Were you ever in on a joke that only a few people understood?  It felt good to be “in the know”, didn’t it?  Did you feel, almost, superior to those that didn’t “get it”?  Don’t feel bad.  We have all had moments when we were privy to information that others did not have and it made us feel confidence in ourselves and in where we stood. 

It may feel the same way for you in your first weeks at college.  People are speaking a strange language that you don’t understand.  They are running their lives by expectations that you are not aware of.  They are going to and from with ease and you feel foolish trying to find the laundry room. 

Upperclassmen, professors, and staff all seem to be in on the same joke with the same lingo, the same world and orbit in which they are all surviving and thriving in and they don’t seem to be willing to let you in on the secret language.

In order to survive and thrive you must learn about this new culture and the expectations of you.  Who should you go to?  Who would be willing to and knowledgeable of the necessary information to make your transition to college a smooth one?

There are lots of things that you can do/know to ensure your success:

Read your syllabi

Read your college catalogue

Create a long-term educational plan

Know your general requirements

Know your prerequisites

Confirm your major

Meet with instructors during office hours

Know the importance of grade point average (GPA)

Know how to compute GPA

If you stop attending class, withdraw officially

Talk to instructors before withdrawing

Know your lifetime eligibility for financial aid

Keep a file of important documents

Keep a journal

C.A.N. is here for you to ensure that you are up to the challenges that lay ahead.  If you would like to discuss the transition to college and how C.A.N. can be of assistance, please fill out the contact us page on our website. http://www.canstudentconsultants.com/