A College Roadmap
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Contents |
Introduction
There are many good reasons to continue your education, whether in a college setting, a vocational school, on-the-job training, or in self study. This article is intended as a guide for those considering college and covers many of the topics and hurdles that a student will encounter on their quest for higher education.
I started this article for my nephew and cousins who are considering college, and I would like to make it the best resource that it can be. Please email comments and suggestions to heathhiggins83 [at] hotmail [_dot_] com.
A Personal Story
I have not taken the traditional path down the road of education. I could cite many reasons, both internal and external, but the relatively short version goes like this: from probably 3rd grade on, I was unable to find an environment that was conducive to learning or building self-esteem. I began to lose motivation very early in my K-12 career, started to fail classes in 8th grade, and became a "problem student" by my first year of high school. I was by no means unintelligent, but I avoided school with every fiber of my being. I wasn't out causing trouble (most of the time) but usually at home being depressed, watching TV, or playing video games. This led to a deadly cycle of missed classes, incomplete homework, and a lot of time in the assistant principal's office. My unexcused absences often led to in-school suspension, and so when I was in school I wasn't in class, but rather in a classroom of the basement level of our school that was typically used to detain problem students who had truly caused a disturbance.
By the middle of the first semester of my junior year, I had completed about the same number of credits that most students finish by the end of their freshmen year. I had already racked up 180 missed classes and was so far behind that there seemed little hope to still pull off a high school diploma. At age 16, with a 0.818 GPA, I dropped out of school and attained my GED.
I worked for three years as a phone technical support agent and advanced as much as I could, but I quickly hit a brick wall on my career path and a ceiling on my income. Some of my co-workers were actively pursuing degrees at OIT, and they helped me to realize that the only way for me to continue to grow was to go back to school. With barely a month left before fall term started, I managed to go through the admissions process and enroll in my first few classes. At 19, I was still the age of a traditional college student but had been fortunate enough to spend a few years out of school learning just how much I needed a good education.
But I also realized that something inside of me had to change. I could not allow college to be a repeat of high school. This desired to succeed fueled my motivation, but I knew that couldn't do it alone. I reached out, first to my academic adviser, then to another counselor. These first connections helped me find an entire network of support: students that were at school because they wanted to be and who were going through a lot of the same struggles that I was, still other students who had taken many classes and were now tutoring in the subjects that I was struggling with, faculty who have worked in their respective fields and returned to academia to share what they had learned, and staff who were truly interesting in helping students succeed.
This was a much different environment than what I had been exposed to in high school and I was hooked. It took me over five years to complete my degree (it is actually typical for students to take more than four years). I had to start in remedial math and had to take math classes nearly every term that I attended to fulfill my degree requirements.
I hardly have all of the answers, but
Getting Started
Why go to college? Every person will have his or her own reasons, but here are some of the high points:
(from college.gov)
- Knowledge, Skills, and More Opportunities - If you go to college, you'll gain information and skills that you'll use for the rest of your life, no matter what career you chose. College enables you to:
- Expand your knowledge and skills.
- Express your thoughts clearly in speech and in writing.
- Grasp abstract concepts and theories. College helps you to learn to learn, to teach yourself whatever i
- Increase your understanding of the world and your community.
What This Means for You - These benefits may sound great on their own, but college also has some very practical benefits:
- More Job Opportunities: The world is changing rapidly. More and more jobs require education beyond high school. College graduates have more jobs to choose from than those who don't pursue education beyond high school.
- Earn More Money: A person who goes to college usually earns more than a person who doesn't. A typical earnings breakdown might be as follows:
- No High School - $18,000 / Year (I was earning a little less than this with a GED and three years of full-time excellent work)
- High School - $26,000 / year
- 2-Year Degree - $38,000 / year
- 4-Year Degree - $65,000 / year
- (Source: http://college.gov)
- Skills for Today's Jobs: Have More Options
Today, more jobs than ever before require specialized training or a two- or four-year college degree. More education means more choices, and that means more opportunities for you. Fast Fact: It's estimated that by 2014, 90% of the fastest-growing careers will require some postsecondary education.
- Job Security: Keep Working
Your high school diploma or GED is useful. But a college degree decreases your chance of unemployment by nearly 50%. A two-year degree or even some college can have a positive impact on your ability to keep working, too. Fast Fact: The higher your education level, the higher your chances of finding and keeping a job. A college degree does not guarantee you a job, but it will greatly increase your chances.
- More Benefits: Get the Important Extras
There's more to a job than a paycheck. Jobs for college graduates typically offer more and better benefits than jobs requiring just a high school diploma. These can include health insurance and retirement plans you may not get at lower-skill jobs.
