Steps to Success: Navigating the Transition From High School To College

1. Steps to Success:Navigating the Transition From High School To College Tim Conrad, Ph.D. Educational Consultant Nationally Certified School Counselor timlconrad@gmail.com http://tlconradandassociates.net

2. Who Is On Your Team? School Psych. Peer Parent Me Teacher Disability Services Office Counselor

3. Learn The High School Vocabulary • Carnegie Credit • Credit earned for successful completion of a course • Ohio Core • High school graduation requirements • College Requirements • High School Credits required for unconditional acceptance at a college • ACT or SAT scores • PSAT • Standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT • SAT • College admission test that measures reading, writing and math • PLAN • A pre-ACT test • ACT • Standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions

4. Assemble An Academic Record that Qualifies You To Graduate from High School and Be Prepared for College Graduation ready College ready

5. Something To Shoot For in Your Schedule • Select a math, English, science and social studies course every year • 4 is an admissions eye opener and is also excellent preparation for the rigor of college • Stretch in each content area • Schedule the course even at the expense of the grade in the course • Do not assume that substituting a course requirement is always in the best interest of the college bound student.  • Learn how to ask for help in each if you struggle

6. Learn About the Tests Used for College Admission • ACT • http://www.act.org/ • PLAN • http://www.act.org/plan/ • SAT • http://www.collegeboard.com/student/index.html?student • PSAT • http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html

7. Learn About Testing Accommodations For the ACT and SAT • ACT • http://www.act.org/aap/disab/ • 3 forms of testing available • Disabilities accommodated • Learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, psychiatric disorders, visual impairment, hearing impairment, other physical disorders • SAT • http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/ • Accommodations for presentation, responding, timing/scheduling, setting • Disabilities accommodated • Blindness/Vision Impairment, AD/HD (formerly known as A.D.D. /A.D.H.D.), Learning Disabilities, Deafness/Hearing Impairment, Certain Medical Conditions, Certain Physical Disabilities, Certain Psychiatric Condition • Understand the documentation requirements • This stage takes coordination among the testing company, high school guidance and administration, student and parent, special educators, test site coordinator

8. Build Confidence in Students and Parents • Confidence as building the expectancy that positive change can occur with accommodations • The power of “When” vs. the threat of “If” • The mantra • This is important! • You can do it! • I will not give up on you even if you give up on yourself!

9. Practice Self Advocacy • Understand advocacy • The student is the consumer, they should not accept a school that does not fit any more than they would accept a pair of jeans that did not fit • Learn how to ask questions when you do not understand coursework • Ask questions in class • Make an appointment after class • Get tutoring help • Learn how to talk about your disability and how it impacts your learning • Role play with a trusted adult • Don’t let the student opt out of the role play • Learn about accommodations to which you are entitled and describe how it helps show what you know • Understand accommodations as leveling the playing field rather than giving the student an unfair advantage • Learn how to ask for the accommodation • Learn how to get help in college

10. Think About What You Are Willing to Do • Ask questions when you do not understand something • Office hours are for talking with professors and TAs • Scheduled office hours are part of the professor’s job and therefore you are entitled to their time. • Approach the teacher for help • Seek extra help before or after school • Obtain weekly progress grades • Schedule a consistent study time at home • Receive academic coaching from a counselor, IS or teacher

11. Understand the Differences Between High School and College • High School • More class time, less study time • Structure • High • Teacher role • More active • Identifying students with disability • School • Obtaining documentation for disability • School • Parent involvement • School reaches out • College • Less class time, more study time • Structure • Low • Teacher role • Less active • Identifying students with disabilities • Student • Obtaining documentation for disability • Student • Parent involvement • Student reaches out • Transitions and role shifting is important for students and parents

12. Review These Cool Free Sites • SAT question of the day • http://apps.collegeboard.com/qotd/question.do?s_kwcid=TC%7C7002%7Csat%20question%20of%20the%20day%7C%7CS%7C%7C3751946054 • Explore jobs • http://mycooljob.org/index.php • College majors quiz • http://homeworktips.about.com/library/maj/bl_majors_quiz.htm

13. Review These Cool Free Sites • What’s Your Learning Style? • Learning style knowledge gives credibility to requests for instructional adjustments • http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz • College Finder • http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/adv_typeofschool.jsp • ACT Test Prep • http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html • Scholarship and financial aid help • http://www.finaid.org/

14. Suggestions for High SchoolsAdapted From What Works Clearinghouse Recommendations • Develop an intentionally coordinated effort to assist students as they transition to college • Develop a college ready curriculum • Utilize assessments as one indicator of college readiness • Create a plan if students are off track • Utilize peers and adults who support college aspirations • Engage and assist students in critical steps in college and career transitions • Increase family’s knowledge about financial aid