Grade: Grade 12 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: College Readiness SAT: ExpressionOfIdeas ACT: English

Transition Preparation

📖 Learn

The transition to college involves more than academics. Beyond study skills, successful college students navigate new social environments, manage their mental and physical health independently, and develop the executive function skills needed for adult life.

Definition: College Transition

College transition refers to the comprehensive adjustment process students undergo when moving from high school to higher education. It encompasses academic, social, emotional, and practical life changes that determine college success and well-being.

Domains of College Readiness

Domain Key Challenges Preparation Strategies
Academic Harder material, less structure, self-directed learning Build study skills now, take challenging courses
Social New environment, leaving friends, diverse community Develop social skills, join activities, stay connected
Emotional Homesickness, stress, identity exploration Build coping strategies, know support resources
Practical/Life Managing money, health, schedules independently Practice independence now, learn basic life skills

Executive Function Skills

Executive function is your brain's management system. College requires these skills at a higher level than high school:

  • Planning: Breaking goals into steps, estimating time needed
  • Organization: Keeping track of materials, information, and deadlines
  • Time management: Prioritizing, avoiding procrastination
  • Self-monitoring: Recognizing when strategies aren't working
  • Impulse control: Resisting distractions, delaying gratification
  • Emotional regulation: Managing stress without falling apart

Building Independence Before College

Don't wait for college to practice adult responsibilities:

Life Skill Area Practice Now
Laundry Do your own laundry weekly for the next 6 months
Cooking Learn 5-10 simple, healthy meals you can make
Budgeting Track spending; create and stick to a budget
Healthcare Schedule your own appointments; know your medications
Waking up Use your own alarm; parents don't wake you
Conflict resolution Handle disputes yourself before involving parents

Social Navigation in College

College social life differs from high school:

  • No built-in friend group: You must proactively build relationships
  • Greater diversity: Roommates and classmates from different backgrounds
  • More independence: No parents monitoring social choices
  • Higher stakes: Decisions about substances, relationships, and safety

Know Your Resources

Before you need them, learn where to find: the counseling center, health services, academic support/tutoring, financial aid office, disability services, and the Dean of Students. These resources exist to help you succeed, and using them is a sign of maturity, not weakness.

💡 Examples

Work through these examples of navigating college transition challenges.

Example 1: Creating a First-Semester Survival Plan

Scenario: A student is nervous about starting college in a different state, away from all high school friends. What should their first-semester survival plan include?

First-Semester Survival Plan:

Week 1 (Orientation):

  • Attend ALL orientation events, even if awkward
  • Exchange contact info with roommate and floor-mates
  • Locate all key buildings: classes, dining, library, health center
  • Join 2-3 clubs or activities that interest you

Weeks 2-4:

  • Establish study routine BEFORE getting behind
  • Attend each club at least twice before deciding
  • Schedule weekly calls with family (but not daily)
  • Introduce yourself to one new person daily

Ongoing:

  • Visit professors during office hours at least once
  • Use campus counseling if feeling overwhelmed
  • Maintain healthy sleep, exercise, and eating habits
  • Say "yes" to social invitations (within reason)

Example 2: Managing Roommate Conflict

Scenario: A student's roommate stays up until 3 AM with the lights on while the student has 8 AM classes. How should they handle this?

Conflict Resolution Approach:

Step 1: Don't avoid it or let resentment build

  • Address issues early before they become major conflicts

Step 2: Have a calm, direct conversation

  • Use "I" statements: "I have trouble sleeping with lights on" not "You're so inconsiderate"
  • Choose a neutral time, not during the problem moment

Step 3: Propose solutions together

  • Compromise: desk lamp instead of overhead lights
  • Sleep masks and earplugs for the early sleeper
  • Quiet hours agreement (e.g., lights off by midnight)

Step 4: If direct conversation fails

  • Involve your Resident Advisor (RA) - that's their job
  • Request room mediation through housing
  • As last resort, request a room change

Key mindset: Learning to resolve conflict directly is a crucial life skill. Avoiding conflict or running to authorities first teaches you nothing.

Example 3: Creating a College Budget

Scenario: A student has $500/month from a combination of work-study and family support. Create a realistic budget.

Sample Monthly Budget ($500):
Category Amount Notes
Food (beyond meal plan) $100 Snacks, coffee, occasional dining out
Personal care $50 Toiletries, haircuts
Entertainment $75 Movies, events, subscriptions
Transportation $50 Rideshares, bus passes
School supplies $25 Notebooks, printing
Emergency savings $100 Non-negotiable - don't touch this
Flexible $100 Clothing, unexpected expenses
TOTAL $500

Budgeting tips: Track every purchase for the first month, use a budgeting app, transfer emergency savings immediately so you don't see it as spendable.

Example 4: Recognizing When to Seek Help

Scenario: A student has been feeling sad and isolated for three weeks, is sleeping 12+ hours a day, and has stopped attending classes. Is this normal college adjustment?

Assessment:

Signs that go beyond normal adjustment:

  • Duration: 2+ weeks of persistent symptoms
  • Functional impairment: Missing classes, unable to do work
  • Physical changes: Sleep or appetite significantly disrupted
  • Isolation: Avoiding all social contact

This student should:

  1. Contact the campus counseling center immediately
  2. Let a trusted person (RA, friend, family member) know
  3. Email professors about missed classes - most will work with you
  4. If in crisis, use campus crisis line or text HOME to 741741

Key point: Struggling is normal. Suffering in silence is not required. Getting help early prevents small problems from becoming major ones.

