One of the biggest differences between high school and college, is how and how much you need to study -for some, it’s THAT you study!  Last fall, during an activity in my Freshman Orientation class, I asked the class to share their Do’s and Don’ts on studying.  At the time, we used the information to help each other out.  I think the information is particularly useful to freshmen, and I’m even going to go as far as to make a suggestion for it’s use. 

Students, I want you to cut out this article and save it somewhere you can find it when you move to college.  Take it with you.  Then, about 2 or 3 weeks into the first semester of your freshman year, pull it out.  See how many of the suggestions you are using and how many more you could use.  Parents, I want you to cut out the article (along with the NewsPress header and date, so they’ll know the source of the information - sources are very important in college…) and send it to your son or daughter at college 2 or 3 weeks into the semester.  Ask them to consider the same questions. 

Now I realize this isn’t an exhaustive list of suggestions, and that none of the ideas constitutes rocket science.  I just think a simple reminder can go a long way.  And until your student receives some negative feedback on their academic performance (once they’ve done poorly on an assignment or test, or are behind in a class), they’re not likely to think they need any help with studying.

Do’s

Study ahead of time, an hour a day

Look over your notes once a week so you are familiar with the material

Read the (entire) chapters and re-write your notes

Read the syllabus

Make a game out of studying so material will be easier to remember

Plan ahead, schedule (your) time

Pay attention in class

Go somewhere quiet, like the library

Always study in the same place

Make and use flashcards, also make and use practice tests

Hi-light important information when you read your book and notes

Make and use a calendar/planner/organizer, as well as to-do lists

Take notes while reading your book, and use both them and your notes from class

Take study breaks periodically

Don’ts

Cram or put studying off until the night before a test

Study in a loud crowded area if you’re easily distracted

Get stressed out by school

Procrastinate on studying, research, assignments, papers, etc.

Watch TV (Grey’s Anatomy) while studying

Study in bed

Study for long periods of time without stopping

Cheat!

Facebook!

Play video games (not sure if that’s while studying or instead of…)

Talk on the phone while studying

Most suggestions were clearly a “Do” or a “Don’t”, however, a couple were suggested as both!  For example, some students suggested listening to music while studying, while others warned against it.  Also, some warned against studying with friends or in groups, and others suggested it.  These are excellent illustrations of the fact that each student studies differently, and different things work for different people.  In addition, some strategies will be more effective in some situations, than in others.  (Usually) through trial and error, you will figure out what works for you and what doesn’t.  The important thing is for you to be flexible enough to know when something isn’t working, and change to a new strategy.

Submit your questions to lance@collegeanswerguy.com and visit http://www.collegeanswerguy.com/ and http://www.collegeprep101.com/.

I am an African American Senior applying to historically black colleges, and my GPA is between 2.0 and 2.3.  Is it possible for me to be accepted to one of these universities if everything else on my application is good?  Chrissy, Baltimore, MD

Your decision to attend an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) is one many students make each year.  You may have already seen a list of those schools, but I am including a link to a list, by state, here just in case… http://www.edonline.com/cq/hbcu/c_state.htm.  Most of the HBCU’s are located in the South and Southeastern United States, but others are located across the U.S.

Ideally, students who are concerned they fall short of admission criteria will contact their schools during Junior year and apply early in Senior year (early fall).  This is so they have both time to address any shortcomings (raise GPA or test scores, etc.) and will be among the first to be considered if there are a limited number of spots in provisional or probationary admission programs. 

Of course, the rest of your application will make a difference too.  How are your test scores?  What courses did you take in high school?  Are you involved in leadership activities?  How much do you volunteer?  Do you have special talents such as in the arts or job experience related to your major?  Where do you live in relation to the school(s) you are applying to?  All of these factors, and others including your GPA, make you more or less attractive to different schools.  And, honestly, different schools will have different things they are looking for, and potentially different numbers of ‘spots’ in those limited programs.

