With every college admissions cycle comes the inevitable up and downs followed by bittersweet excitement as high school draws to a close and a new chapter of life begins. As a parent, educator, and college admissions counselor, I believe that an essential part of planning for college is planning for the transition: likely the most substantial a teen will ever experience.
Each fall, millions of American high school graduates set off for college. Although many students thrived in high school and met or exceeded academic expectations and/or standardized test scores, the reality is that many high school graduates lack skills necessary for a smooth and/or successful transition to college. Examples of such deficits are not just academic and metacognitive, but include traits such as resiliency and grit.
Research shows that grit is usually unrelated or even inversely related to measures of talent AND that the grittier you are, the more likely you’ll stick with something when the going gets tough. For more on grit, watch Angela Duckworth’s TED Talk The Power of Passion and Perseverance.
According to data from the American College Health Association and National Center for Education Statistics, students feel overwhelmed, depressed, or lonely AND are dropping out of college—before sophomore year.
- 19.7 million The number of students anticipated to attend colleges and universities in the fall of 2020
- 40% The dropout rate for undergraduate college students
- 1 in 3 The number of college freshmen who do not make it to sophomore year
- 19th The United States rank in graduation rates among 28 countries in OECD
- 55.9% The number of college students who reported that they felt things were hopeless at some time during the last 12 months
- 87.4% The number of college students who reported that they felt overwhelmed by all they had to do at some time during the last 12 months
- 65.6% The number of college students who reported that they felt very lonely at some time during the last 12 months
- 84.7% The number of college students who reported that they felt exhausted (not from physical activity) at some time during the last 12 months
- 1,375% The amount by which college tuition has increased since 1978
Based on the data above AND the premises that: college must be transformative; students can thrive; college is expensive, and four years means 4 years, it is clear that transition strategies for college are essential: stat!
“So, what can I do?” you may ask.
In the table below are examples of transitional strategies to help students better cope with the academic, social, and emotional pressures that come with the freshman experience.
Students who understand and implement these strategies will avoid many of the pitfalls that interfere with a successful college experience.
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Academic |
Social |
Emotional |
| Create a comprehensive organizing system | Seek out your people | Set realistic expectations |
| Understand and practice self-discipline | Pursue your interests | Practice patience |
| Initiate an accountability loop | Find a mentor | Keep a journal |
| Know when and where to ask for help | Identify what you want | Communicate with someone from home |
| Set goals and track progress | Follow your passions | Have a growth mindset |
Helping students understand and embrace concepts such as transitions are hard. We can do hard things, planning will ease the transition—sets them up for a leg up in college, a leg up in life!
Tune in next time for more transitional strategies and what they look like in practice; if you can’t wait that long, feel free to contact me.
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