November/December Newsletter
Planning for High School and College: A
By Sara Cronin
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 (
"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 (
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 (
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 (
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 (
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 (
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
Random House, Inc. (
Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the
Way You Think About Colleges
By Loren Pope
Penguin Books (
Colleges with a Conscience: 81 Great Schools with Outstanding
Community Involvement
By
Random House (
What It Really Takes to Get Into Ivy League and Other Highly
Selective Colleges
By Chuck Hughes
McGraw-Hill (
Visit our Bookstore at http://www.roadtocollege.com/Home/Bookstore.aspx
|
|||
|
|||
|