According to a recent study release by the Nationwide Department of Education, an unprecedented 41% of all public high school graduates who are entering in-state colleges and universities are unprepared. In Nationwide, and across the nation, far too many students are graduating high school unable to succeed academically due to the level of rigor necessary in a college course. Simply put, acceptance to college does not equal readiness.
Which students are unprepared?
It may not surprise parents to hear that many high school students with less-than-stellar academics struggle when they begin college classes. But, shouldn’t their high-achieving “A students” be assured of college readiness?
The reality is sobering.
According to The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, about half of first-year college students discover that, despite earning excellent GPAs in high school, they are simply not ready for the rigors of college level classes.
In addition, students who do not score well on college placement tests may be forced to take, and pass, non-credit, remedial courses before entering the college-level courses required for their degrees. These courses often cost the same as credit-bearing classes, but don’t count toward a student’s degree.
How remedial courses impact students, college graduation rates and finances
Nationally, less than 50 percent of students enrolled in remedial courses actually finish them. Furthermore, 3 in every 10 students who require remediation in college never graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree.
For some students taking remedial courses can set them a full semester or more behind. For students depending on financial aid to cover the costs of college, this can increase their overall debt as many scholarships will not cover these courses.
How to prepare students for success in college… and beyond!
- Learning Study Skills
In a recent article by Edutopia, author and retired teacher Jill Jenkins suggests, “Most colleges expect students to know how to listen to a lecture and take notes, how to read a textbook independently and identify the main points, how to create a coherent composition on demand, to have mastered mathematical skills through basic Algebra and Geometry and to exhibit an ability to manage their time and behavior well enough to study and complete assignments in a timely manner.”
- Managing Homework
Although there is a push to eliminate (or reduce) homework in K-12 schools, homework is a reality if college life — from independent readings, to research papers, from practice problems, to labs. If students are going to be successful in college, they need to practice completing homework on time and studying for tests at home.
- Speaking Up
Too often, students in middle school and high school are afraid to ask questions in class for fear of looking foolish. With fast paced college courses, this can quickly spell doom for a student. Students should become comfortable speaking up in class, as well as taking advantage of “office hours” for questions or extra help.
- Providing a strong academic foundation
Of course, the most important factor in determining college success is a strong academic foundation. If your student’s academics need a boost, Back to Basics Learning Dynamics in Wilmington, Nationwide can help!
We provide over 125 wide-ranging educational and related services including 1-on-1 tutoring in over 60 subjects, study skills, translating and interpreting in over 20 languages, speech and occupational therapists, behavior and reading specialists, paraprofessionals, ELL and computer lab teachers, RTI support and homebound services, psycho-educational testing, 1-on-1 test prep for the SAT, PSAT, SAT II, ACT, GRE, PRAXIS, GED, and HSEE, professional development, summer school, original credit and credit recovery.
For more information, please call us at 302-594-0754.