Because there are so many HBCU’s, I feel certain you could still find a college (or colleges) that would accept you at this point, even though it is late in the admission year.  But depending on your situation, you may have a particular school or schools in mind, and this may affect your chances of acceptance now.

Because it’s February, you need to move immediately to find out where you stand.  Call the school(s) you are interested in right away.  Once you reach someone in the Admissions Office, ask if you can fax your transcript so they can look at it and tell you where you stand.  Have your transcript in front of you, and be ready to speak honestly and specifically with whomever you reach on the telephone.  Find out if you stand a chance, and if so, what you have to do.  Do it immediately.  If they are unable to admit you for this coming Fall, ask two questions: 1. If I apply, with these same credentials, early in NEXT year’s admission cycle, would I have a better chance? and 2. What would my chances of gaining admission be and what would be the requirements for admission if I attended another college for a year?

You then have either application(s) to submit or a decision to make about college this coming year.  Will you sit out of school for a year and be one of the first applicants at your school(s) of choice next year?  Or will you attend school elsewhere, and use those grades to gain admission as a transfer student.  Generally speaking, I would NOT suggest sitting out a year of school.  Plus, because colleges often ignore high school performance once a certain number of college credits are earned, the transfer method may be a path to scholarship assistance.

Submit your questions to lance@collegeanswerguy.com and visit http://www.collegeanswerguy.com/ and http://www.collegeprep101.com/.

When it comes to college preparation, there is always something you could  be doing, and usually something you should be doing, whether you are a parent or a student, and regardless of your age (students).

Students  

Middle School/Junior High students – If you’re reading this, you should be commended for your forethought and maturity.  Do all the things I list below for Freshmen and Sophomores to do, but do them now.  You’ll end up ahead of most of your peers.  Also, visit www.collegeprep101.com, click on “College Planning Checklist”, then on “Middle School/Junior High College Prep”.  Read it.  Share it with your friends.  Buy my College Prep 101 book (available on the web site, on Amazon.com and elsewhere).

Freshmen and Sophomores – Focus on school!  Not only on getting good grades, but also on learning all you can.  Colleges look at your grades from all four years of high school, so don’t goof off.  How much you learn will be shown in your standardized test scores and later, your college grades.  Talk to your high school counselor about your goals, about college, and how to prepare.  Visit www.collegeprep101.com, and download the checklist for your year in school (Juniors and Seniors too).  Prepare for and take the PLAN and/or PSAT Sophomore year (as recommended by your counselor), and start on test-prep for the ACT and/or SAT.  Volunteer and get active in extracurriculars.   Think about what you’d like to do with your life.  Talk to adults you respect about their careers and how they got there.  Plan for AP classes and CLEP tests for next year, if appropriate.  Visit college campuses when you can.  Start saving for college – yes you!

Juniors – Take the ACT and/or SAT if you haven’t already.  Plan to take them again.  Start visiting college campuses in earnest and putting together your list of possible schools.  Find out where you stand in relation to the admission and scholarship requirements of the schools you are considering.  Work with your counselor to make a plan to address any shortcomings or improve your standing with scholarship requirements.  Talk to your family about college finances, and how/if money will impact your school choice.  Resist the temptation to build a ‘blow off’ Senior schedule.  Job-shadow in career areas you’re interested in.  Plan for next year’s AP courses, and any CLEP tests you should take as a result of your Spring course schedule.  Get a job even if you don’t have to.

Seniors – If you haven’t done everything I already mentioned – GET MOVING!  IT’S DECISION TIME!  You should be making your final decision about now, or at least have it narrowed down to a couple of schools.  You should have already applied for admission, been accepted, submitted your scholarship application and be working toward filling out the FAFSA.  You should be in the process of securing a housing assignment and setting a date to enroll.  Call or e-mail and get answers to any lingering questions.  Re-take tests if you can still improve your scholarship standing.  Think seriously about majors (It IS okay to be undecided!).  Talk finances again with your family, this time more specific – What is available, when?  Who pays for what?  Credit card, or not?  Do you have to work, and how much?  Bank account at home or at school?  Earn lots of money this summer!

