27 Jun Road Map for Summer: Class of 2023

Posted at 21:35h in Road Map, Seniors, Uncategorized by

I hope you’ve been enjoying all of your celebrations, and connecting with your family and friends at this exciting time. I’m so thrilled for all of you as you move on to this next phase, and I have some parting advice.

First, some nuts and bolts items. As you leave high school behind, check your high school email account for anything you want to save or need to switch to another account before it’s closed. Confirm that your final transcript is sent to the college you’ll be attending, and keep track of all the to-dos you need to be prepared for school this fall, like registering for orientation, housing and classes.

Then set yourself up for success in college:

  • Lay the foundation by taking care of yourself: get healthy sleep, eat well, exercise and spend time outside regularly. Many of my students have benefited from counseling during high school, so I also want to share this guidance on finding a therapist at college, particularly the parts on insurance coverage and virtual appointments.
  • Don’t go it alone. You’re not expected to succeed on your own! Go to office hours, join study groups, take advantage of free tutoring and writing support, and disability services if applicable. Colleges have a lot of resources on campus, so use them—especially at the beginning as you’re adjusting to new expectations.
  • Manage your time. Many college students find the freedom around time to be one of the hardest things to adjust to because their high school schedules were so structured. Plan on spending two hours studying per week for every hour you spend in class, and consider all of your other commitments as well (including sleep!) Use these weekly and semester templates for planning and check out these tips from two of my favorite time management and planning experts.
  • Expect bumps in the road. Just because something isn’t going how you hoped it would doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t be doing it. Not finding your people right away doesn’t mean you chose the wrong college, and neither does getting a disappointing grade. Your class had just settled into high school before being sent home in 2020, and you’ve had a unique high school experience. You’ve faced challenges and grown from them, and that’s what you should expect for the next four years as well.

I also have some advice for parents; check out my suggestions here (click and scroll down) for supporting everyone in the family at this time of transition.

I have loved working with this class and I hope you’ll keep in touch to share your future plans and successes.



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