A good fit and transition are essential to success in college. On the other hand, a good fit means happiness, challenge and success through college years. This presentation outlines basic advice for any freshman.

1. H OW T O
S U C C E S S F U L LY
T R A N S I T I O N
T O C O L L E G E
2 0 1 9

2. WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT A
GOOD FIT AND
TRANSITION?
• Approximately 1 in 4 first year college students will NOT return to the
same school
• 66% of first year students admit feeling homesick or lonely
• 36.7 % of college students report feeling so depressed “it was difficult
to function”. 90% reported being overwhelmed.
• 53.4% of ALL college students admitted feeling hopeless over the past
12 months
• Most students DO NOT graduate in 4 years (costing $70K+ college
costs + lost income)
Quoted from: Harlan Cohen, https://www.bestfirstyear.com/

3. BEST FIT IS ABOUT TRANSITION:
The right college
fit is extremely
important to a
student’s success
but a good fit,
does not ensure
success. Learning
to successfully
transition to
By ”transition”,
we mean
successfully
navigating the
unchartered
waters of zero
adult
supervision and
being
A successful
transition
entails self-care,
self-advocacy,
engagement
and actively
participating in
available
activities both
Students benefit
from preparing
for this transition
and parents may
also require
coaching on how
to help their
children
transition to

4. THE PROBLEM WITH TRANSITION
High school and the college admissions process may make the focus seem like its on results,
rather than the learning process. This is not necessarily true. While standardized test results and
GPA matter, so does self motivation.
Questions admissions officers ask in evaluating
fit are:
-Is a student exploring fields they are interested in?
-Have they used the means available to them to explore?
-Are they intellectually curious?
College is about active learning and about integrating that information effectively. From critical
thinking skills to developing areas of expertise, the focus is on preparing individuals for life.
The conflict between the k12 system and university life requires an active transition from a
orientation into a learning focus.
Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-transition-college/201810/why-the-right-fit-college-doesn-t-ensure-
great-learning

5. R E C O M M E N DAT I O N S

6. FIRST SEEK AN ACADEMIC FIT
Academic fit not
only predicts the
likelihood of
getting admitted,
but it also signals
good academic
performance
through college
and can help
predict the
likelihood of
graduation.
A good college
fit means that
a college meets a
student's needs
and wants
academically,
socially, and
financially.
This includes the
extent to which a
student feels
challenged,
engaged and
supported.
Source: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/find-your-best-fit-college

7. DEVELOP GOOD STUDY
AND NOTE TAKING
HABITS
• Develop good study habits, time management skills
before you get to college
• Find an effective method for taking notes (i.e.. Cornell
Notes)
• Consider flash cards
• Always pay attention in class
• Prepare and review study notes before finals

8. STUDY BEFORE YOU
GO TO A LECTURE
• Search the topic before it’s covered in class during
lecture.
• If your textbook offers a chapter on a lecture topic, read
it ahead of time.
• You will recall the lecture better as repetition helps
memory
• Students have varying strengths and needs, learning in
advance helps you get the best value out of your lectures
Source:: Mohammad Baig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujr6z0WL-Gc&feature=youtu.be

9. FIND WHERE YOU
BELONG: PLACES,
PEOPLE & PATIENCE
• Change is uncomfortable. You must give yourself permission
to be uncomfortable and be honest with yourself and your
parents.
• Families and counselors can help find you fit using the
following framework:
– People (reach out to people who live the life you want)
– Places (Find where you can find connections)
– Patience (It takes time to get there)
• Surrounding yourself with the right people, at the right places
means you will be able to make better decisions
Source: Harlan Cohen Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1vZqjbo0P8#action=share

10. GET SOME
GRIT
Dr. Duckworth’s research concluded that grit is a construct
encompassing two dimensions: consistency of interest and
perseverance of effort. According to her study, students’
self-reported grit scores were a significant predictor of first-
year college GPA.
A successful transition is about driving your own decisions
and about developing the grit and resilience required to
succeed in college and beyond.
Source: http://admitted.nacacnet.org/wordpress/index.php/2017/02/14/study-grit-as-an-indicator-of-college-success/

11. LEVERAGE
MENTORS
• Seek a mentor (in high school as well as in college)
• Consulting a trusted adult who is not a parent could be a valuable
resource during this transition.
• Colleges typically rely on Resident Advisors to fulfill this role and
sometimes this is a good starting point but you may need more:
RA’s have often not been through experiences themselves.
• Parents can help a student identify an adult in theircommuniity
who they can reach out to when they need help processing
through candid advice.
• This can be a high school teacher, or a community leader.
Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-transition-college/201708/essential-
parenting-tasks-healthy-college-transition

12. CONTACT US ANYTIME
yesimerez@admittanceeducation.com www.admittanceeducation.com (657) 201 9224