Dual enrollment has some disadvantages in terms of time and money, but for many students, it offers intellectually exciting options not offered in their high schools. It also demonstrates to prospective colleges that they can perform and hold their own alongside older, mature peers. Students who take part in dual enrollment can benefit from several advantages:

 

It allows gifted kids to fulfill their potential. If your school is lacking Advanced Placement options or if you have a unique subject of interest, then dual enrollment allows you to take matters into your own hands. Colleges offer a diverse array of course offerings that extend far beyond what you can learn in high school. Instead of languishing in classes in that don't challenge or inspire you, check out the interesting options (as well as their prerequsites) at a local college.

 

It improves academic readiness. By immersing yourself in college-level work early on, you'll be more prepared once you do enter college. Many freshman are surprised by the amount of reading and the quality of work required by college instructors. Dual enrollment programs help get students comfortably acquainted with the idea of college and eliminates the intimidation factor, especially among first-generation collegegoers and underrepresented minorities.

 

It gives a boost in college admissions. Many colleges look upon dual enrollment favorably, since it's a sign that the student can complete challenging and advanced coursework. So does that mean you should cram in as many college-level courses as possible to impress your future admissions committee? Not exactly. Brian Taylor, Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Texas at Austin, writes, "We look positively upon students who take the recommended rather than the required high school courses. But ... the reason to take and succeed in your classes is not just to possibly get a favorable offer of admission to all the colleges on your wish list. The bigger thing to focus on is getting the best preparation for your academic future."

 

Dual enrollment laws vary by state, and each school district may implement it in a different way. (Some may offer college classes on high school campuses by hiring professors; others may have relationships with local community colleges.) Ask your guidance counselor about the options you have if you want to pursue dual enrollment.

There are a ton of urban legends prospective freshmen share with each other, but one that turns out to be true for many students is the infamous “Freshman 15,” which refers to the purported number of pounds new collegegoers gain during freshman year. In fact, for some, the number is much higher. But there’s no need to freak out. A small dose of willpower—not a strict diet or crazy exercise regimen-- is all it takes to keep those dreaded extra pounds away. Here are a few tips that will allow you to enjoy all your favorite foods, snacks, and—ahem—beverages without breaking the scale:

1. Take the long way to class. Want to maintain your weight? Skip the campus shortcuts. That’s right—no more cutting across the lawn to get to class. Walk the long way around campus and learn to love climbing stairs. The kids at Boston College do: their campus is home to the infamous Higgins Stairs, a set of 120 steps that connect the upper campus to the lower campus.  

2. Limit the pizza deliveries. Pizza is practically a food group for college students, so it’s all right to splurge every so often. But don’t make it a nightly occurrence. Limit it to once a week and you might find that it tastes even better. Your wallet, as well as your waistline, will reap the benefits.  

3. Avoid going back for seconds at the cafeteria. If your campus cafeteria serves food buffet-style, load your tray with proteins and veggies that will fill you up. You can still grab some French fries, but you’ll be less likely to make them the focus of your meal.  

4. Beware of the salad bar fixings. Eating a big salad is awesome, but the bacon bits, heavy cream dressings, and croutons that you ladle on to it? Not so much. Be smart with your choices at the salad bar, or else you’ll undo all the good you are trying to accomplish by eating your greens. 

5. Drink plenty of water. These days, water bottles come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors that they’ve become the must-have accessory on college campuses. This is one fad that you should follow. Taking frequent swigs of water throughout the day will not only refresh you and keep you alert through long lectures, but it will also keep your appetite at bay. In fact, many health experts say that you should drink a big glass of water before each meal so that you aren’t tempted to overeat.

It is possible to avoid the Freshman 15 without even stepping foot in the gym. But if you are looking to lose weight or defray the cost of stress eating during finals, a couple of trips to the campus gym each week will definitely help. What’s most important is that you establish habits that will allow you to enjoy your favorite foods, but still fit into all your clothes by the end of the semester.

