Summer is right around the corner! With most high schools pushing through second semester, it’s easy to dream of pool lounging and netflix binging. But, don’t give in to that temptation! (at least not entirely…)
Spend a couple weeks this summer on a college campus, getting ready for the upcoming years. If that doesn’t sound enticing enough, here are just 8 of the many reasons to love pre-college programs (especially Blueprint!)
Everything about Blueprint is designed to get students ready for college.
Obviously we have our College Prep course and CCR Summit. And there’s the whole thing where you’re actually living on a college campus. But even the little things, like where you go on field trips, participating in community service and evening activities are all purposefully crafted to develop those critical CCR skills we’ve been talking about.
Good grades and high test scores are necessary to get into college, but there’s many things you can’t learn in a classroom. Blueprint sets the stage for high school students to spend a couple weeks during their summer really preparing for college and even test driving the college experience.
What you do outside of the classroom is just as important (if not more so!) than what you do in class. It’s that time spent on things other than academics that is crucial for a student’s well-being and development. After all, what good is a straight A student when you never developed the emotional maturity to handle all the challenges life is about to throw you?
College Admissions Offices emphasize the importance of being well-rounded. There will be 100s of students just like you with good grades and high test scores. Have something that makes you stand out besides academics. But beyond that, what good is it to get involved in a few extracurriculars?
While in high school, students and parents both spend a lot of time and energy navigating the admissions process. Ensuring their scores are high, their interests are varied. They’ve researched potential careers and majors. And selected the perfect college. So much focus is given to getting accepted to the right college, but many fail to focus on ensuring students are able to succeed once they get there.
Most people assume that upon graduation of high school, students will be prepared to go on to college. They passed the classes, have an acceptable (if not excellent) GPA, and even received a few different acceptance letters! That means they’re ready, right?
Not necessarily…
It’s never too early to start thinking about and planning for college. Though the end of sophomore/beginning of junior year is when most students start to get serious about college admissions, there are plenty of things to do even as you begin high school!
Ever wonder what you should be doing in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade to be getting ready for college? When should you narrow down your top picks? What summer is best for college visits?
Required by nearly every American college and the bane of a high school student’s existence. At some point, typically during your junior year, you’re going to have to make the decision. Do you take the SAT or ACT? Or are you so indecisive that you just say forget it and take both?
Both are accepted by most colleges. Both have optional essays. Both measure competencies in Math, Reading and English. And with recent edits to the SAT, they are now more similar than ever!
First things first…is one better than the other? Not really (though some may disagree). When deciding between and studying for the ACT or SAT, it really comes down to personal preference. There may not be a best choice overall, but there likely is a best choice for you.
Time management is a critical CCR skill. It’s important in high school, but even more so in college when you have to actually make your own decisions on when to study or when to watch a movie with friends. Let me give you an example:
Student: “Can I go hang out with my friends tonight?”
Parent: “Have you done all your homework?”
Student: “I just have to finish up my history paper and study for my AP English exam…”
Parent: “Then you can do your school work instead.”
Sound familiar?
Hopefully by high school, you’ve already learned the importance of getting all your school assignments done. Maybe your family even has a rule that you have to complete all work before watching tv, playing Xbox or going over to a friend’s. And so far, you’ve done great at turning in assignments on time and making good grades.
But, what happens when you’re on your own? When you don’t have your parents constantly checking to make sure you’ve completed your work? When you have a midterm you really should study for, but you’re roommate is having a bunch of people over to watch Game of Thrones?
You already know that second semester of your senior year is too late to start talking and thinking about getting ready for college. The skills you need to be successful in college (and in your career) is something that many students practice and prepare for as young as middle school. And are thinking about as young as elementary school!
We aren’t saying that you should have ACT/SAT vocabulary words in your crib. But it’s never too early to stress the importance of preparing yourself to succeed!
By Marcus D. Dumas, MPH, CHES
On March 14, 1986, legendary football coach Woody Hayes delivered the commencement address at The Ohio State University. Like many speeches before, he started with a simple phrase, “Pay It Forward.” He continued with the following statement, “So seldom can we pay back because those who helped the most, will be long gone, but you will find that you do want to pay. You can pay back only seldom, but you can always pay forward.”
So what does this idea of paying it forward mean and how is it applicable to college success? Well, this expression is used to describe the beneficence of a good deed shown to another person instead of to the original benefactor. Volunteering or helping others pays off during any stage in life, but it is even more beneficial to the college student. College is the time in your life where you will learn the most about yourself and will formulate ideas that will direct your path in life. There are many reasons a person should pay it forward. Let’s discuss a few of them below. Many of these reasons are directly correlated with reasons a person might enroll in college.
By Marcus D. Dumas, MPH, CHES
Being a first year college student can be fun but there is one thing you must know going in. Yes, college is a totally different experience than high school. Late night cram sessions. All-you-can-eat pizza and dessert in the caf. Sorority/Fraternity Rush every fall. But, what you may not be prepared for is just how different college will be from high school as it relates to academics. How you might ask? Lets look at it from two different angles.
Choose your campus. Blueprint has selected nine very special schools, each with a distinctive personality.
Pick your course. Blueprint courses are fun and rewarding. No homework. No tests. No stress!
Decide how long you want to stay. Decide to stay one week or two weeks and you are registered. Done!