Student

Faculty, Staff, and Parents

High School Transition Resources

Going to college is very different from high school and that transitioning to college can be a bit overwhelming. That's why we recommend preparing in advance for your children's college experience.

 

How Students Can Better Prepare for College Services

  • Update your documentation; be sure it addresses the accommodations you will need, and send it to the appropriate college office well before your first semester.
  • Make sure your child understands and is able to articulate what their challenges are.
  • The actual time spent in classes is considerably less in college than in high school, creating much more free time.  Therefore, college requires a lot of self-discipline, time management, and strong study skills.
  • Encourage your child to take advantage of all of the free resources on campus
  • Also encourage your children to self-advocate for themselves.  If they ever feel something is inappropriate, have them contact an administrator on campus to make a complaint. Please let them know that their voices matter and we are here to make they feel they are supported.  

 

Academic Differences between High School and College

  • The freedom to cut classes or spend time with friends is much greater in college than in high school. Missing classes, however, is directly correlated to failure in college.
  • College professors spend much more time lecturing and expect students to read and study textbooks on their own.
  • Studying in college does not necessarily mean homework; it means independent learning, such as reading, reviewing notes or studying outside sources in the library.
  • For every hour in class, about 3 hours outside of class should be spent studying, whereas high school might have required only 30 minutes a day of studying per a class.
  • Tests in college are generally given less frequently than in high school, so grades are based on fewer opportunities which means there is a greater chance of receiving a poor grade in the class.
  • In college C (not C-) is generally considered the lowest passing grade; anything lower can risk probation or dismissal.

 

Other Resources

The following resources are intended to be helpful to students with disabilities who are in the process of making the transition from high school to college or those who are planning ahead to attend college in the future: