College_Preparation

-1 Without the proper preparations for college, makes it hard for students to survive or enjoy the highlights of education. Although, there are many resources out there to help students with study habits and how to study the right areas in a particular subject, there is very little information on how to get the resources. Altschuler does mention a few resources on how to study, for college students and they are similar to what Bryant & Stratton offers; however, Bryant & Stratton resources are a solution to some of the issues Altshuler mentioned, that college students face. Altschuler mentions that students do not take the time out to study like they are suppose to. Some students have a difficult time with knowing how to study the areas that are important in a particular subject. Studying the unnecessary areas can take up a lot of time and can become boring, and this makes the students give up on studying or sometimes their education. As mention by Altschuler, students feel that they have it all figured out their first year of college, that is until mid-terms and final exams come around. Bryant & Stratton does not give the options of giving up to their students, instead they give them the help that is needed. FYE is one of the many resources that Bryant & Stratton offers. FYE stands for First Year Experience. It is a class linked with Sociology 101 at Bryant & Stratton. This class is a requirement for all freshmen’s. FYE helps work on study habits and time managing skills, along with focusing on helping students with their strengths and weaknesses. They provide time out of every week to educate students on how the resources that are offered to the students work. They give aptitude test on almost anything that students ask for. This allows students a better understanding on how to focus on key factors that they may need help getting through, throughout their college experience. “Everyone has the same amount of time in an hour, day, week or year. Some people manage their time better than others do and the difference is planning. Managing your time takes self-discipline. Unlike high school students, college students spend more time studying outside of the classroom. Successful college students arrange specific periods for studying.” (“Student Success,” n.d., ¶ 1). This class gives Bryant & Stratton students a better outlook on how to get through college without having to suffer through the dislikes of studying. In Altschuler’s first article tells how various colleges has different types of learning strategy and tutoring centers. He believes, for lack of a better phrase that students do not use the learning strategy and tutoring centers until students grades do not come out the way they want them too. If students take advantage of the resources available to them ahead of time receiving unwanted grades will not be an option. Bryant & Stratton offers two main tutoring centers on campus. Math Lab and the F.L.I.G.H.T Center Math Lab is a tutoring center ran by staff and student tutors. It is designed for students to get help with any math homework, quizzes, or test. It is offered throughout the course of the school day, every semester. Students are informed ahead of time in their classes when assignments, exams and quizzes are coming up, by using their tracking calendars that are given to them in every class on the first day of every semester. The tracking calendar allows them to review the up coming assignments, and if they need help they can receive it before they start the actual assignment. Teachers give students interim reports every two weeks, if students need help the teachers will inform them to go to Math Lab. The F.L.I.G.H.T Center is a tutoring center to help students with their writing and reading skills. Students can use this center to get help with their essays. Bryant & Stratton offers their own form of APA format, which is a difficult format to follow for most students. The format has to be used for all essays. The F.L.I.G.H.T Center teaches the format to the student that have trouble with applying APA to their essays. Students often have difficulties with understanding the readings that are given in class, the F.L.I.G.H.T Center helps by giving students one on one time and help them to focus on the content of the readings. “Classroom lectures, activities and discussions are the bricks upon which the course(s) are built. The textbook, however, is the mortar. The textbook provides the essential information for the course. Without the mortar, the foundation will not withstand the elements (tests). Unlike novels and mysteries, textbooks are not read for entertainment. They contain much information that sometimes the reader finds it difficult to remain focused especially if they read page after page and chapter after chapter.” (“Reading Skills” n.d., ¶ 1). Altschuler mentions that students should commit to there education. Some students tend to procrastinate and loose motivation. He says that students pick their choice of the way and who they study with. Students usually work alone or in study groups and use essential elements that helps aide in helpful study habits. Working with other opens up a wide realm of discussion. Bryant & Stratton’s RAP Room or Resources for Academic Progress helps with forming study groups and various clubs for students to join. The study groups and clubs are designed to help students progress in their journey through college. For the Students who like to study alone and enjoy the luxury to do most of their work online, and rather get online tutoring, Bryant & Stratton offers Smarthinking. Smarthinking is a website that allows students to summit their essays and receive feedback on the context and contents of their writing. The website offers additional tutoring and study sessions. Yes, Altschuler and Bryant & Stratton have a lot of resources that help college students to help with their studying. Preparation before college should be a must. High schools should prepare students for college upon entry into high school. This will help with study habits and getting over anxiety about test taking or any other uncomfortable situations. “As you enter your classroom on the first day of class, you have a grade. That grade is “A”. It is up to you to maintain the “A”. On the first day, you begin your process of preparing for the final exam. Learning the art of achieving top grades is not complex. It takes discipline to set the process into an everyday habit. Often students have difficulty studying and preparing for tests because their fundamental skills of time management, note taking, listening and dealing with test anxiety need development. (“Test Taking,” n.d., ¶ 1). Students are not actually taught how to study or what to study. Giving guidelines on the key items to study in a particular subject, will help the students on what to study. Working with groups on various activities, will help students more acceptable to study groups. High school should be the portal to helping students identify their study habits.