Many education systems have a different curriculum and set of standards taught inside the classroom. Due to this disparity, college admission counselors cannot automatically assume all high school students are ready to transition to college. The college journey is never straightforward; thus, we need strict expectations on the knowledge that students should master before enrolling in college.

According to National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, nearly 60% of first-year college students realize too late that they aren’t adequately prepared for the rigorous demands of postsecondary education. To better prevent this number from growing, parents or teachers can help guide students towards a smoother transition into college by:

• Helping students learn how to advocate for themselves in times of difficulty
• Assisting students in developing realistic expectations about college-level work
• Encouraging students to build healthy study habits early on
• Supporting students by helping them understand the “big picture”

What Are College Readiness Skills?

As referenced by the American Institutes for Research, there are some skills and knowledge that students need in their toolbelt of skills to be considered college and career-ready.

• Being knowledgeable in various “core” subjects including Science, Mathematics, and English
• Demonstrating a strong use of critical thinking or problem-solving skills
• A strong sense of perseverance and grit, community involvement, and effective communication skills

Why is College and Career Readiness Important?

It is crucial that students be prepared for college in order to close the readiness gap that has become a massive barrier to college attainment. Hanoverresearch.com states that “students who have been prepared for college and a career have multiple advantages.” Students who end up taking remedial courses in college often delay their anticipated graduation date. By failing to prepare for college, students can expect to dish out more tuition expenses, as well as playing catch-up for the bulk of their tenure on campus.

How Many Students Feel Unprepared for College after High School?

The Hechinger Report stated that 47% of American High School graduates have never completed or taken a college-nor career-ready course of study before going to college. This creates a widely seen gap between the students who have been adequately prepared and those who have not. It’s unfortunate to learn that only 29% of students will go on to earn their college degree if they end up taking one or two remedial classes with their coursework. That’s why we recommend that high school students complete a college-readiness course to increase the number of opportunities that are available in the future.

Where Can I Find a College Readiness Program?

There are several programs offered by many institutions that are willing to give you the tools you need to succeed in college, master time management, and learn effective communication skills. A program named College Now is a free dual collaborative program in NYC that offers dual enrollment and several programs that can help make your transition to college a smooth one. The goals of these programs are to help students enhance their performances on Regents exams and other placement exams so that they can enroll in college without the need to take remedial classes in the future.

There are many other online sources similar to College Now that can help students with their chances of success in college. By monitoring their academic progress and helping them reach out to other resources, students can go through college with the mindset that they will graduate with a successful career ahead of them. For additional information on helpful college preparation tips, check out our other blogs.