College Bound? 7 Tips for a Smooth and Successful Transition

Many students are heading to college soon for the first time, so they’re on my mind. Below you’ll find seven tips focused on essential executive function skills for both college-bound students and their parents—and these tips can easily apply to students in grades 11-12!

1. Planning

Students need a system. They need to choose one and use it consistently. They shouldn’t be keeping work/due dates in their heads. They also shouldn’t be platform checking constantly. Doing so means students are online, which can be distracting. A once-a-day platform and email check should suffice.

For students who relied on a platform to tell them what was due in high school, that ship has sailed. College instructors lay out their entire course schedules in advance, complete with assignments. Students need to put these in their calendars.

Recommendations

Pick a planner!
- Analog planners: research supports tactical approaches to note taking and some of us prefer writing down what we have to do. A great option is to use paper calendars/to-do lists using online templates. These can be placed in a folder and divided into personal and academic to-dos. Another essential is a write-on/wipe-off whiteboard/calendar in the student’s room with space for a to-do list.
- Digital options include: Google Calendar and task list, Microsoft Outlook, and Apps such as Todoist (there are some good instructional videos online for most calendar apps).
Whether students choose a digital or analog approach (or a combination), they need to be sure to break up tasks into chunks. If certain types of work take longer to complete, factor this into planning (for example, breaking large reading assignments into smaller groups of time, feels less onerous).
Students also need to be aware of class drop deadlines. If a class just isn’t working out, they can usually drop it without penalty within a certain timeframe. They need to search their school’s platform under “drop deadlines” and/or check with an advisor. Dropped classes can be retaken later, and summer is sometimes an option.

2. Time Management

Students who aren’t early risers will be relieved to find that few colleges require you to be awake and alert at 8:00 am any longer. Students who have trouble with early mornings simply should not take early morning classes. I’ve always regretted taking Physiological Psychology at 8:30 a.m. during my first semester at UCLA. While the subject was interesting, it was new for me and complex, which required me to be firing on all cylinders, which was not always the case. Lesson learned! After that class, I started scheduling all of my classes for after 10 am.

Recommendations

Students likely know times of day when they are at their “best” for classes and studying. They should schedule classes accordingly and set aside time during the day for work and reading that aligns favorably with their peak attention spans.

3. Do The Reading & Take Notes (No Shortcuts)

It’s simple, students who don’t like to read, shouldn’t major in English. Of course, the reality is that regardless of the class, ALL students need to do some reading.

Recommendations

While it’s fine to use audio books if possible (especially for fiction or bios), know that most textbooks aren’t available on audio.
If a student doesn’t like eBooks and doesn’t read them, they should order a hard copy. It’s worth it. Ebooks can be hard to engage with and the interface is often clumsy, making note taking difficult (with hard copies, students can annotate). Research shows that there are drawbacks to reading online (distractions for one). If instructors assign reading or strongly suggest it, students need to make the time. There are no shortcuts, and relying on lectures can be problematic. Most lectures are now accompanied only by slides which are posted without notes and are often incomprehensible without other information. Taking notes is key.
Speaking of notes, students who have not mastered this essential skill should take a class like the SOS4Students workshop, Secrets of Successful Note Taking, or work one-on-one with a coach this summer before heading off to college. In a pinch, they can download a video on note-taking or practice with TED talks. Here’s a note taking system notebook we love: Oxford FocusNotes.

4. Getting Started

Learning ways to get started on work and avoid chronic procrastination is essential for student success.

Recommendations

Students should leave enough free time in their schedules to get work done. Back-to-back classes create more stress. Students might consider taking three classes instead of four during their first semester to give them more time for studies.
When getting started, students need to know why they are doing the work and what the goal is.
Many students avoid getting started because they are confused about directions or the actions they need to take, or they don’t understand the concepts. This leaves them feeling lost. As a first action, they need to reach out to get tutoring or assistance from their instructors immediately.
Here’s a pro-tip: Students should start assignments by writing a sentence, or engaging in a bullet point brainstorm, or posing the questions they want to have answered in the reading. This helps with focus.

5. Accommodations

Students need to ensure they have the accommodations they need (don’t wait!). I’ve seen too many students put off arranging for accommodations until it’s too late in the term. They need to reach out as soon as possible to get the ball rolling.

Recommendations

The student disability service center on campus will want testing results from the last three years. Testing from before that will not be accepted.
Students need to fill out the online application for the accommodations needed and send copies of testing and recommendations.
Parents can’t do this for students. Colleges only want to talk to students. The best way parents can assist is by asking if their student needs help. That’s it.

6. Self-Advocacy

Being able to self-advocate is essential for students. They need to feel comfortable meeting with instructors as often as needed and be as transparent as possible about any learning differences.

Recommendations

Students who need a tutor shouldn’t wait. They can find one through the college’s learning support services. For tutoring sessions, students need to go regularly, bring an agenda, and take notes.
Study groups can be very helpful. Students can check with the library, academic advisors, departments, classmates, and online discussion boards to see what is available.
Reaching out to clubs and organizations of interest can help students boost their social connections. Socializing is a mood enhancer and often a key to students feeling on their “game.”
Students who saw therapists or received counseling at home and who’d like to continue while at college can check with the school’s counseling center for referrals and help with transition adjustment. I’m a big fan of in-person counseling if possible. Teletherapy is fine if that’s the only option but your California therapist may not be licensed to practice in Colorado, for example.

7. Communication With Parents

Maintaining communication with parents during the first year of college is crucial for students. It provides emotional support, helps manage stress, and ensures a safety net, fostering a smoother transition to independent living and academic success.

Recommendations

Students should . . .

Determine a schedule and frequency for check-ins. Parents should avoid texting during school hours and expecting immediate replies, allowing students to focus on their studies instead of alleviating parental concerns.
Plan finances in advance, discussing monthly needs.
Have parents send Google invites for travel plans, or students can make the plans and share them via Google Calendar.
Gather information about doctors and contact details for booking appointments, reviewing this and insurance coverage before leaving for college.

SOS4Students Is Here to Help

SOS4Students offers one-on-one summer coaching and workshops that can help college students before they leave with planning, organization, note-taking, and more.

Summer Coaching with SOS4Students is a great way to build or hone executive function and study strategy skills for the upcoming school year. Best of all, we can continue support when the school year begins online or in-person. Book Summer Coaching Now

Summer workshops teach age-appropriate skills and strategies for students, including planning, time management, and note taking. Sign Up Now

Got Questions?

If you have questions about workshops, coaching, or other ways in which we can help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (510) 531-4767 or .