November/December Newsletter

   

Planning for High School and College: A Reading List

By Sara Cronin

Former Providence College and University of Connecticut Admissions Officer

 

As seniors are making final arrangements with college essays, applications and one last round of testing, freshmen and sophomores in high school are just beginning to gear up. The beginning of high school offers a great deal of change. Difficult classes, greater extracurricular opportunities, and more homework are just a few of the challenges students face as they begin their tenure in high school. One more thing to add to the plate of busy high school freshmen and sophomores is the development of future goals.

To begin the college planning process early provides students flexibility and more choices down the road. Most important is the planning, organization and decisions of the academic schedule. A rigorous and appropriate set of classes is tantamount to a strong college preparatory curriculum. Choosing honors courses when appropriate and stepping up to a challenge is encouraged as students prepare themselves for the next level of coursework in high school and beyond.

In addition to an academic focus, students who are beginning their high school careers must get involved. Sports, theater, band, after school employment, FBLA, diversity club and many more programs are excellent ways to learn something new or develop an existing skill set. Colleges like to see students who are committed to a particular activity and take on some type of leadership role further on in high school. The commitment to extra-curricular activities and hard work in the classroom can help set the stage for greater opportunities as the college search process begins.

To help with the initial college exploration and preparation there are numerous resources at your disposal. The web is a great place to begin your cursory look at colleges. Each individual college website offers a positive introduction to its school. Students will also find a great deal of literature available pertaining to study skills, career exploration, summer opportunities and college searching. Some examples that offer a great read are listed below. You can also find these books at the Road To College bookstore on our website, http://www.roadtocollege.com/Home/Bookstore.aspx.

Study Skills

Pocket Guide to Study Tips, (Barron's) Fifth Edition

By George Ehrenhaft and William Armstrong

Barron's Educational Series (Hauppauge, NY) 2004

"Learning is not easy. It never has been, and it never will be:" begins the first paragraph of this study skills resource. Developing strong study skills, although challenging for some, is essential as high school begins and this book can help to set the stage. The chapters are broken down into seventeen categories including note taking, motivation and study time.

 

 

What Smart Students Know: Maximum Grades. Optimum Learning. Minimum Time.

By Adam Robinson

Three Rivers Press (New York, NY) 1993

This is an interesting resource to help students learn to study smarter. Used by high school and college students alike, Robinson offers numerous and diverse study skill techniques. This book can help students as the workload progresses to a more intense level study more efficiently.

 

 

Career Exploration

What Color Is Your Parachute for Teens: Discovering Yourself, Defining Your Future

By Richard Nelson Bolles, Carol Christen, and Jean M. Blomquist

Ten Speed Press (Berkeley, CA) 2006

Based on the best selling What Color is Your Parachute series, this is a great read for those who are just beginning to think towards the future. As this book notes, it is important for young adults to discover what they like to do, as that can have significant impact in what they study and what career they pursue later in life.

 

EZ Occupational Outlook Handbook

By The Editors @ Jist

Jist Publishing (Indianapolis, IN) 2007

The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) every two years. The official resource is loaded with information and provides copious career statistics. This book, the EZ guide, breaks down the information in a manageable way. The EZ OOH is a great resource to begin your career exploration as it lists numerous careers and the market for such careers in the future.

 

Summer Opportunities

Ultimate Guide to Summer Opportunities for Teens: 200 Programs That Prepare You for College Success

By Sandra Berger

Prufrock Press (Waco, TX) 2008

Summer vacation is not what it used to be. This resource offers insightful information and a state-by-state guide to the numerous summer opportunities that are available. Should a competitive institution be on your college list down road, then a summer academic experience may help to tip the scales when admission decision time rolls around.

 

Peterson's Make Summer Count: Programs & Camps for Teens & Kids 2008

By Charlotte Thomas

Peterson's Press (Lawrenceville, NJ) 2007

This book offers another opportunity to explore summer programs to indeed 'make summer count.'

 

College Exploration

There are bookshelves loaded with information as students consider their college search. Many of the larger reference guides can be found in your guidance office or local library. Listed below are a few options for students looking for a school with a particular niche.

 

The Best 368 Colleges, 2009 edition

By Princeton Review

Random House, Inc. (New York, New York) 2007

 

Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges

By Loren Pope

Penguin Books (New York, NY) 2006

 

Colleges with a Conscience: 81 Great Schools with Outstanding Community Involvement

By Princeton Review

Random House (New York, NY) 2005

 

What It Really Takes to Get Into Ivy League and Other Highly Selective Colleges

By Chuck Hughes

McGraw-Hill (New York, NY) 2003

 

Visit our Bookstore at http://www.roadtocollege.com/Home/Bookstore.aspx

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Planning for High School and College: A Reading List