Transitioning to College

Making the transition from high school to college is both exciting and, at times, nerve-wracking! Here are a few suggestions that will make the transition, if not smooth sailing, at least less bumpy.

Plan to start the admissions process early, especially if you are requesting housing accommodations.

Review documentation which may include an IEP; 504 Plan; evaluations; and/or written communication from medical providers and be able to articulate your needs based on the documentation.

Advocate for yourself. During high school, your parents acted as an advocate for you by communicating with the school concerning your educational needs. Now that you are in college, it is your responsibility to advocate for yourself and communicate your needs.

Studying is an obvious skill to bring to campus. In high school, you may have been given time in class to complete homework, but you may not in college. You might spend anywhere from 12 to 15 hours a week in class. You should expect to study outside of class at least 2 hours for each hour you are in class. At some point during your academic career, you may need the help of a tutor. Research the different tutoring options that are available at K-State. Another difference is the amount of reading that is required. In this new environment, finding new study strategies may be beneficial.

Test-taking will also look and feel different than high school. In high school, your tests may have been frequent and over a relatively small amount of information. You may have been given the opportunity to retake tests. In college, testing could be infrequent and more cumulative, and the opportunity to retake a test is usually not an option. You may want to consider regularly scheduled meetings with Academic Coaching to learn new test-taking skills.

Organize your life! College life will be easier if you have a system in place to keep yourself organized whether it be an app on your smartphone or a calendar on your desk. Staying organized also means that you are paying attention to the course syllabus. The syllabus contains course policies, assignment due dates, exam schedules, and other pertinent information. You may also want to consider regularly scheduled meetings with Academic Coaching to keep you on track.

Ask for help when you need it. Talk to your professors, academic advisor, and/or access advisor. Don't wait until the end of the semester when time is running out and options are limited.

Set realistic goals for yourself. You have already met one goal by graduating from high school. Be willing to put forth the effort to meet your college goals, but, when things don't go according to plan, always remember to be kind to yourself.

Technology may or may not have been a part of high school. Technology skills are mpw required if you are to succeed in college. Adaptive technologies such as text-to-speech can be beneficial only if you are proficient. Be curious! Learn what you can before you come to campus.

Join an activity or club and become involved in campus life. Yes, your studies should be a priority. However, making the effort to find a group that welcomes you is a big step in your enjoyment and excitement in being part of the K-State family!