Orientation is key for first-year students
Students start with a clean slate in college, says Mary O’Rawe
T HE focus on college drop-out rates, particularly in first year, and debates around fees and funding, remind us to consider why students find it so difficult to make the transition from secondary school to higher education.
So how can incoming students prepare themselves to make the best academic transition?
The key to getting a good start is attending the orientation. This is a day, days or increasingly, an extended period of transition and academic supports, devised specifically by those who understand the characteristics of a particular first-year group at a college.
These tutorials or online supports are invaluable for getting accustomed to academic writing, reading, note-taking and the all-important critical thinking. Often, there is also a ‘toolkit’ of assistive technologies and apps to ease the transition.
While learners will be supported, they must also take full responsibility for submitting work and parts of work. Non-submission of something small can be the difference between progression to second year and a summer of worry. Students have a clean academic slate starting in college, so even subjects that troubled them before can be approached differently and with new eyes.
What will the learning environment be like? Images of a packed, tiered lecture theatre do not apply to every class — expect smaller rooms, breakout-style and tutorials. Students will be used to moving around in school, but perhaps not accustomed to having gaps in the timetable. This can be troublesome to new undergraduates.
Knowing what the programme is about is crucial. Now’s the time to get the facts straight. What exactly will have to be completed in first-year? How many modules? Is there a mandatory threshold that must be met in all/certain modules? Can exemptions be gained in some modules due to prior study?