high school transition

1. Questions
 What are the three things you did when you entered
college that were most beneficial to your success?
 What are 3 things you wish you would have known of
done differently that would have eased the
transition?
 What issues caused you the most angst when you
were a freshman?
 What resources did your university offer that were
helpful?
 What resources do you wish would have been
available?
 How could that resource be made available?
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• Residence halls
• Time scheduling
• RHSC
• Homesickness
• Conflict resolution
• Class scheduling

2. Addressing Transition Issues
Among High School and
College Students
Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC
Executive Director, AllCEUs
Podcast Host: Counselor Toolbox, Addiction Counselor Exam Review & Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery
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3. Objectives
 Review 15 common issues students face when
transitioning to college and interventions
counselors can consider.
 Discuss ways colleges and campus counselors can
engage students
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4. Questions
 What are the three things you did when you
entered college that were most beneficial to your
success?
 What are 3 things you wish you would have known
of done differently that would have eased the
transition?
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• Residence halls
• Time scheduling
• RHSC
• Homesickness
• Conflict resolution
• Class scheduling

5. Prevention Tasks
 Help students develop a sense of belonging (on and off
campus)
 Campus-wide activities and festivals (reduce isolation, develop
social support)
 Residence hall team building activities
 Help students develop connections to faculty and staff
who will advise, register and help students apply for aid.
 Provide opportunities for students to learn life skills
(money and time management, study skills, conflict
resolution…)
 Ensure students are aware of resources to help with
housing, finances, extracurriculars, disability
accommodations, transportation, counseling and health
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6. Prevention cont…
 Develop a week long summer bridge program or
mandatory orientation, where students will…
 Complete a variety of assessments to diagnose learning
strengths and weaknesses
 Begin to develop the skills and strategies necessary to
succeed in their courses including time management,
stress management and wellness
 Meet daily in workshops that build skills around team-
building, group support, interpersonal skills and
conflict management
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7. Questions for Students
 1. What are your short and long-term goals both academically and
personally when you get to college (this means more than getting
good grades)?
 2. How do you think your relationships with your family will change
when you go to college?
 3. Do you expect your college grades to be similar to those you got in
high school? If so, how will you feel if they are not? How will you deal
with these feelings and improve?
 4. Where will you find help to do well in your classes?
 5. How will you discipline yourself to keep academic commitments,
such as attending classes and being prepared for classes? What skills
will you need to manage your learning and time?
 6. When you feel stressed out at college, identify five ways to deal
with it.
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8. Question
 What issues caused you the most angst when you
were a freshman?
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9. Feeling Overwhelmed
 Feeling overwhelmed
 I didn’t know what I didn’t know
 There is a gap between the level of learning required
for college vs. high school
 Environmental changes
No curfew
“Culture shock”
Moving out of parent’s home
 Disorganization
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10. Identity Development
 Choosing a major
 Wanting to “belong” or find a niche
 Rejection from team or club
 Difficulty balancing multiple roles
 Social anxiety
 Exploring new aspects of self and others
 Values
 Culture
 Sexual identity
 Interests and talents
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11. Social Pressures and Expectations
 Drinking
 Partying
 Staying out late
 Attending social events…all…the…time
 Going home (or not)
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12. Time Management
 Know your limits.
 Schedule time for fun and to take breaks to keep your
mind fresh and clear. Balance!
 At home parents, teachers and coaches provided
structure, schedules and timelines for completing
homework assignments. College professors may give
all assignments for the semester on the first day of
class!
 Students can get behind and not know how to get caught up
 They may feel overwhelmed just looking at the syllabus. (30
page paper)
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13. Life Skills
 Some students get anxious or overwhelmed
because they have never had to develop
independent living skills
 Online videos and residence hall workshops can
educate students about
 Doing laundry
 Money management / paying bills
 Study skills
 Self-advocacy
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14. Money Management
 Anxiety about not fitting in if they cannot afford…
 Running out of money before the bills are paid
 Know what their resources are and develop an appropriate
spending plan.
 Seek the advice of a financial planner or counselor.
 Consider student loans (Try to stick to subsidized loans)
 Be careful about being drawn into credit card opportunities
offered to college students.
 Get a job
 Don’t spend money unnecessarily
 Many businesses offer student discounts. Be creative. it is possible
to have fun without spending a lot of money! If tuition is a
problem, visit your campus career center for help.
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15. Making New Friends
 Being just another face in the crowd
 Football hero to just a number
 Feelings of isolation, especially if friends go to different
university
 Jealousy when old friends start to make new friends
 Failing to network
 When students do not get to know and spend time with
classmates, professors and other academic advisors, they
lack support and a place to go for ideas and answers when a
problem does arise.