Just when your mailbox thought it could take a breather from all those college brochures and viewbooks, another barrage of envelopes is beginning. These days, however, the mail is probably all coming from one school—the one you’ll be attending this fall! Your chosen college is preparing you for a smooth transition to campus this fall. Keep your eye out for information on "orientation", which is a period (usually before the start of the official academic year) when freshmen and transfer students spend some time on campus before classes begin in order to get acclimated to their new homes.

Sure, you might have ruled the school as part of the Class of 2009, but come fall, you’ll be a lowly freshman again. Whether you are going to a small college that fits on a city block or a large one that could house your high school in its sports complex, you’ll need some guidance learning the ropes. Enter Orientation, a highly orchestrated day or days of events that help newbies, like yourself, get acquainted with what will be your home-away-from-home for the next four years.

Think of Orientation as a GPS device that will take you through your first days and weeks at college. Orientation is so much more than showing you around on campus—that’s what maps are for, after all. Instead, administrators and upperclassmen are there to help you understand the ins and outs of campus life and get you acquainted with the usual (like the best time to hit the cafeteria) and the unusual (like what to do if you get the flu).

From silly icebreakers that encourage you to get to know your classmates to more serious discussions about how to stay safe on campus, Orientation is both fun and informative—which is exactly the point. Colleges and universities want their students to be happy and well-informed, which is why schools usually pull out all the stops to welcome new students. In fact, some schools, like the University of Kansas, view Orientation so seriously that they have taken it from a single event to an ongoing process, providing a knowledgeable staff that is available to freshmen and transfer students during their entire first year on campus.

College is a four-year-long investment, which is why it’s wise to spend a few extra days getting to know your new campus. For many students, Orientation is a great way to relieve some of the anxiety they might feel about leaving home in the fall because it takes away some of the mystery about campus life. Got questions about college? You’ll find the answers during Orientation, along with new friends and the beginning of a whole new chapter of your life.

When you’re exploring different college options, one main consideration you make is if you can get into the schools you’re applying for. It’s easy to forget that there is a second challenge: keeping up with your coursework once you are attending the school.

Two Challenges

Everyone probably wishes they could get into Ivy League schools like Harvard or Princeton. After all, they are incredibly prestigious, and degrees from those institutions would surely help you stand out in the working world. While it’s easy to daydream of getting into a very tough school, it’s also important to think about how you would perform once you are attending. It’s vital to remember that the more selective a school you attend, the more rigorous the academics will be, as they expect a lot from their students. The workload is much more challenging than at a less-selective school, so the hard part doesn’t always end once you receive your acceptance letter. The work will continue once you are there.

If you get into a school that you thought may be out of your reach, you need to do some self-assessment and decide if you are up to the challenge for four years of rigorous coursework that may or may not be at your level. Do you want to go somewhere where you will need to spend the majority of time studying, or would you rather go somewhere with less emphasis on academics? How strong of a student are you? How important are extracurricular activities to you? Will you be disappointed if you don’t have enough time to play sports or join clubs?

My Story

I was never a bad student, but I was never a perfect one, either. I got a fair mix of A’s and B’s in high school. However, I was extremely active in extracurricular activities; I was the vice president of orchestra, I was in a wonderful community service group, I ran track, I helped start an independent newspaper. I was creative and took all honors and AP classes, so I thought I would do well at Brown, an Ivy League school in Rhode Island that is known to have many smart but laid-back, artistic types. Despite its relaxed image, it is still a very tough school to get into.

I applied to Brown and I was asked to interview with a local alum. The interview went well, and my interviewee told me that if anyone got into Brown from my high school, she thought it would be me. Unfortunately, nobody from my high school was accepted – they just weren’t looking for our demographic that year.

At first I was devastated. I thought I would fit in so well there. But my mother said something that really made me think. She reminded me that if I had gotten into Brown, it would have been a constant struggle to stay on top of the academics. It is an Ivy League school and the course work is demanding. Because I was never a stellar student, if I were to go there, I would most likely have to work extra hard to do well and pass my classes.

