From One Stage to the Next: Part 3: Preparing High School Students for College and the Workforce

Posted on June 7, 2016

High school graduation is one of the major stepping stones in any student’s life. Many graduating students leave high school as legal adults, and now they must prepare to enter the next stage of their lives: either college or the workforce (or both). Whichever direction they choose, it is important to prepare them for both avenues. Even if they are going to college now, they will eventually join the workforce. In the same token, students that choose to initially join the workforce may decide to go to college later.

Making the Transition from High School to College

College is completely different from high school; students need to be prepared. More flexibility, more responsibility, and more intensity await incoming college students, and transitioning to college can be overwhelming.

Making the Transition to College: Coursework

In the months or even years leading up to college, it is important for teachers and parents to encourage students to read as much as possible, even during the summer months. “College course work consists of substantially more reading than is required in high school,” says Travis Mitchell from U.S. News^[1]. Students who read more are better prepared for the heavier reading load, and it helps to select books recommended for a student’s areas of interest or major considerations^[2]. Being technologically savvy also helps a great deal when students are preparing for college, as many professors assign and accept homework via computer. In addition, the ability to type quickly and conduct research online can give students the tools they need to write and learn more effectively^[3].

Preparing Students for College: Time Management

Time-management is also a vital skill that teachers and parents need to impart to students to better ensure their success in college. As outlined by a running joke among college students: 1. Good grades; 2. Social Life; 3. Adequate Sleep. Pick two: welcome to college^[4]. For many students, this struggle is all too real, but if a student manages their time appropriately, it is possible to enjoy all three when they make the transition to college. Parents and teachers should make students aware of the various digital and physical tools available to help them schedule and plan their time use^[5].

The School Counselor’s Role in Preparing Students for College

School counselors play a large role in college preparation. Counselors can help students prepare by making sure they plan reasonably challenging course schedules, tracking graduation requirements, recommending colleges that match their goals and capabilities, and explaining the financial aid, application, and registration processes^[6].

Myth vs. Reality: Mentally Preparing for the Transition from High School to College

What sometimes gets overlooked is the need to mentally prepare students for the reality of college. Brian Hark, Ed. D. suggests that numerous high school graduates tend to be “overly optimistic and confident in their ability to manage the challenges they will encounter at college,” a phenomenon he calls the “freshman myth”^[7]. As a result, nearly a third of inbound college students drop out by the end of their freshman year^[8]. To avoid this, parents and students should sit down and discuss realistic personal, academic, and social expectations for what college will be like for students.

Preparing Students for the Workforce

Whether a student is planning to work full-time after high school or if they will have a part-time job while they pursue postsecondary education, it is important to prepare them for the responsibilities of being on their own and managing their money, time, and character. This preparation is vital for all students, as only about a quarter of employers believe “that traditional universities are doing an adequate job of preparing graduates for the workplace”^[9].

Professional Skills

Students preparing to enter the workforce need a firm grasp on the skills they will use in the work force. Computer and customer service skills, task prioritization, punctuality and reliability, and the ability to work well with others are aptitudes not often taught in high school or even college. As a result, many students are left grossly underprepared for entry-level jobs^[10]. Preparing students for the future must include teaching these skills.

Life Skills

Students preparing for the workforce also require life skills in order to handle the responsibilities that come with earning a paycheck and living on their own. Many students leaving high school and even college don’t know how to fill out a tax return, budget their income, or balance a checkbook^[11]. In order to be fully prepared to take on life outside academia, students also need to learn how to deal with and move beyond failure. “Kids today are afraid to fail,” says Karen Collias, an educational consultant. “This fear saps their creativity and robs them of experiencing the true joy of learning and doing”^[12]. Handling failure with grace and learning from mistakes is a part of business as well as part of growing into a better employee and a better person.

Communication Skills

Furthermore, preparing students for the workforce and for life in general must include teaching them effective communication skills across all situations and platforms. From filling out forms and writing elongated reports to crafting quick, concise e-mails and from verbalizing ideas to a supervisor to making a presentation before a group of clients, students need to be able to formulate and convey their thoughts in a professional manner.

Preparing Students for the Future. Preparing Students for Life.

After high school graduation, students scatter in different directions as they enter the next stage in their lives. Some are preparing for college, some are preparing to enter the workforce, and some are doing both. To prepare students for the future, parents, teachers, and counselors need to teach them the skills that will help them succeed, whether they are transitioning from high school to college or preparing for the workforce.

From One Stage to the Next: Always Moving Forward

From Kindergarten to beyond 12th grade graduation, students are learning and changing while experiencing all kinds of transitions. Parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators have the power to make these transitional phases much smoother for students. Whether preparing elementary school students for middle school, middle school students for high school, high school students for college, or preparing graduating students for the workforce, adults can teach students the tools and skills they need to move forward.

At Pride Surveys, we can help ensure that your transition programs are effective and beneficial for your community. Student, parent, and teacher surveys can give insight into the effectiveness of existing transition programs as well as identify areas of concern or need that aren’t being addressed by current programs. For more information about the accurate and reliable surveys we offer, contact us today! Our customizable surveys can help keep your students on track from one stage to the next.

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[1] Mitchell, Travis. “10 Ways to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College.” U.S. News: Education. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-ways-to-prepare-for-your-freshman-year-of-college/2 on May 16, 2016.

[2] Mitchell, Travis. “10 Ways to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College.” U.S. News: Education. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-ways-to-prepare-for-your-freshman-year-of-college/2 on May 16, 2016.

[3] Mitchell, Travis. “10 Ways to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College.” U.S. News: Education. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-ways-to-prepare-for-your-freshman-year-of-college/2 on May 16, 2016.

[4] Mehta, Uday. “The College Triangle Diagram.” University of California: Berkeley. Retrieved from http://blog.admissions.berkeley.edu/2014/05/triangle/ on May 24, 2016.

[5] Mitchell, Travis. “10 Ways to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College.” U.S. News: Education. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-ways-to-prepare-for-your-freshman-year-of-college/5 on May 16, 2016.

[6] “Preparing Students for College.” CollegeBoard. Retrieved from https://professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/prepare on May 16, 2016.

[7] Harke, Brian, Ed. D. “High School to College Transition, Part 1: The Freshman Myth.” The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-harke/high-school-to-college-tr_b_620043.html on May 16, 2016.

[8] Harke, Brian, Ed. D. “High School to College Transition, Part 1: The Freshman Myth.” The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-harke/high-school-to-college-tr_b_620043.html on May 16, 2016.

[9] James, Geoffrey. “Colleges Aren’t Preparing Students for the Workforce: What This Means for Recruiters.” LinkedIn. Retrieved from https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/2015/07/colleges-arent-preparing-students-for-the-workforce-what-this-means-for-recruiters on May 17, 2016.

[10] “Tomorrow’s Workforce: What Student’s Need.” Education World. Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/tomorrows-workforce-what-students-need.shtml on May 16, 2016.

[11] “Tomorrow’s Workforce: What Student’s Need.” Education World. Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/tomorrows-workforce-what-students-need.shtml on May 16, 2016.

[12] “Tomorrow’s Workforce: What Student’s Need.” Education World. Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/tomorrows-workforce-what-students-need.shtml on May 16, 2016.