Advice for transitioning from homeschool to college?

ohbeebee
Thu, 08 Mar 2018 23:43:41 +0000

Hello! I was a homeschool kid (currently in college) and I would like to offer some advice from my own personal experience.
First off, will you be attending a four year or will you be going into a community college? I went into a CC because I had hopes of transferring into a UC, which is very hard to do from highschool as someone who was homeschooled. Some of my tips might be more specific to CC, but I will try to keep it more general.

1. It’s really important that you get involved in what the campus has to offer. Don’t be afraid of seeing the counselors, joining clubs, etc. Clubs and events are the best ways to make friends, and if you join organizations that have to do with things you’re interested in, you’ll be way better off socially. It took me way too long to warm up to the fact that I had all of these resources right in front of me, so don’t make the same mistake I did.

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! I found that after transitioning into a public school,I literally had no idea what I was expected to do or what steps I needed to take towards transferring (or in your case if you're going to four year, towards completing your degree). Another mistake of mine, which resulted in me staying at CC longer than anticipated. I found that public school students were generally more knowledgeable on this kind of info because they have had it pushed down their throats, especially in junior/senior year. Just make sure that you're on top of your own education.

2. People in college are usually pretty nice. They say that college age people are the friendliest age group around, and most people in college are looking for friendships and social interactions. Don't be shy! Making friends in classes is a great resource, and most people are happy to help if you get stuck on certain concepts.

3. Do your work. In college, your deadlines tend to be much stricter and there are far greater penalties for slacking off. An "I forgot" excuse isn't going to cut it. Try as hard as you can to get good grades, complete everything that is assigned, study (I like to make flash cards), etc.

4. Take classes that interest you, or take classes in subjects that you're good at. Especially during your transition period, I found it really beneficial to ease into college. For example, I love art, so I took some art classes. This helped me adjust to the classroom setting before jumping into hard sciences and math courses.

Also, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask! These are just some points I could come up with off the top of my head. I know it’s nerve wracking, but college is a wonderful experience and I’m sure you will find your place in the mix.