Preparation
There are many social institutions such as family, church, and school that will influence both positive and negative behaviors. Each institution gives students their basic core values and prepares them for the future. In terms of preparing for college, school is the most significant social institution because it helps students develop skills needed in order to become successful in college. Without proper schooling we would be clueless about the curriculum because it would be difficult to understand basic reading and writing. Each grade level gives students a chance to hone in on their skills and figure out their strengths and weaknesses. High school gives students access to do all the above and is a step towards applying ourselves into higher learning, which will lead to pursuing a college degree that will ultimately be our career. High school helped me choose the major that I wanted to pursue by giving me the chance talk to both my instructors and advisors. High school prepared me for college by providing financial advice, helping me develop time management, and presenting academic opportunities.
First, high school prepared me for college by providing financial advice because my instructors and advisors helped me seek out alternative methods to pay for higher learning. For instance, in high school, I took personal finance, and my instructor went over payment methods for schooling. Also, she taught me about the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans and compared the cost of tuition of local and national colleges. This made me realize that it would be cheaper for me to attend college in Virginia rather than in New York. Another instructor taught me how to create a proper resume that would highlight my achievements and skills so that my application would look more diversified compared to others. Moreover, my advisors gave me a list of academic scholarships that I would be eligible for. They provided me my transcripts and gave me other additional advice such as filling out my FAFSA early. I was required to give my essay, transcript, and resume; at some cases, I had to get interviewed in order to obtain scholarship money. Thus, my instructors and advisors made it easier for me to afford tuition at Old Dominion by giving me insightful information and valuable resources.
Next, high school prepared me by helping me develop my time management skills since I learned how to organize my schedule efficiently. For instance, I had an obligation to stay after school and practice for at least an hour for orchestra. Also, if I had a concert, I knew that I would at least be at the venue for two hours and would do my assignments early in order to have more time to relax. Throughout the school year, I had to make time for competing in competitions for my club. This gave me the chance to have time to be able to do the activities that I love. For example, I set aside some time for each subject every day. If I had a big test, I would find time to create flash cards and study. Also, if I had a huge project coming up, I would make my weekends available and coordinate with my group to see which weekend would be best for all of us. This assisted me in concentrating on my assignments and overall become a better student academically too. Furthermore, high school taught me to balance my extracurriculars and homework effectively.
Lastly, high school prepared me by presenting academic opportunities because they implemented many programs that would provide me with college credit. For instance, I had dual enrollment with Tidewater Community College through the Chesapeake Career Center for Cyber Security. While I was there, I was able to receive nine credits for it and was able to receive my A+ certification. This allowed me to skip a few classes within my major. Also, I took AP courses at my high school in order to avoid taking certain classes in college. The courses’ curriculum was structured like a college class where the instructor would lecture me for three days and give a large test. Thus, these courses let me prematurely have a college experience, without the social aspect.
Overall, high school prepared me for college by providing financial advice, developing time management, and creating academic opportunities. High school gave me the tools that I needed in order to survive college because without the guidance and opportunities given by my advisors and instructors, I would have been overwhelmed during my first semester here. Although college allowed me to explore some newfound freedoms, I managed to keep my priorities straight. It made my transition from high school to college smoother.