What do you wish you knew....

in high school in regards to college?

I am running a session at a retreat for high school girls on the college experience... it can be broad and will probably tailor to what the girls want/need but I am thinking of gearing it to how they can prepare for college NOW (i.e. getting involved in extra-curriculars, shadowing professionals for career ideas, discovering what subjects/skills they are good at, etc.)

Can anyone share what they wish they knew about the college experience, process, application, etc. while IN high school? your responses can help me create this presentation! Let me know if you need more clarification.

TIA!!!!!

Re: What do you wish you knew....

Definetely time management skills are a HUGE THING! I wish I had gotten that under control earlier on in college. I had it pretty easy in HS I was able to get everything done and sometimes got reminded to do things by my mom but in college you are on your own. No one is there to hold your hand especially if you go away!

Also the first month of college I was miserable. I knew NO one and was never so lonely and miserable in my life. I got over that after making friends but that was a hard time for me and I sure it is for a lot of other people too.

Re: What do you wish you knew....

Taking classes outside your major is a great idea! Most people feel like it is a waste but it will only help them broaden their horizons for the future. You never know how those random classes will help them!

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Building stronger bonds with your college friends will make you feel more "at home" than keeping in touch with your high school friends.

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Finish. It's so much easier going to school in your late teens/early twenties then later on when you have bigger family & work responsibilities.

Re: What do you wish you knew....

I think money management is also important and you can relate that to financial aid because college-bound kids need to know more about financial aid, what it is, what opportunities are out there, etc, etc.


Good Luck. It sounds like it is going to be great!

Re: What do you wish you knew....

Re: What do you wish you knew....

I wish I knew that I didn't have to go to college, I wish I knew that NOT EVERYONE goes right to college after high school, knowing now what I do, I would have taken a year off and done something else. I only went to college because I thought I had to...I enjoyed it, and I would want my children to go to college, but I would also encourage them to have a gap year or something before going.

Re: What do you wish you knew....

Re: What do you wish you knew....

I wish I knew that you can negotiate how much you pay to go to school. My sister now works in higher ed and if a school really wants you they will work with you to give you more money. I feel as though few people know this.

Re: What do you wish you knew....

Message edited 8/4/2008 8:46:09 AM.

Re: What do you wish you knew....

I wish I really knew how to study. I feel like it's one of those things everyone told us to do in high school, but never really gave us a good way of doing it. I was lucky in that I found high school easy without studying much, however, when I got to college, I got a rude awakening and felt really overwhelmed with the material.

Re: What do you wish you knew....

Message edited 8/4/2008 9:15:11 AM.

Re: What do you wish you knew....

The one thing I really wish I knew is how many scholarships are available for college. I went to a very large HS and was shy, so didn't really "get involved." Once I became a HS teacher myself, I was amazed on how many opportunities I probably missed out on.

Also, becoming friendly with your professors in college is VERY helpful. Of course, I never did this (that shy thing again ), but my DH did and it's incredible the doors that can open up too.

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I wish I would've know/understood about taking classes in HS for college credit. Would've been great to go in with some credits already under my belt. Also, I think its important the stress how independant you are in college. Everything from filling out paperwork, to obtaining a loan to picking classes, etc I did on my own. I mean I had a guidance counselor but its nothing like HS. I think it would have been helpful to send away for some registration books at colleges I was looking at to see tuition costs and what kind of classes they offered so I could see where I could get the most out of my experience

Re: What do you wish you knew....

Re: What do you wish you knew....

I think its also important to understand that its ok not to have everything figured out. I remembered being terrified of changing my major - and I see a lot of college freshmen who are confused and embarressed by the fact that they don't know "what I want to be when I grow up."

Tell them to use the "free" services on their campuses - academic advisors, tutoring, career services, etc. After all, they are actually paying for it!

Re: What do you wish you knew....

I never fully understood the concept of AP classes in HS. I was the perfect candidate for them and never pursued them and my guidance counselor didn't push me either.

I thought that if Syracuse Univ is giving you credit, you had to go to Syracuse Univ.

I didn't understand transferring credits and stuff like that.

My parents never went to college so they couldn't advise me either.

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How to really DECIDE on and stay in a good college....the research is very important...

Study Skills!
Internet applications.

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Don't be "too cool for school," and act so grown up and anti-establishment that you miss out on...well...the establishment. The Greek system may or may not be for you, the French club may or may not be for you, being a majorette or marching band member...whatever. But remember--there are many things that are appropriate and fun and fitting to do when you're 18-21, and not much beyond that...so be young and goofy and cheesy whle you can. You have the rest of your life to be an apathetic, too-busy grownup.

Re: What do you wish you knew....

These are great everyone! THANK YOU! Keep 'em coming!

Re: What do you wish you knew....

Definitely to take college classes while in HS if possible. I did, and it helped me graduate a semester early.

Also, I wish that I had continued onto grad school after college. Since I was done early, I could have used that time wisely by going to get my Masters. I have my Masters now, but it was hard to get it while working and in the real world.

To that end, when picking a school, I would have possibly focused on attending a school that had a grad program that I was interested in -- that way I could have had the option to stay at that school and wrap up all my education in one.

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I wouldve liked someone to smack me on the backside of the head regarding the

Freshman dining plan which was just an all you can eat dining hall.... I wouldve bought more healthy snacks at the supermarket and ate in my room
The 3 hour hang out with your friends dinner made me go from size 8 to Size 16 in 1 year

Re: What do you wish you knew....

Just thought of another one - safety and security issues. It's easy to get comfortable in a new place and let your guard down. I've seen theft (at one end) and students who were the victims of violence at the other. It's not a fun conversation, but it needs to be discussed (esp. as it relates to alcohol and other drug issues).

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Thought of another one too.

Community College can be a great thing. You don't HAVE to go immediately to a 4-year school. There are so many scholarships available for transfer students as well. They can save about $40,000 by going to a Community College first if they have a program that their ultimate college accepts. Their degree will still say XX College, and they'll save a ton of cash in the long run.