 Practical experience and internship opportunities should
always be available to provide maximum networking
opportunities for students.
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16. Homesickness (Grief and longing)
 Missing someone checking up on them
 Missing pets
 Missing the comfort of their home turf
 Missing the things they used to do and routines they had
 Remain on campus during the week and on weekends to get to
know campus and become more involved in athletic and social
events.
 Force themselves to become part of the culture within their new
academic world.
 Stay in touch with friends back home through email and phone.
Ask friends and family to email, call, and send care packages.
 Plan to visit home once every month or two.
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17. Depression
 Every problem can raise a student's stress level and contribute to
hopelessness and helplessness
 Empower students with options
 Encourage staff (and students) to stay alert to students starting to fail
(skipping class, failing grades, withdrawing, moodiness)
 Some find temporary relief in partying which may contribute to
poor grades and depression
 Students need to grieve
 The ending of their childhood and embrace young adulthood
 The loss of the routine with their friends
 The loss of friends
 Changing relationships with mom and dad
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18. Relationship Issues
 Unresolved relationship problems commonly cause
bitterness, resentment and anger.
 Break up with high school sweetheart
 Pressure to choose the right major and get good grades, especially
if they are the first person from their family to attend college or
they are expected to follow in a parent’s footsteps
 Lack of acceptance from parents of new identity, new friends
 Lack of acceptance into a group or discharge for failure to comply
 Guilt for leaving a chaotic home environment
 Any of these feelings can cause students to loose focus of
the goals they are attempting to achieve.
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19. Roommates
 Students may have never had to share such a small space
with someone before-let alone a perfect stranger!
 Conflicts will arise and conflict management skills will be
tested  high distress  avoidance, eating disturbances,
sleeping disturbances
 Set rules for the room or suite that everyone can agree
on.
 Learn that roommates don't have to be best friends; the
important thing to remember is to respect one another
 Educate students about cultural differences
 Learn how to live with the fact that you aren’t going to be
liked by anybody all of the time.
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20. Failure
 Don’t be afraid to fail
 The reality is that if you actually do your work you will
probably not fail. But, a lot of students tend to get
really worried when out of nowhere they get a B in a
class, which can seem like a failure for students. It’s
like wait, what I never had this grade before. This isn’t
something I do.
 Sometimes people switch majors or even
universities
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21. Poor Grades
 Freedom coupled with a lack of accountability makes it
easy to fall short of completing the necessary studying to
succeed.
 Failure to dedicate the appropriate time to studying and
reading is likely to have a negative impact on grades.
 Be accountable to others for you academic performance
 Know each course, the syllabi, the requirements and the
professor’s expectations
 When you are not there, you are not receiving the benefit of the
instruction as well as information regarding grading, future
assignments, and opportunities like study groups or extra credit of
which you may want to take advantage.
 Set aside a certain time each day devoted to studying.
 Studying with other classmates can help students meet
people and get better grades
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22. Poor Grades
 Set realistic goals for yourself and reward yourself
 Avoid pulling all-nighters. It can interfere with work
quality as well as mood and attentiveness in other classes
and reduce immunity.
 Don’t drink before or during studying (It impairs
retention)
 Get study habits evaluated
 Get evaluated for learning disabilities and ADHD
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23. Wellness-Nutrition
 Good nutrition helps
 Increase focus and concentration
 Improve mood
 Drinking
 Alcohol is a depressant and can impair sleep, create
situations students regret and impair learning.
 Eating lots of junk food and drinking too much alcohol
as well as sugary beverages can cause students to
pack on the pounds.
 In addition to good nutrition, exercise improves
mood, sleep quality and self-esteem
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24. Wellness--Sleep
 Sleep is vital!
 Exhaustion
 Impairs concentration and learning
 Makes it take longer to get things done
 Leaves less time for pleasurable activities
 Reduces immunity
 Cut down on the caffeinated beverages
 Get at least eight to nine hours of sleep each night
 Avoid alcohol and antihistamines before bed
 Develop a sleep routine
 Invest in earplugs and a sleep mask as needed
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25. Other Tips
 Students need to do what they like, not just what
boosts their resume
 Learn to take time for themselves. Take a step
back from everything and de-stress. In college, so
much can be going on that sometimes everyone
needs chance to breathe.
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26. Questions
 What resources did your university offer that
were helpful?
 What resources do you wish would have been
available?
 How could that resource be made available?
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27. Creative Ways to Reach and Engage
 What are some creative ways to reach and engage
 Students on campus
 Students off campus
 Student athletes
 Related…
 Students over traditional age (Age does not = Skills for
success)
 Military veterans
 Students with children
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28. Summary
 The transition from high school to college is not
an easy one.
 To ensure student success, colleges (professors,
administration and wellness providers) need to be
aware of common challenges
 There are many ways to provide resources and
education to students to ensure their success.
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