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Congrats! You were accepted into college and you’re beginning your higher education journey. One of the most important next steps is making sure you stay on track to not only graduate from college, but graduate “on time” which is generally within six years.
Why graduate on time?
Imagine planning a trip to a new destination, but you don’t have directions to get there. The trip will likely take entirely too long, you will possibly get lost, frustrated, and potentially change your mind and cancel the trip altogether.
This is what it can feel like for many students embarking on their journey through college, which is why education and graduation planning is so important.
VP of Student Success
Align your major with your skills, interests, and career path.
Look on your university’s website or in the course catalog.
Identify a balanced set of courses you would like to take that fulfill your college, university, or educational program’s requirements.
Find support needed from tutors, professors, and student resource centers.
Your on-campus academic advisor can confirm your educational and graduation plans.
From course work to internships to study abroad, summers provide an opportunity to stay on track for graduation.
Pro tip: Start planning before you even step foot on a college campus and revisit these steps each term.
One of the most significant changes students experience from high school to college is the demand and rigor of college level courses and learning outcomes as well as the pace and timing of course schedules.
For example, in college, traditional class time is limited with the expectation that students engage in more independent and group studying outside of class. Additionally, course content is more complex, requiring deeper levels of analysis and the creation of new ideas.
Identify each part of your coursework, assignments, and papers, your studying needs, your midterm and final exam schedules.
Are you needing to understand the information or apply your knowledge? Is the assignment asking you to analyze existing material or come up with new material?
There are lots of resources available on your college campus! Get support from your Making Waves coaches, academic advisor, student resource centers, tutoring centers, or study groups, and attend your professor’s office hours.
Join student organizations and programs for first-gen students on your campus, like Educational Opportunity Program, or EOP
Classmates, professors, Making Waves coaches, and academic advisors can all serve as mentors or support systems for when you need guidance, advice, or reassurance
You are not alone! From health and wellness centers to counseling and mental health programs to student resource and multicultural centers to your Making Waves coaches, there are resources specifically there to support you
I am in a better mental state than when I first started college. I no longer watch the leaves, but I dance with them in the elegant manner they do. I have discovered myself in many ways and I’m still learning. I never gave up, I never stopped pushing, and I began to realize that I belonged and deserved to be here just as much as everyone else.
Read Alejandro’s experience with imposter syndrome and his tips for navigating this challenge in college below.
You might be thinking, “what are office hours?” This is because there are often unspoken norms in higher education, called the hidden curriculum. At Making Waves, we often hear from first-generation college students that they didn’t know about these norms, like attending office hours or networking with your professors. So, we’re here to break down office hours so you can make the most of them!
Professors are required to host office hours since their lecture or lab time is not enough instruction time for the content covered.
Office hours are a safe place to ask questions in a one-on-one setting as opposed to asking in front of a whole class.
Office hours are a space to check for understanding and have work evaluated before being graded.
Office hours help you connect with your professors, which can lead to future opportunities, internships, or letters of recommendation.
Prepare for office hours by breaking content into three areas. This will make the most use of your time and your professor’s time.