Find Your Passion - Endless Possibilities
- Going to Work: Create a Career
Some people simply have "jobs," while others have "careers." What's the difference? With a career, the kind of work you do is based on your interests. It's a path you've chosen. College can help you turn your passions and interests into a career you love. Fast Fact: Choosing a college major does not limit you to one type of career.
- Discovering Your Interests: Listen to Yourself
What do you like to do? It's a tough question to answer, but spend some time considering it. Day to day, notice the things you do that interest you the most. During quiet times, where does your imagination lead you? Make note of these things as they come to you. Try these sites to match your interests to career possibilities:
- Career Voyages - http://www.careervoyages.gov/students-main.cfm
- What Do You Like? - http://www.bls.gov/k12
- Meyers-Briggs Personal Type Indicator: Exploring Personality Type and Its application - http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html
- Be Open to Opportunity: Stay Curious
Over and over again, students say that college led them to career paths they never imagined for themselves, or weren't even aware of. So, even if you know what courses you want to study, even if you already have a possible career in mind, stay open to new opportunities. More importantly, being unsure of what you want to do should not keep you from taking this first, important step. College is a place and time for you to explore all those avenues and opportunities. Your goals will become more clear as you explore and learn about yourself and the fields that are available.
A college major provides a framework for your studies and the classes you'll need to take. Some majors, like engineering, prepare students for specific careers. Other majors, like liberal arts, can lead to many different career paths.
Not sure what to major in? Don't worry. Many schools don't require you to choose (declare) a major right away. And you can always change your major later on. Fast Fact: Most college students change their majors at least once. You can do whatever you want with your education. You have the power to choose your life's path.
You Can Succeed
You Are College Material: Believe It to Achieve It
At some time or another, many students have doubts that they are college material. A lot of the students you see on this site said they had these doubts. But once they started putting in the effort to go to college, they realized that they could do it. Believing in yourself is the most important step to success. Millions just like you were able to say "I'm going." You can, too.
Low GPAs and Test Scores? Keep Moving Forward
A common myth is that only people with excellent high school grades and SAT® or ACT® scores can go to college. It's just not true.
- Different colleges have different admissions standards; if you don't get into one, keep looking.
- You can take the standardized tests over again to improve your scores. Taking them again can't lower your scores.
- Community colleges can have more open admission policies. Many students begin their college experience at these schools.
Bottom line: good grades and good test scores can definitely help, but low grades and low test scores aren't necessarily deal-breakers. Not at all.
Don't be afraid to go your own way. It's your future. Follow that dream, regardless of what anyone else might think. Your success might even motivate others to follow your example.
Grow with Help and Support
New People, Places, Ideas: Learn out of Class
College is about more than training for a career. It's also about discovering yourself and learning to think and live independently. A lot of that occurs outside the classroom. The new people you meet. The new environments you visit. The new ideas you find. This is the stuff that helps you learn more about life.
Academic Support: Make the Grades
Yes, new people and places are great. But you still need to succeed in the classroom. Because your college wants you to succeed, you'll find it provides tons of resources to help you. Some examples are:
- Academic advising. Advisers will help you choose areas of study and courses right for you and help you make progress toward graduation.
- Tutoring. When you have difficulty with a particular class, tutors are often available to help you one-on-one.
- Academic counseling. Get help building basic academic skills, like setting goals, taking notes, overcoming test anxiety, etc.
- Study groups. Many schools encourage students to work together outside of class to help one another succeed in a particular course.
- Services for first-generation, low-income, disabled students, and students with low high school GPAs. Some colleges, including OIT, offer academic support geared especially for students whose backgrounds may create challenges for them.
Social Support: Count on It
Your college will also have many resources to support your social and emotional well-being. On-campus counseling services can help with issues such as homesickness, roommate conflicts, family problems, dating and more. There are also clubs and social organizations that can help you have more fun during college. They can even lead you to new career paths.
Benefits to Your Family: Now and for the Future
If you go to college, statistics show your children and even their children are more likely to go. Families with higher levels of education tend to have a better standard of living. Plus, higher education enables you to help your family. With more earning potential, you can give back to your parents, help your siblings and more. There are so many reasons to go. Fast Fact: More education for you can mean your children will be better prepared for school.
Making It Happen
Preparing to go to college can seem complicated. But if you break it down, it's easier to understand.
Finding a School
There are so many important factors in choosing a college that will work for you. The atmosphere at the university and the community that it's in and the people that are there. What city is it in? What part of the country is it in? What's it like to live there? But it's different for everyone. It ranges from financial, to the climate, to the types of students that are there, to the programs that are offered at the school.
Use the College Navigator (http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/) to find a school that meets your needs.