Example 5: Self-Advocacy with a Professor

Scenario: A student doesn't understand the material but is afraid to ask the professor for help. What should they do?

Self-Advocacy Steps:

1. Prepare before going to office hours:

  • Review notes and identify specific confusion points
  • Attempt problems and note where you got stuck
  • Write down 2-3 specific questions

2. What to say:

  • "I'm struggling with [specific topic]. I've tried [approach], but I'm stuck at [point]. Can you help me understand?"
  • NOT: "I don't get any of this" (too vague)

3. Follow up:

  • Send a brief thank-you email
  • Implement their suggestions
  • Return if still confused

Mindset shift: Professors expect students to need help. Coming to office hours shows initiative, not weakness. Professors are more likely to help students who demonstrate effort.

✏️ Practice

Test your understanding of college transition preparation.

  1. Which of the following is NOT one of the four domains of college readiness?

    • Academic
    • Social
    • Athletic
    • Practical/Life skills

  2. Executive function skills include all of the following EXCEPT:

    • Planning and organization
    • Impulse control
    • Memorizing facts
    • Emotional regulation

  3. What is the recommended first step when you have a conflict with your roommate?

    • Immediately request a room change
    • Have a calm, direct conversation using "I" statements
    • Complain to the RA without talking to your roommate
    • Ignore the problem and hope it goes away

  4. Why is it important to build life skills (like laundry and cooking) before college?

    • College cafeterias are always closed
    • So you can practice independence before you're on your own
    • Colleges require a life skills test
    • It's not important - college teaches these skills

  5. A student is struggling academically and emotionally. What is a sign they should seek professional help?

    • Feeling nervous before a big test
    • Missing home during the first week
    • Unable to function (missing classes, can't do work) for 2+ weeks
    • Finding college harder than high school

  6. What should you do BEFORE going to a professor's office hours?

    • Nothing - just show up and ask what you missed
    • Prepare specific questions about where you're stuck
    • Wait until you've failed an exam
    • Ask your parents to email the professor

  7. What percentage of a college budget should typically be set aside for emergency savings?

    • 0% - spend it all on entertainment
    • About 10-20%
    • 50%
    • Only save if you have extra money

  8. During orientation week, you should:

    • Stay in your room and video chat with high school friends
    • Attend all events and try to meet new people
    • Skip optional events to study
    • Wait for people to come to you

  9. Using campus resources like the counseling center is:

    • A sign of weakness
    • Only for students with serious problems
    • A sign of maturity and self-awareness
    • Not allowed for first-year students

  10. What's the best approach to maintaining relationships with family during college?

    • Call home multiple times daily
    • Cut off contact completely for independence
    • Schedule regular but not excessive communication (e.g., weekly calls)
    • Only call when you need money
View Answer Key
  1. C - The four domains are academic, social, emotional, and practical/life skills. Athletic is not a core domain.
  2. C - Executive function involves planning, organization, impulse control, and emotional regulation - not memorization.
  3. B - Start with a calm, direct conversation before involving others.
  4. B - Practicing independence before college means you're not learning everything at once while also handling academics.
  5. C - Inability to function for 2+ weeks signals a need for professional support.
  6. B - Prepare specific questions to make the most of office hours and show effort.
  7. B - Setting aside 10-20% for emergencies is a reasonable starting point.
  8. B - Orientation is crucial for building social connections; attend events and meet people.
  9. C - Using resources shows maturity and self-awareness, not weakness.
  10. C - Balance is key: stay connected without being dependent on constant contact.

✅ Check Your Understanding

Reflect on your readiness for the college transition.

1. Which domain of college readiness (academic, social, emotional, practical) do you feel most prepared for? Which concerns you most?

View Response Guide

Most students feel strong in 1-2 areas and less prepared in others. Being honest about gaps allows you to work on them before college. If social readiness concerns you, practice now by joining new activities. If practical skills are weak, start doing your own laundry and cooking. Awareness is the first step.

2. What life skills (cooking, laundry, budgeting, healthcare management) can you start practicing this month?

View Response Guide

Pick at least one concrete skill to develop: take over your laundry completely, learn to cook 3 meals, set up a budget tracker, or schedule your own doctor's appointment. These skills feel small but add up. Students who arrive at college already managing these tasks have more mental energy for academics and social life.

3. How do you currently handle conflicts with peers or family members? What could you improve?

View Response Guide

Common patterns to improve: avoiding conflict until it explodes, getting parents involved too quickly, becoming aggressive or defensive, giving in to avoid discomfort. Practice: addressing issues directly but calmly, using "I" statements, listening to the other perspective, and seeking win-win solutions. College roommate success often depends on these skills.

4. Do you know where to find mental health resources at the college you plan to attend? If not, look them up now.

View Response Guide

Visit your college's website and find: counseling center (hours, how to make appointments, crisis line), health services, academic support center. Save these contacts in your phone BEFORE you need them. Knowing where to go removes a barrier when you're struggling. It's much harder to search for resources when you're already overwhelmed.

🚀 Next Steps

  • Review any concepts that felt challenging
  • Move on to the next lesson when ready
  • Return to practice problems periodically for review