6

Enrolling in College: What to Expect Your First Term

In This Chapter: Students will demonstrate an understanding of some of the differences between high school and college and how to navigate their first few days on campus.

Over the past several years, a team of organizations worked together to create the College & Career Knowledge Project, consisting of digital handouts compiled into a workbook designed to support college and career education planning. Full workbooks can be ordered through the 12th Year Campaign, and digital copies are also available.

​

​

​

Access the most up-to-date College and Career Knowledge materials on this website.

​

​

To compliment the materials, we have created lessons for each section in the workbook. These lessons contain specific content, a short activity, and resources from the workbook. Educators are able to make their own copy of each lesson and edit it to include specific details about their school and community. Each lesson should take about 20-30 minutes to be delivered during core-content or advisory class.

​

Access the most up-to-date month-to-month College and Career Knowledge lessons by grade level on this document.

6

Enrolling in College:

What to Expect Your First Term

College and Career Knowledge Materials

​

MAY | GRADE

12

Warm Up: Changes

• What will change as you start your first term of college?
• What changes do you expect to be most important or significant, or what will be most challenging about this transition time?
• In your past, what has helped you to manage and survive major life changes and challenges?

6

Navigating the First Days

Locate resources

• Housing
• Dining / food options
• Transportation
• Medical, mental health, and fitness facilities

​

Get to know roommate(s) if applicable! You can also meet lots of people through your classes, events, and clubs.

​

6

Navigating the First Days

Student support academic services

• Tutoring
• Professor office hours
• Academic counseling
• Financial aid
• Form a study group!

​

6

Classes

• Your schedule varies a lot more than in high school.
• Some days, you may have 4 hours of class, only 1 hour, or none at all!
• Even though you meet less often than in high school, that extra time is used for studying, reading, assignments, projects, etc.

6

Classes

• Create a class schedule that works for you
• If you are not a morning person, do NOT take 8 am classes on Mondays
• Don’t be afraid to explore
• Your first year is a great time to fulfill General Education requirements while getting a feel for what you want to study!

​

6

Time Management

• In college, you have a lot more freedom, therefore a lot more responsibility and self-accountability!
• Get a planner and use apps like iCal or Google Calendar to stay organized.

6

Time Management

• You may find yourself scheduling and writing everything down, even social time, alone time, nap time - it’s okay!
• Sleep, eat, and rest time are not optional - prioritize taking care of yourself and create a work-life balance.

6

Building Community

Social life differs from high school.

• People are on different schedules, so it’s not as easy to consistently see people.
• Sometimes it takes more planning ahead than in high school.
• Put yourself out there! Everyone is looking for friends too!

6

Building Community

• Work to find community and friends through clubs, organizations, jobs, etc.
• Look for student groups like the Black Student Union, Latinx Student Union, volunteer organizations, or dorm community.
• Don’t hesitate to reach out to family and friends from home for support as well. It’s totally okay and normal to feel lonely sometimes!

6

YOU CAN DO IT!

Your first term at college can be intimidating, but know that everyone is going through the same feelings of stress, nervousness, and excitement. Talking about it with other people always helps.

Remember that you belong and deserve to be there, and don’t ever be afraid to ask for help. YOU GOT THIS!

6

Need Additional Support?

​

For additional information and support on this topic, please reach out to:

6