Getting Ready for Life After High School

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Getting Ready for Life After High School
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(No Transcript)
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• It is normal to be nervous.
• The secret is knowing what to expect and planning
  ahead.
• The best way to know what to expect is to.
• CHECK YOUR MAILBOX!

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• However..Dont create too many expectations.
  You might think that you know what will happen
  in college or in general after high school, but
  really, you dont.

Cohen, Harlan (2005) The Naked Roommate.
Illinois Sourcebooks, Inc.
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High School Friendships

• Worried about your high school friends? Dont
  be. They arent going anywhere.
• High school friendships will change, but not as
  much as you might think.
• Caution Do not compare your college experience
  to your friends college experiences

Cohen, Harlan (2005) The Naked Roommate.
Illinois Sourcebooks, Inc.
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Residence Halls

• At all costs, live in the dorms your freshman
  year!
• Perks of residence life
• Meet people without even trying
• Great location
• Help, support and answers to your questions are
  just a few doors away
• Floor activities
• If you are in your room, always leave your door
  open!

Cohen, Harlan (2005) The Naked Roommate.
Illinois Sourcebooks, Inc.
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Roommates

• For many of you, this is the first time you will
  have to share a room
• Discuss with your roommate
• Who is bringing what
• Note Do not buy an appliance together
• Quiet hours
• Guest policy
• To share or not to share
• Respect each others differences and make rules
  before you need rules! (NR)

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Packing

• Packing Everything But the Kitchen Sink
• Remember the size of your dorm room (apartment)
  and that you will probably have a roommate
• Like Camp, Label Everything
• You can always get more stuff when are you home
  for Thanksgiving.

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Saying Goodbye

• While you are the one going off to college, the
  workforce, etc..Life is not changing only for
  you.
• REMEMBER..
• Your parents, siblings, relatives and pet will
  also be affected by this change

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Empty Nest Syndrome

• Why this happens
• Parents may feel like they are losing their jobs!
• It makes your parents feel old
• Parents have to face being alone together

Work out a plan for when you are going to talk to
your parents once you get to school. If you
dont, plan on having problems.
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• What do you need to know before moving away from
  home?
• Laundry
• Credit
• Your Health

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Laundry

• Whites Red Pink Clothes
• Temperature Matters
• The Laundromat a great place to study

• Do You Know?
• How to Sew a button
• How to Iron
• What goes to the dry cleaners

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Credit Cards

• Credit cards dont make people go into debt,
  people who use credit cards and dont have money
  will go into debt. (NR)
• Your credit rating is like a shadow, it follows
  you around your whole life
• Pay your balance in full

Average credit card debt of a college senior is
4,500
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Your Health

• Make sure you know your medical history.
• Have a written list that includes inoculations,
  hospitalizations, allergies and diseases.
• Make a list of your existing medications and
  medication schedule. Get extra prescriptions and
  identify a pharmacy near the school for refills.
   
• Make sure you have and understand your health
  insurance.
• Visit the school's health facilities whenever you
  feel sickphysically or emotionally.
• Bring a small medical kit with you
• HIPAAJust Sign It
• Flu Shots and Meningitis Immunization

www.getreadyforcollege.org
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You might be a college student if

• You average 3 hours of sleep a night
• You wake up 8 minutes before class
• You wake up in class
• You reenact your preschool days by taking naps at
  2 p.m.
• Youll eat any food that is free
• You celebrate when you find a quarter

College Knowledge (2005) Published by Wintergreen
Orchard House
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Ten Biggest Off-to-College fears for Students

• Not being happy at the school I choose
• Disliking my roommate
• That my parents wont trust me on my own
• Missing my high school friends
• Homesickness
• That college wont be what I expect
• Choosing a major
• That I will not meet the schools academic
  standards
• Constant contact from my parents
• Financial problems

Woodacre, Margo and Bane, Steffany (2006) Ill
Miss You Too The Off-to-College Guide for
Parents and Students. Illinois Sourcebooks.
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A Fresh Start

• Take advantage of the new beginning. Do not let
  who you were in high school determine who you
  will be in college. (NR)
• College is a good time to become the person you
  want to be. People accept you for who you are
  now, not who you were in the third grade. (BTDT)

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Move In Day

• Coordinate moving in with your roommate
• Make sure you know dorm/apartment regulations
• Meet your RA
• Remember You are not the only one that doesnt
  know what is going on.

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What kind of student will you be?

• 97.1 of students expected to make at least a B
  average.
• 77.2 of students actually did)
• (Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA)

• 31.8 of students attending a public 4-year
  college did not return their sophomore year
• 29.6 of those attending a private school did not
  return
• (www.act.org)

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Been There, Shouldve Done That

• The problem with college is that you figure it
  out about the time youre ready to graduate.

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Academics

• Average GPA of incoming college freshman 3.3
• Average at the end of first year 1.7
• Why does this happen?
• Not readyfreedom, expectations
• Not seeing big picture
• Not seeking help when it is needed

Cohen, Harlan (2005) The Naked Roommate.
Illinois Sourcebooks, Inc.
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Academic Success Advice(From the Naked Roommate)

• Go to class
• Make sure your professor knows who you are
• Do readings ahead of time
• Study your notes the night after you take them
• Look over your syllabus before going to class
• Go to office hours
• Form study groups
• Question exams when you get them back
• Talk to former students

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Books

• The campus bookstore is not the only place to buy
  your books
• www.textbookx.com
• www.amazon.com
• www.half.com
• Caution When buying used textbooks, many of the
  books will already be highlighted and have notes
  in the margins. Be careful though, the previous
  user could have been a moron and highlighted the
  wrong information.
• If you buy books on-line, make sure you purchase
  the correct edition.

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Professors

• Professors are there to help you. Do not be
  afraid to get to know them!
• My biggest regret when I look back at college is
  not having used the office hours.(Been There,
  Shouldve Done That)
• Come up with new excuses, your professors have
  already heard the good ones.

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Time ManagementBeen There, Shouldve Done That

• Study between classes
• Stay out of bed
• Make a calendar for the entire semester
• Set specific study hours
• Carve out time during the week to work out.

Manage your distractionsMy Space, Facebook,
Video Games
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Do Something!

• Get Involved There is a club or organization
  on your campus for almost every interest. Get
  involved with those you are interested in and
  learn more about yourself.

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Financial Issues

• It is all about the Benjamins!
• School is no longer freebe thrifty!
• The quicker you graduate less tuition
• Look for the discountsalways show your college
  ID
• Most schools have more jobs than students

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Working?

• Look for employment opportunities that meet your
  career aspirations
• Co-Workers
• Job Skills
• Teamwork
• Time Management
• Organization
• Positive Attitude

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Alcohol/Drugs

• Animal House is not a documentary or
  instructional video
• 2 out of 5 students binge drink
• 1 out of 5 students abstain from drinking
• Habits are easy to start and hard to break

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• Life moves pretty fast. If you dont stop and
  look around once in awhile, you could miss it!
• -Ferris Bueller