, it is advisable to view well-written sample college admission essays so that you will have an idea on the topics to write about. Sample college admission essays are special guides for writing and are available online.
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My family members kept on saying that “respect is not given freely, it is earned”. I have a daughter (now 14) and while she is still somewhat young, she no longer has to be attended to twenty-four, seven. My wife is very supportive of my plans to go back to school.
I grew up as a solitary child of an Army doctor in Italy was quite memorable. I have transferred to so many schools that there came to a point that I stopped counting. Every year, we had to relocate, and it was in academics that I found my anchor. Wherever in the country we moved to, it was a zone where I could always excel. The power of resiliency is one asset I imbibed from the constant relocation my family went through. There is one saying that is quite trite but something I’ve always believed in- “That which cannot defeat you, will strengthen you”.
As far as the sciences are concerned, I have a great aptitude for them, and plus the fact that my parent was a physician, following his footsteps became a logical quest. My medical training in Italy started when I was 20, and after 2 years, I worked as a nurse to finance my education costs.
It was in pharmacy that I specialized, and I acquired all mandated accreditations. When I graduated, I stayed on in Italy for one year, in the role of a pharmacist. Sadly, while there were of course good moments, I found that the self-fulfillment in that capacity was less than that of a nurse. I missed the caring for patients and I missed learning about diseases. Clearly, I came to the realization that being a pharmacist was something I could not do for the most part of my life, so I decided that leaving it would just be an intelligent decision. I did not have the passion for that line of work, and it would have been unfair to my employers if I stayed on- doing the work half-heartedly.
At this point, I relocated to the US, with the painful realization that the medical training I amassed would be rendered moot. I must admit, this is a decision that I agonized over for quite some time.
Here I am, I’ve been in the US for five years now, met my spouse here, and raised my family. Calling it a home is no longer hard for me, unlike others I know. The personal development from working as a nurse is something I’ve always missed, and thus, I want to reclaim “old grounds” by applying at your prestigious school, the __________ College of Nursing, __________ University.
In the way of preparation, I’ve maintained a solid set of grades in prerequisite courses at a local community school. It is my deepest intent to bring this commitment to excellence to your school, if your good office/committee would be kind enough to accept my application.
For your consideration, thank you. God bless to all of you.
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At the time I first considered studying for college to better my life and my son’s, I thought it would be a herculean endeavor. As a single father, I was holding a job at a convenience store. I wanted more out of life, more than running a thousand credit cards at our machine. To leave familiar territory in life can sometimes be the most difficult choice, fact is- my employers were fair and well-meaning, but I had to leave. I thought of taking it one sem at a time, and in my first sem at a local college, I landed on the Dean’s list.
Without meaning to brag, it was one feat I would always be proud of, and it set me off to formulate far-reaching goals in my life. I finished my Associate’s of Science degree, and I have stayed on the Dean’s roster all throughout, but not without a great deal of sweat and blood.
I have many friends in the medical field- nurses and doctors- and I’ve had lots of conversations with them in social and casual encounters. I also read a lot of books (fiction and medical-related books). From all this, I have discovered that my interest in the workings of the human body is no ordinary passion. It is the kind of interest that consumes one’s soul, my soul in this case.
At present, I am going to my next step, by pursuing a nursing degree at the ____________ Univeristy, College of Nursing. My objective when I finish this course is to help the lower-income entities. By nature, I am a compassionate individual, and from my experiences, I could easily establish rapport with the more needy families and persons.
The commitment to excellence is a mindset I’ve imbibed and I am confident that if accepted, I could acquire a very good GPA, with all the skills necessary to become a more-than-competent nurse. It is a great relief that I now have a calling, having searched for it for some time. I anticipate the initial years to be hard, forcing me to exhibit good time-managing skills. However, if you have done something before, you can do it again- that is one of my life’s principles.
I realize fully well that my time in school would take away time from my child, but at the end of the day, the sacrifices will be all worth it. My son is still young, and while he may not be able to appreciate the hardships, time will come (I am sure) when he would realize that my sacrifices are all for him and his well-being.
Thank you for the consideration, Godspeed.
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