Parents/Family 

Regardless how old your student is, you should be saving for their college – payroll deduction, IRA, recycling aluminum cans, 529 plan, CD’s, coins from the laundry and sofa, whatever!  Talk to them about the importance of education and college, and about careers and the education required for those careers.  When they’re in high school, you should support and encourage them to do all the things I suggest earlier in this column (and drive them to do them, if necessary).  Ask lots of open-ended questions about their goals, their likes and dislikes, and what they are thinking about college.  Ask them what their friends are doing and thinking in this regard.  Not so you’ll know what they’re doing, as much as for avenues of conversation with your student about the subject.  Make them do most (if not all) of the work, and to the extent possible, allow them to make the decision as to which school to attend.

Submit your questions to lance@collegeanswerguy.com and visit www.collegeanswerguy.com and www.collegeprep101.com.

What do those letters and numbers associated with college classes mean? (I get asked this all the time!)

  These names may be slightly different at some schools, but basically, they’re called a course prefix and a course number.  The course prefix may be two to five letters (usually three or four), is usually in all caps, and tells you what kind of class it is. It’s usually an abbreviation of either the subject or the name of the department offering the course.  Is it a math class – MA or MAT or MATH, a biology class – BIO or BIOL, an English class – ENG or ENGL, etc.

Course numbers are usually three or four digits (occasionally, they’ll have a letter or two attached), and tell you a number of useful things.  Some numbering systems seem to have no rhyme or reason, but usually they tell you what level a course is (freshman, sophomore, etc.), how many hours the course is (credit hours, quarter hours, etc.), and may give some hint as to course sequencing within a department.  Usually, the first number gives an indication of the course’s level (1 = freshman, 2 = sophomore, 3 = junior, 4 = senior), and usually, the last number either gives an indication of how many credit/quarter hours the class is or a course’s sequence in a series – e.g. ACCT 3443 is a three hour, junior level accounting course, ENGL 102 is the second (taken after ENGL 101) freshman English course. 

 Do I have to pay all of college’s expenses at the beginning of the year?  

There are probably as many different arrangements of when payments are due as there are different colleges.  So I can’t tell you exactly how it will be handled at your school.  However, here’s how it’s likely to be done…  You PROBABLY won’t have to pay for the whole year, all at once – maybe once a semester, but more than likely, you’ll have once a semester expenses, once a month expenses, regular expenses, and occasional expenses.  Regular and occasional expenses are where you can get yourself into trouble by spending too much…

  Tuition and fees are usually due once a semester – maybe before the semester starts, if not, early in the semester.  Books are also a once-a-semester expense, and occur very early in the semester (if not before).  Because books can be purchased on campus and off, plus online, there are a myriad of different payment possibilities here.  In addition, you get a little money back when you sell them back at semester’s end.  Room and board could be due once a semester too (if so, again likely early), but it’s probably due monthly.

  If you are responsible for any of your other bills, they will probably be monthly too (cell phone, insurance, gasoline, etc.).  You’ll regularly have expenses like the latte you pick up on the way to class, the pizza you and your friends order at 1:00 a.m., and the personal care items you pick up at Target.  If you’re more attractive and popular than I was when I was in school, maybe your social expenses will be regular expenses – mine were occasional.  Other occasional expenses might be the outfit for the Winter Formal, attendance at the conference for your major, or tickets to the Final Four when your school’s basketball team goes all the way…

  Certainly, the beginning of the year and the beginning of each semester demand significant outlays of funds, but several of the expenses are spread throughout the semester and year.  Too, if you don’t have all the money available up front, you may be able to spread the payments through the semester.  Check with your school to see about payment plan options, as well as with the financial aid office to see how and when you might receive any aid.  It’s important to note that you probably won’t be able to enroll for the subsequent semester, until you’re paid in full.  Of course, the tradeoff may still be worth while…

  Submit your questions to lance@collegeanswerguy.com and visit www.collegeanswerguy.com and www.collegeprep101.com.