Candidate Schools
The school you choose needs to fit your interests, career goals, your financial situation and other factors. Schools fall into these basic types:
- Public versus private. Public schools are operated by state and local governments. Tuition is often less at a public school. Private schools are not affiliated with a government organization. They may be non-profit, such as colleges run by private foundations or religious denominations. Or, they may be for-profit businesses, such as many career, trade or technical schools.
- Four-year colleges and universities. These can offer bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees, and sometimes include professional schools, like law school or medical school. Universities tend to be larger than colleges.
- Two-year community and junior colleges. These offer two-year associate degrees and sometimes certifications in particular career fields, like nursing. Because their costs are often lower and admission is more open, many students start their college careers here.
- Career, technical, vocational or trade schools. These prepare students for specific careers, such as welding, cosmetology, medical imaging and electronics assembly. Their programs may be two years or less. Many of these schools are for-profit businesses. Do lots of research to make sure they can deliver what they promise. One way of doing this is to make sure the school is accredited. It is also a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau closest to where the school is located.
Factors to Consider: Find the Right Fit
Things to think about as you look for schools:
- Cost. What will your total annual costs be, including tuition and fees, room and board, books, travel and other expenses? Does the school participate in the federal student aid programs? The College Navigator listed in the Online Resources section below can help you find out.
- Location. This is a biggie. Do you move away or not? If you decide you might go to a school away from home, factor in the cost of traveling to and from school for holiday and semester breaks.
- On campus or off. If you go to a school nearby, do you want to live at home, in an on-campus dorm/residence hall or in private, off-campus housing? If you attend a school away from home, do you want to live in an on-campus dorm or in private housing? These decisions may require you to balance cost versus other factors, such as your independence and lifestyle.
- Size. Do you want a small, intimate setting? A school that's big enough to be a city by itself? Or something in between?
- Majors and concentrations offered. If you have an idea of what you want to study, does the school offer that major? Does their program have a good reputation? If you aren't sure what you want to study, does the school give you plenty of options?
- Flexibility. If you need to work full-time while you go, does the school have night courses or other options to accommodate you? Will they let you go part-time? Do they offer summer courses?
- Admission requirements. What academic standards (grade point average, required courses, etc.) do you have to meet in high school to get in? Which tests will you have to take?
- Accreditation. Is the school accredited? An accredited school meets certain educational standards set by an independent agency. Accreditation helps ensure the training and education you receive will meet the standards of employers in a specific field. You can use the U.S. Department of Education's Institution Accreditation Search Page to check a particular school's accreditation or to find an accredited school in a particular field or location.
- Campus life. Does the school offer activities and social opportunities you like?
- Religious affiliation. Do you want to attend a school affiliated with a particular church or religious denomination?
- Diversity. Will you feel comfortable with the makeup of the student body?
- Career services. Does the school have programs with a good track record for helping graduates find good jobs?
- SATs
- Placement tests
- Reviewing
- Challenging or not challenging math tests
- Non-admit students
- The Registrar's office
- Transferring high-school transcripts
Tuition and Financial Aid
- Crunching the numbers - don't be intimidated
- FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- OSAC - Oregon Student Aid Commission
- WUE - Western Undergraduate Exchange
- NSF - National Science Foundation
- Non-traditional financial aid
- Ford restart grant
- Essay writing resources
- Cover every line item - The first pass filter
- Edit, edit, edit
- On-campus jobs
- Work study
- Student loan forgiveness
- Teaching in rural communities
Housing
- Live on campus or off?
- Cost comparison
- Travel
- Rental expenses
- Statistics
College survival
"Nine tenths of education is encouragement." - Anatole France
- Student success seminars
- Make connections
- Active listening
- Know your resources
- Tutoring
Making Connections with Faculty, Staff, and Other Students
- Registrar's Office and Financial Aid
- Student clubs
- Student government
- Volunteer
- Become a tutor
- "We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own." - Ben Sweetland
- Working in your department
- Networking with industry
Closing Remarks
"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." - Henry Ford
"The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about the significance of our beliefs and the mental models, or mindsets that shape our behavior. According to the psychologists interviewed for the piece, we act and perform in accordance with the beliefs these models tell us is true...
For example, if you think something is not possible or out of your reach, you're probably not going to commit much energy and resources to accomplishing that goal...Old habits die slowly because they are driven by an outdated mindset... In order to replace old habits though a change in your mindset, there are three steps you should follow:
1. First, begin by specifically identifying the results you want. 2. Then create and develop actions that will accomplish those results. 3. Lastly, examine your beliefs about those actions to determine if they are holding you back...
So if you want to achieve your goals, create a mindset made of beliefs that support the truth you want in your future."
