My advice to high school students or graduates/adults
To all my high school graduates or almost-graduates, congratulations! You've made it. Whether it's your senior year or even if you've received your diploma, getting through your high school studies was hard. It was a full time job for four years. If you've survived that you can definitely conquer college. Here's a little help from my experience..
I am writing this because I think it can help a few people who might've been in my situation or currently are. Although I enjoyed my high school experience, I did lack educational/after-high school support from the school itself. I took gym, art, biology, algebra, chemistry, and home economics. Sure I learned how to fry an egg and how to solve difficult math problems but I never quite understood why I was learning all of that. You see like many kids in poorer communities or immigrant homes, we didn't hear much about college. Besides "you're going to go to college". My parents always helped me with homework and made sure I graduated in the right environment. But I didn't know about the process of applying to college up until the last few weeks of school when the counselor met with me for my exit interview. I wasn't prepared nor my parents for the expensive application fees. I didn't know what my options were for colleges because I was never familiar with college names. And I was an average student at that, so perhaps the school counselors overlooked me and focused on the students who were going to get accepted into Harvard or other well-known universities. Some students had support from their families because they came from a line of college graduates in America.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Whether you're interested in an associates degree, certificate program or your bachelors degree get familiar with the process. Most of the time the first year you'll be taking your required courses but you can decide on your major/expertise as learn more about what you're good at or want to be good at. YOU CAN BE ANYTHING. Make a list of at least five schools in your area or couple of out of state. Note down their application fees, deadlines and look at the programs they offer. Some schools have rolling admissions meaning they accept applications until school starts. Compare prices. These are all steps you can take to prepare your decision.
To High Schools:
In my opinion, high schools should have a class or process starting in the students junior year to assist them in the college process. They can help ALL students choose the right classes or advise them on increasing their GPAs if they need a little bit of work. Especially in low income communities where they might not get that at home at all. Have them take personality tests to get a better idea of what they are good at. Teach them about FAFSA if they need help paying for college. If you're in high school or have already graduated start looking at what you
To adult learners:
Also, you're never to old to learn more. It's also understandable that life happens and you have to put college on hold. Sometimes you have no option but to work right after high school to support yourself limiting your time to attend. I encourage adults or anyone who took a couple years off to go back. There are so many learning opportunities in 2018 for everyone. If you work in the day, you can take night courses. If you're not near a campus there's online classes. There are weekend classes now and financial assistance to any age. Use the power of google to search up different programs and fields that you are interested in.
Here's a few links that can help students in the process of applying to colleges.
Colleges with Free Applications
https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-with-no-application-fee
Searching for SAT requirements, colleges nearby, etc.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search
Good read for adult learners/non-traditional students
https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/top-colleges-for-working-adults/
Personality test
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
I am writing this because I think it can help a few people who might've been in my situation or currently are. Although I enjoyed my high school experience, I did lack educational/after-high school support from the school itself. I took gym, art, biology, algebra, chemistry, and home economics. Sure I learned how to fry an egg and how to solve difficult math problems but I never quite understood why I was learning all of that. You see like many kids in poorer communities or immigrant homes, we didn't hear much about college. Besides "you're going to go to college". My parents always helped me with homework and made sure I graduated in the right environment. But I didn't know about the process of applying to college up until the last few weeks of school when the counselor met with me for my exit interview. I wasn't prepared nor my parents for the expensive application fees. I didn't know what my options were for colleges because I was never familiar with college names. And I was an average student at that, so perhaps the school counselors overlooked me and focused on the students who were going to get accepted into Harvard or other well-known universities. Some students had support from their families because they came from a line of college graduates in America.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Whether you're interested in an associates degree, certificate program or your bachelors degree get familiar with the process. Most of the time the first year you'll be taking your required courses but you can decide on your major/expertise as learn more about what you're good at or want to be good at. YOU CAN BE ANYTHING. Make a list of at least five schools in your area or couple of out of state. Note down their application fees, deadlines and look at the programs they offer. Some schools have rolling admissions meaning they accept applications until school starts. Compare prices. These are all steps you can take to prepare your decision.
To High Schools:
In my opinion, high schools should have a class or process starting in the students junior year to assist them in the college process. They can help ALL students choose the right classes or advise them on increasing their GPAs if they need a little bit of work. Especially in low income communities where they might not get that at home at all. Have them take personality tests to get a better idea of what they are good at. Teach them about FAFSA if they need help paying for college. If you're in high school or have already graduated start looking at what you
To adult learners:
Also, you're never to old to learn more. It's also understandable that life happens and you have to put college on hold. Sometimes you have no option but to work right after high school to support yourself limiting your time to attend. I encourage adults or anyone who took a couple years off to go back. There are so many learning opportunities in 2018 for everyone. If you work in the day, you can take night courses. If you're not near a campus there's online classes. There are weekend classes now and financial assistance to any age. Use the power of google to search up different programs and fields that you are interested in.
Here's a few links that can help students in the process of applying to colleges.
Colleges with Free Applications
https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-with-no-application-fee
Searching for SAT requirements, colleges nearby, etc.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search
Good read for adult learners/non-traditional students
https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/top-colleges-for-working-adults/
Personality test
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
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