While it was a slight blow to my ego, I realized she was right. I would probably have to work so hard to stay afloat that I wouldn’t get to enjoy other aspects of college as much. I began to understand that I needed to find a school that was still well respected but wasn’t as academically rigorous. I did find a school that was perfect for me – the University of Texas, which is becoming more prestigious each year. Most of the classes were challenging and stimulating enough for my intellectual needs, but it was on par with my academic abilities, so I was able to keep up and maintain a good GPA. I still had enough time to enjoy other activities and wasn’t always stressed about academics like I would have been had I gone to a much more challenging school.

If You Get In, Give it a Shot

Let’s say that your dream is to go to Stanford, but you’re not sure if you’re Ivy League material. Here’s a good planning strategy: Apply to a few schools you’re sure you can get into – perhaps University of California at Irvine or Santa Barbara. Then apply to a few that you are likely to get into – perhaps Berkeley or University of Southern California. Then, apply to Stanford in case you do get in. If you don’t, you will still have other great schools to fall back on.

Now let’s say you are accepted to Stanford, but you’re concerned it will be too challenging. First, don’t decline the offer if you think it is something you will regret. Why? Because you can always transfer to another school if you aren’t happy there. If you made it into a school as well respected as Stanford, many other colleges will be happy to have you. So, if you do get into that stretch school and it’s your dream to go there, go there and give it your very best shot. You might surprise yourself and flourish there.

But if you realize that it is too much work to stay afloat, you can consider transferring to a school that still has a great reputation, but will not cause as much stress and will give you more time to pursue interests outside of academics. Sometimes it takes time to find a school that meets all your needs, and there is nothing wrong with that.

I know, I know…you cannot wait to get away from your family and be independent. It’s every high school senior’s dream to finally escape curfews, rules, and snooping parents. But before you head off to a faraway place for college in order to flee what’s familiar, you should consider what it will be like to be so far away from your family and if that is the right decision for you.

If you go to a school across the country, remember that it will take a major road trip or an expensive plane ride every time you want to go home. Depending on your economic situation, it may limit you to visiting home only a few times a year. After spending 18 years with these people, do you think you can handle seeing them only on major holidays?

There is no wrong answer; this is just something to take into consideration. Some people may be very ready for it, while others can’t bear that thought. Not everyone is close to their family. However, even if you don’t feel particularly close to your family, you may not realize how much you will miss them until you are 700 miles away and just want a taste of your mom’s casserole.

If you’re the type of person who can go away to camp all summer and barely miss home, going to college far away may be easy for you. But if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like leaving home or gets homesick, you may be happier going to college at a place where home is not so far away.

It’s possible to find a happy medium between feeling like you’re escaping your family but still close enough that you can go home easily if you need to. I almost went to school across the country, but I was never the type who liked being away from home for long and I realized it would be very hard for me. I ended up going to school about 160 miles from home. That was the perfect distance for me because I was far enough away from home that I didn’t feel like my parents would just drop by and surprise me. However, the car ride home, which took around three hours, was pretty painless and allowed me to spend time with my family whenever I wanted. Some weekends I just wanted a break from college life, needed a home-cooked meal and a free place to do my laundry, and coming home that short distance was easy.

While that was the right decision for me, I had many friends who went to school far away and loved it. They reveled in the freedom and were just fine with the distance, and really didn’t mind the occasional plane ride. For many people, this independence is what they need. If you feel that you need independence but are being pressured to stay close to home, think about what’s right for you. If your instinct tells you that you need a totally new experience far from home, don’t go to college 30 miles from where you grew up.

Then again, staying in your hometown may be right for you. If you are extremely close to your family, or even if you have a family member who is sick and you don’t want to leave them, there is nothing wrong with not leaving your city to attend college.

When you’re thinking about where you want to get your higher education, be sure to consider how close you are to your family and how important it is for you to be near them (or away from them). Remember, if you go somewhere far away and realize it’s not for you, you can always transfer somewhere closer.

Alternatively, if you’re ready for college but not quite ready for the leap of going somewhere far off, start at a school near or in your hometown but live in a dorm or your own apartment. That way you are near your family but still experiencing independence. If after one semester or year you find that you want more room to grow on your own, you can then transfer to a school further away.