What would happen if I were to drop out of college? Would it be possible to still get a job? Megan (middle school student), Baltimore, MD 

First, let me say that I commend your teacher(s) for doing college prep work with middle schoolers.  If you haven’t found it yet, I suggest you take a look at www.collegeprep101.com, click on “College Planning Checklist”, then on the “College Prep for middle school/junior high students” link.  Download that document for yourself and your classmates. 

Now, as for your question about securing a job if you were to drop out of college…  On the Occupational Outlook Handbook web site (http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2003/oct/wk3/art04.htm), I found a chart that lists average weekly earnings of non-high school graduates through college graduates.  The chart shows that people’s income increases with completion of high school, then attendance at college, and then even more with graduation from college.  Of course, graduating would likely mean better options and pay, but simply attending college, statistically speaking, has a positive impact on pay.    

Finding A JOB probably has more to do with how hard you are willing to work at it, how far (geographically) you are willing to go for a job, who you know, your experience, the state of the industry you want to get a job in, and how badly you need a job, than it does with your education or whether or not you “dropped out” of college.  Though, getting THE SPECIFIC JOB you want may be adversely affected or prevented entirely by dropping out.  So YES, you should still be able to get a job if you were to drop out of college.  You may also still be able to get a job in the industry you want to work in, but you are unlikely to be competitive for the same jobs you would have, had you completed a degree. 

As an example, I know law enforcement organizations often require a certain number of college credits to be hired (thus encouraging college attendance, but not requiring graduation).  Though, with a degree, your job opportunities, and opportunities for advancement in that same organization would likely be much better.  Of course, graduating with an associates degree would take less time, but provide job opportunities and opportunities for advancement, and you could expect similar increases with a bachelors degree.  

The thing about dropping out of college is that it’s possible to “drop back in”!  Except in the most extreme cases of bad behavior or REALLY bad academic performance, there are almost always ways to get back into college.  Maybe a geographic re-location, changing schools, a change in employment opportunities, increased family support, personal maturation, or a number of other factors will address whatever issues caused the student to drop out.  Then, with renewed focus and probably support, the student can be successful. 

It’s important to remember though, that higher education is not a guarantee of a job.  Higher education has as one of it’s primary aims to produce broadly educated, informed, contributing members of society.  Only sometimes does it include job training, per se.  Also remember that there are plenty of successful people in the world who never went to college, and that there are plenty of unemployed people who are very highly educated. 

Submit your questions to lance@collegeanswerguy.com and visit www.collegeanswerguy.com and www.collegeprep101.com.

 When am I supposed to do all this “college prep stuff”? anonymous student  All of this is in much greater detail on the College Prep-101 web site (www.collegeprep101.com), under “College Planning Checklist”.  There I’ve posted information and checklists for parents of young children, middle school/junior high school students, each year of high school, as well as one for parents.  But here’s the abridged version. 
  You need to start thinking about careers and majors as soon as you know what a career or major is.  You need to start taking college prep classes in ninth grade – and take them seriously!  You need to start taking PLAN, PSAT, ACT and SAT tests during sophomore year.  Hopefully you’ve already visited several college campuses, but you need to start touring them and talking to people on campus in sophomore or junior year.  CLEP tests can be taken any time you complete a class you want to test in (AP tests are offered in May each year).  As far as applications go… Admission applications should be done in early fall of senior year; scholarships, late fall or early spring; financial aid, January or February; housing, ASAP, but by mid-spring.  Making your final decision about which college to attend is likely to be in spring of your senior year.  Enrollment should take place as early as possible, but likely in late spring or early summer.  Also in the summer, or just before school starts, you should attend the orientation program at your college.  

