Transitions For the College Bound Student

Are you a senior in high school about ready to make the transition to college? Are you completely excited yet also incredibly terrified of what will happen? If so, take comfort in the fact that you are not the only one experiencing the ups and downs of transitioning to college. Most likely, all your friends are right there with you!

Being in college means something different for everyone. Maybe college means new opportunity, new friends, and a new life experience. Maybe college is a way to get away from your family that you don't get along with, or maybe college is the next step in your passion for learning. Transitioning to college brings multiple meanings and multiple emotions, not only for you, but also for your friends and family that have watched you grow and become ready for the college transition.

Your parents, most likely, make different meaning of your transition than you do, and your friends may have different ideas about why they want to go to college and what they want the summer to look like before everyone goes their separate ways. Regardless of meaning you may find yourself asking questions like "Will I like my major? What happens if I don't do well in what I love to do? What if I don't know what I want to do? Am I wasting time because I don't know what I want to do for the rest of my life?"

My encouragement to you is to allow yourself to ask these questions and really begin exploring your passions. The transition to college brings multiple other transitions like discovering who you are apart from your family and friends, discovering your talents that you didn't know existed, and learning how to manage your time without a teacher reminding you of your responsibilities. Some new college students learn how to manage money for the first time or do laundry all by themselves. The move to college is more than changing location, it's about learning, growing, and discovering the uniqueness of you. Below, you will find suggestions on how to make this transition easier.

1. Allow yourself to be nervous or confused. The college atmosphere is much different than your home atmosphere and it will take time to adjust and settle into a new routine.

2. Try new things during your first months at school. What you loved growing up and what you were good at during high school is not necessarily what you will want to do forever. Be adventurous and discover what else you love.

3. Do something because you want to, not because you think it would make your family proud or your friends happy, but because it will make you happy.

4. Be curious about the person you want to become. College is about developing a new identity or solidifying the identity you already have. Don't be afraid to notice the changes in yourself.

Because the transition to college and the first months at college bring increased emotion and chaos, I encourage you to speak with a counselor about your experience. If you notice that you are having difficulty making the transition during the summer or find yourself completely lost once you have arrived at college, make an appointment with a counselor in your area. The Lotus Group has many counselors who were once in your position and can help bring stability and insight to your transition. Give us a call at 595-5555 to schedule an appointment. We would love to speak with you.

While Douglas Scott continues to work on his psychology degree he finds therapy to be most beneficial. For more information on Indianapolis therapy visit LotusGroup.biz

5 First Steps to a Graduate Degree

You may be considering going back to school for a graduate degree to help increase your chances of getting and keeping a job. While about 27% of the US population has an undergraduate degree, only about 7% has a graduate degree. The graduate degree could put you ahead of the competition for jobs in this economy.

Perhaps you just graduated from college with an undergraduate degree, and you found that good jobs were scarce. So this may be a good time to add the graduate degree. Perhaps you see lay-offs around the corner at your company and want to be more competitive. Or, perhaps your company pays part or all your tuition with a generous educational assistance program. How can you not take advantage of that benefit?

Here are a few steps to get started towards that degree:

1. Choose a major field and concentration area. This step sounds simple, but colleges and universities have added new blended degrees (classes from several areas of study) in the past few years. You don't have to choose from Business, Liberal Arts, Engineering, Psychology, or Computer Science. Today's majors might be: Engineering Management, Business Computer Systems, Applied Information Management or Industrial Psychology. Look at the offerings of some of the online graduate programs to give you more ideas of major fields and the new blended degrees.

2. Select a college or narrow down your options to 2 - 3 choices. The school should have the degree and major you desire, the concentration area and the format that would work best with your lifestyle. Formats include: accelerated program, weekend, evening, online or cohort group. Don't choose a college because your friend attends that school or because you see the school's ads everywhere.

3. Review the Admission Requirements. If you need the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Exam), find a Prep Course at your local state university or purchase study books from a good bookstore. There are private companies that offer a Weekend Prep class, but they can be expensive.

4. Look at options for Prerequisites. Prerequisites or foundation courses are less expensive at the community college level or at your local state university's Continuing Education or Extension Department.

5. If you are working and/or receive reimbursement for your schooling, have a conversation with your manager about your career goals and how education can help you achieve those goals. Managers appreciate that you have done the research and can discuss the school choice, major field and total cost of the program. If you need help with choosing a major, school or program, check with your HR Department to see if your company offers Career Counseling and Educational advising.

Dr. Sandy Womack is Director of EduPlan, an educational consulting company specializing in Tuition Assistance Administration, Managed Education and Educational Counseling.

http://www.eduplan.org