Are You College Ready?
Being ready for the rigors of college means more than just having aced AP classes, gotten good grades, and been sure to hand in assignments on time. Being prepared for college must take into account a student’s emotional readiness. True college preparedness requires that students possess both academic and real-world skills. The ability to solve problems, work in a team, and be resourceful are equally as important as mastering mathematics and reading. Off at college, even the most independent students must become even more self-reliant and all students must possess a cache of strategies and skills aligned with the new challenges that college participation requires.
When young adults step foot onto their campus of choice it is important that they arrive armed with the capacity to conquer common negative mind-sets such as a fear of not belonging or not succeeding academically. As well, they must carry realistic expectations about performance and success, allowing themselves the room to grow and mature.
College-readiness should be evaluated along multiple continuum and include asking and honestly answering some crucial questions about:
Academic Skills and Strengths
Capacity for Self-Reflection
Ability to Self-Advocate
Executive Functioning Prowess and
Personal Motivation and Confidence
The following is a place to start, keeping in mind that failing to achieve ALL the answers that you wish does not mean you are not ready; sometimes knowing how to compensate for something that does not come naturally or is not a personal strength can be just as effective!
Evaluate your hard and soft skill sets by asking the following questions:
Can you read up to 200 pages in a week?
Can you clearly summarize a college-level reading assignment?
Can you write a college-level paper: 10 or more pages, well organized around a central theme, and which utilizes and properly cites outside sources?
Do you have a system for taking notes and preparing for exams?
Are you able to complete all the steps of a project in a timely manner?
Do you have a system for keeping track of your projects, assignments and papers?
Do you have a method for organizing and managing your time?
Are you able to ignore difficulties and distractions and focus on the task at hand?
Do you have a strategy for completing tasks that you find boring?
Do you know your academic strengths and challenges?
When you run into difficulty, do you ask for help?
If you have a learning disability, do you know how your diagnosis influences the way you learn?
Have you read your psychoeducational testing and do you know to what supports you are entitled?
Can you identify the academic supports you need to be successful and when it’s time to enlist them?
At college, how would you determine when and where to go for the different types of assistance you might need?
Do you know what your expectations are for your first year of college?
Do you believe in yourself and your ability to succeed?
Do you think that failure can be part of success?
When you think about what college has to offer are you excited?
If you are excited but have some concerns, do you know what you need to help address those concerns?
If you answer “no” to any of these questions or are unsure about any answers, don’t panic. With a little direction and support, determining and understanding what these questions require can be achieved.
Students arrive on campus in different states of readiness. College is a true example of “on the job training.” Most importantly, it is critical to not be embarrassed or reluctant to ask for help. That’s why college academic support services, writing centers, and counseling facilities exist. Consider this: if you want to improve your backhand, you're going to seek coaching and you're going to practice, practice, practice. College skills deserve the same type of attention.
And should you still not feel 100% ready, never be hesitant to take a gap year to allow yourself the latitude to enhance your readiness profile.