Transitions: High School to College

For this week's blog post, I paid a visit to my alma mater to discuss the transition from high school to college with Rachel, Charlie, Richard, & Bobby, 4 graduating seniors.  As these 4 students are all friends with my brother, I have had countless conversations with them about college and their future.  However, when I was first presented witht his assignment, it reminded me of the "R- Full Value Contracts" the Orientation Leaders used during Team Meeting 1 as an ice breaker this past summer.  This activity asked students about their hopes and fears about coming to RU.  So, for these interviews, I followed the same theme, asking students the following questions: 

1. What are you most excited about as you head to college?

2. What are you most afraid about as you head to college?

3. What do you think will help ease the transition for you?

Their answers to these questions can be seen in the following video that I put together.

Being an Orientation Leader gives students the opportunity to be involved in all the aspects first-year students are most excited for when coming to college.  For example, OLs help first-years pick their classes on Academic Planning and Advising days.  Many of us become so jaded from choosing our own classes, we forget how exciting (and confusing) it may be to an incoming student.  Making new friends and building a community is the main goal for many students.  Coming to a new place for the first time with all new people can be scary.  Being a friendly face and helping students interact and form friendships should be a main goal of every staff member.  Lastly, students are excited about learning new things and embracing diversity, of cultures and ideas.  This is facilitated by an OL through creating an open, inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable and can share.  


Coming to college, especially at Rutgers, comes with many unique challenges and fears.  At Orientation, it is important to calm students fears and show them that college at RU is manageable.  For example, if a student is fearful of getting lost, be sure to show your student helpful ways of getting around campus while on your tour (like maps or asking someone for help!)  If students are stressed about the work load of college, teaching them about resources such as Rutgers Learning Centers and libraries is helpful.  Lastly, students can't take advantage of all the resources on campus if they aren't informed of them.  So, OLs must always remember to give them information on those resources or the tools to find them on their own.


Orientation helps students ease their transition by providing the aspects the students mention during their interviews in our 2 day program.  For example, during her interview Rachel discusses getting to meet university faculty and staff.  During faculty and education sessions, students are given the opportunity to make these connections.  Charlie discusses finding friends and/or upperclassmen who can teach him the ways of college life.  This is provided to our first-years 48 times, with our lovely student staff!  Richard mentions learning about resources.  This is taken care of in every aspect of our program: resource fair, campus tours, the gameshow, team meetings, etc.  Lastly, Bobby talks about finding his niche.  By making students feel comfortable and letting them know that everyone has a place at RU, we do exactly that.  


Thank you!  :)