Making the Transition from High School to College
9 tips for successful college study
Cornell College Coordinator of Academic Support Chelsea Plunkett came up with a helpful list of tips to help you feel prepared to make the transition from high school to college.
- Read the syllabus. Every college course comes with a syllabus, which serves as a roadmap for the course and a contract between students and the instructor. All course policies (grading, attendance, etc.), schedules, and contact information for your professor and other campus resources are there. Students may be unfamiliar with the format of the syllabus, so it’s important to read it thoroughly in order to know what to expect if they miss class.
- Check email and Moodle often. Communication is key. This means you should check your campus email regularly, as well as your course’s online information page for announcements, assignments, and important information. It is also essential that you keep in close contact with your professor in the event that you need to miss class or need clarification on an assignment.
- Practice time management. College success is all about managing time so you can manage coursework, get involved, and have room for things you love. The great thing about Cornell is a consistent, daily class schedule. Practice planning out your days, finding room for homework and student organizations, and leaving space for things like calls home, socializing, exercise, and hobbies. It is also important that you make time for things that may be new to you, such as working part-time, doing laundry, cleaning, picking up medications, and grocery shopping.
- Attend class. This might seem obvious, but attendance is the number one way to ensure success. Attendance is not just showing up for college classes. It is showing up prepared, actively participating, and staying engaged. If you struggle to stay off your phone or distracting websites now, practice taking time to disengage with your device(s)–it might be helpful to put your phone in another room!
- Get familiar with the study cycle. Continuous engagement with course material is key to success in college. The study cycle includes previewing class material, active class attendance, reviewing class material/completing homework, scheduling regular study sessions, and checking your understanding. It’s not enough to simply attend a college class. Students need to be actively engaged every day.
- Revamp exam prep. College exams ask for more advanced skills than what most students might be familiar with, including questions that ask will ask you to analyze, evaluate, describe, or compare. Professors want to see that you understand the content enough to explain it in your own words. Rather than passively reading over notes, get active. You can create your own study guides and exam questions, write definitions and concepts in your own words, recreate notes in a creative way (by creating drawings or diagrams, for example), form a study group, and try to teach someone else what you’ve learned. These are all ways to retain more information.
- Use campus resources. At Cornell, there are plenty of resources to help you succeed, including the Dungy Writing Studio, Quantitative Reasoning Studio, and free peer tutoring. Students can schedule an appointment with the Student Success Center for additional help with time management, exam preparation, active reading, note taking, and more. Additionally, all students have access to free counseling services at the Health and Wellbeing Center.
- Know it will be a transition. Moving from high school to college is a big step. Give yourself space to adjust to a new environment, be open to new people and experiences, and know that it’s okay not to have all the answers. Keep a list of things that you can rely on, whether it’s a favorite playlist or video game, to unwind at the end of the day. You may also need to be prepared for changes in health care providers and pharmacies, particularly if you are relocating from another state. Planning this out ahead of time and having contingency plans can ease the transition.
- Connect with the Student Success Center. Staff in the Student Success Center at Cornell College are here to help students throughout their college journey, including preparations prior to day one. Reach out with questions or meet with a staff member for guidance. We can also connect you with other campus resources like financial assistance.
As one final tip, while you're still in high school, try to challenge yourself. The more challenging coursework you can take in high school, whether it is advanced math or writing courses, the better prepared you will be for college coursework. This may also include taking more remedial courses in reading, writing, and math to hone skills and prepare yourself for more challenging work to come.