COURSE DESCRIPTION:

College Applications & Planning = In Process. Decision Letters = Coming Soon!... Now What?  

In this ongoing version of my multi-day class Beyond Acceptance: Preparing to Succeed in College, students can join at any week, according to when they are ready to begin preparing for college - topics do not build, but are distinct

This discussion/informative style course (with some videos and a guest speaker during some sessions) is packed full of information that will empower students to take control of their college education. We look at the college degree as the frame of a puzzle, and we examine the various puzzle pieces that are available in college to complete their degree to make students as competitive as possible upon graduation. College is simply too expensive of an investment to not know how to make the most of one's college experience.  

While this course was designed for students completing a four-year degree, those students completing two-year degrees will equally benefit. If a student plans to earn a two-year degree, please message me upon enrollment so I can ensure they receive applicable information during class!

**This course assumes basic familiarity with the idea of college; students who have not yet begun any college search or are not familiar with what college is may not be ready. This course is recommended for juniors and seniors and those sophomores who have begun their college search.

Course Schedule: This course rotates among 6 distinct course themes that are completely distinct from each other, so after the 6th course theme is covered, the next class will cover the first course theme and the cycle repeats (if the class does not end after 6 meetings). Join when you'd like and stay for just one or all six themes -- the themes can be taken in any order. (This course is designed to be a thorough orientation, meaning students are strongly encouraged to stay for all 6 topics. Students who attend all six sessions will be messaged a reminder to unsubscribe so they are not charged for duplicate information.)

Upcoming Topics for Week Beginning:

January 15: Succeeding in a College Class: Syllabi, Course Expectations, & Asking for Help 
What does a college syllabus look like? How do you read it? How can you use the syllabus to put you at the top of the class? What are the differences between high school and college courses? How and when do I ask for help? 

January 22: Academic Planning Empowerment: Majors, 4-year Plans, & the University Catalog 
What do you need to consider when selecting a major? What are 4-year plans and university catalogs, and how does understanding them empower you to make your own academic decisions? This session puts students in the driver's seat of their education!

January 29: Building Life Skills: Communication with Professors, Organization, & Taking Notes 
Today we have a guest speaker: a current professor at a top 10 public university! She'll discuss how to communicate with faculty in a way that makes them want to help you succeed even after your class with them is finished. We'll also discuss importance of note-taking and look at various note-taking strategies and best practices as well as introduce the importance of getting organized.

February 5: Money Matters: Financial Aid (including student loans) and Credit vs. Debit Cards 
What does Financial Aid include? How do student loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) work? What does it look like to repay them? What is the difference between debit and credit cards, and how do I use credit wisely?  

February 12: College Essentials: Time Management, Budgeting, Extra Curriculars, Internships, and Study Abroad 
Why do I need to budget my money if I already paid my tuition? What should I be sure to allow time for in my own schedule? Are extra curricular activities, internships, and studying abroad important? How would these help me get a job later?
 
February 19: Career Preparation and 5 & 10 year Plans 
I'll share the best advice I ever received from a college professor before we discuss planning for the future. I'll share my personal method of writing cover letters that, in my personal experience, has resulted in a 50% success rate of landing that all important interview. We'll also discuss 5 and 10 year plans, and students will receive a handout to help them begin to create their own.

*This course is structured to cover the content listed above. However, I also try to cater to my students, so if a particular class seems to need more time or shows more interest in one area, my default is always to focus on my students' needs. This may mean that, on occasion, another topic may not be covered as thoroughly as planned due to time constraints.