Where can I find SAT Prep teachers for my program? Charmaine, Brooklyn, NY  Thanks for your question.  My first thought was that the College of Education at my college here in Oklahoma used to make an individual available to do that at high schools (though in Oklahoma, most students take the ACT).  It was considered an outreach function of the college, so it was fairly inexpensive, and had a qualified individual(s) teaching the classes.  So I’d check with all the Education programs at colleges and universities in our area.  If there’s a continuing education or outreach or extension office at that college (those are all different names for the same function), you might also check there.  Another idea you might consider is to have a panel discussion of students who were successful in taking the SAT.  I couldn’t tell by your e-mail address if you’re located at a college or a high school, or are part of a separate program, so I don’t know how easy that will be for you.  But if possible, I’d try to locate 5 to 10 individuals who are college upper-classmen/women, and did well on the SAT - not just high scorers, also include those who made a big change between tests.  High School Counselors, college admission directors, or experienced college consultants are good people to check with.  You could interview the students by phone and see what they have to say and pick 4 or 5 of them to talk about what they did and didn’t do.  Particularly kids from your area are likely to be willing to come help you cheap or for free.  Kids, as you know, listen to other kids…  If you or someone else did a little research at www.collegeboard.com, you could have some specific suggestions to share, along with specifics on how the test is layed out and administered.  Between the panel, the specifics from College Board’s site, and some general testing suggestions like “read the questions before you read the reading passage”, and “get a good nights sleep”, and “eat a good breakfast”, etc. you would have a pretty good workshop and it wouldn’t cost you much except some snacks…  

Submit your questions to lance@collegeanswerguy.com and visit www.collegeanswerguy.com and www.collegeprep101.com.

Many colleges allow students to take college classes while they are still in high school.  This is called “concurrent enrollment”.  Certain admission requirements will exist, and this may or may not be an option for you, depending on the college(s) near you and your academic credentials.  It’s likely you’ll have to get approval from both your high school and your parents/family in order to enroll concurrently.  Also, there will probably be limitations on how many classes you can take at any one time, and you may have to take a placement test to ensure you are ready for a particular class.  

Concurrent enrollment is particularly appropriate when your high school is unable to offer specific subjects you would like to (or need to) study, or when you have a need for more advanced courses in a particular subject.  For example, if you plan to pursue a career in the health professions, and your high school doesn’t offer anatomy, or if you plan to become an engineer, and there are not enough students in your school who want/need to take calculus.  These are excellent reasons to take classes concurrently.  Other subjects that are appropriate choices for concurrent classes are “general education” courses like American History or Psychology, and ones you are very good at or have taken all that your high school offers, like English or foreign languages.  

By taking college classes concurrently, you will be easing yourself into both the financial (tuition, books, parking fees, etc.) and academic (studying, attending class, college tests, interacting with faculty, etc.) sides of college, and accelerate graduation at the same time.  Even the financial part could be minimal, as some schools (even some states!) have worked out tuition discounts and/or scholarships for concurrent students!  Although you should double check with the schools you are considering, concurrent credits are also unlikely to work against you being considered a freshman for scholarship purposes – even a LOT of credits…  

With the ever-increasing cost of attending college, students and their families are constantly looking for ways to save money.  One of the best ways to save some money is to earn credit by examination or “test out” of college credit.  In most cases, the only expense involved in earning college credit by examination is the exam fee.  Most colleges do not charge tuition for credit awarded through examination.  “Testing out” involves passing a test in an area you are knowledgeable about, and receiving college credit for an equivalent college class.  Examples of testing programs are the Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and International Baccalaureate (IB).  Minimum score requirements exist for AP, CLEP and IB tests, and may vary from college to college. 

Students are often unsure of what subjects to try and test in because they have not determined their college major.  You might also discuss the possibility with your teacher from the subject you want to test out of, to discuss past students’ experience with the tests.   If you can afford the exam fee I encourage you to test in any subject in which you feel confident.  You can then “bank” your credit and when you get to college you may be able to use credit you have earned if it is applicable to your degree program.  Even credits not required for graduation will still look good to colleges, scholarship committees and employers.  Many students can shave off an entire semester with credit they have earned by examination. 

If your high school offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes it means that you would be taking college level curriculum with the opportunity to test for college credit at the end of the course.   AP exams are generally administered in May with your score reports arriving in July.  Once you have graduated from high school AP is no longer an option.