College Prep

Many students come through middle school and high school with the expectation of one day continuing their education past high school.  Students are prepared by parents, teachers, and guidance counselors from the time they enter high school to enter college with the knowledge and advice that they need to succeed.

            But just how well are students being prepared for college?  Are they being given enough information to be a well-groomed college student upon entering an institution of higher learning?

            “I was not given a lot of advice during high school about the different ways that professors teach their classes in college,” said Jace Jarrell, a second year physical education student at the University of South Carolina.  “Most of the information I was given in high school was geared towards making it to college, such as SAT and ACT scores and things of that nature.”

            Many students go into college not knowing what to major in.  This can be a problem later on in a student’s college career.  Knowing what to major in could help save you time and money in your college experience.  Students are not given enough advice to start thinking about their major in high school.

            “The majority of my high school career was based around the fine-tuning of my GPA,” said Jarrell.  “It seemed like as long as my GPA was high and I did well on my SAT, that I would do fine in college.  Not a lot of focus was on the aspects of college, like majors and so forth.  I consider myself one of the lucky ones because I knew what to major in before I left high school.”

            Another influential person in a student’s life can be his or her teacher.  Teachers have the unique opportunity to form a relationship with a student and can become a substantial influence in their decision making process.  Teachers can be helpful in the way that they have already been through the college or university experience and can prepare students for college life better than a counselor may be able to.

            “I was able to form relationships with a couple of my students in high school,” said Tom Wood, physical education teacher and basketball coach at Garrett Tech High School.  “I am able to meet some interesting students and it is always neat to find out where they are coming from and their different paths to college.  I find myself to be an influence in their decisions and I think that is a helpful thing.”

            Students who have relationships with teachers could find themselves to have an easier time adjusting to the sometimes stressful environment of college.  Teachers can help students prepare by giving them ideas about how living away from home, managing your time wisely and focusing on studies can be difficult early on in college.

            “My teachers in high school were helpful in preparing me for the life outside of the classroom in college,” said Jarrell.  “I would have had no idea what to expect outside of just school and studying once I got to college if it were not for my teachers in high school.  My parents never went to college so they were new to the experience also.”

            “Students come to me often asking about college life,” said Wood. “I am able to give tips to most of them that their parents could not give them.  Most of their parents did not attend a major college or university and they do not know what to tell their children when asked these questions.  This is where I can feel like such a great influence on their college choices.”

            Teachers find themselves to be a great influence on students during high school, but just how well are students adjusting to the college routine and college classes once they make it to college?

            “I feel like I was not as prepared as I should have been for college once I entered,” said Jarrell.  “My classes in high school were not nearly as difficult as they should have been.  I know that the classes I took were labeled as college preparatory courses, but the classes were significantly harder once I made my way to college.”

            “The classes that I took in high school were not as difficult as the courses I was enrolled in at USC,” said Wood, also a University of South Carolina graduate.  “I felt somewhat prepared, but I could have had a better idea of college if I had some more guidance from my school teachers and counselors.

            “That is why I take time to let students know about the differences between high school and college, because it can make a difference.”

            High school can be a very helpful experience in preparing students for college.  Teachers and counselors do their best to help students succeed.  This process is crucial in the development and preparation of high school students to transfer from high school to college.

            “I think it is very important to prepare a student for college,” said Wood. “It should be one of the most focused areas of high school.  If students have a better idea of what college will be like, than they can make better choices and have a significantly better chance to succeed.”