Chapter 1: Manage the Transition to College
Overview
Learning Framework: Effective Strategies for College Success
Chapter 1: Manage the Transition to College
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Identify the risks and rewards of college.
- Describe the responsibilities of college student life and how they differ from high school or early career life.
- Identify differences in class delivery and compare strategies for success in each type.
- Identify different categories of students who might share the same classroom as you.
- Identify similarities and differences between different types of students compared to yourself.
Manage the Transition To College
Welcome
Welcome to Austin Community College and Learning Framework: Effective Strategies for College Success. The purpose of the Learning Framework courses at ACC is to provide students with an opportunity to learn and adopt the knowledge, skills, motivation, and behaviors that will enhance their success in learning and in life. The course is the study of 1) research and theory in the psychology of learning, cognition, and motivation, 2) factors that impact learning, and 3) application of learning strategies. Theoretical models of strategic learning, cognition, and motivation serve as the conceptual basis for the introduction of college-level student academic strategies. Students use assessment instruments (e.g., learning inventories) to help them identify their own strengths and weaknesses as strategic learners. Students are ultimately expected to integrate and apply the learning skills discussed across their own academic programs and become effective and efficient learners. Students developing these skills should be able to continually draw from the theoretical models they have learned.
EDUC 1300/1200/1100 is structured according to the Model of Strategic Learning developed by C.E. Weinstein, covered in Chapter 6: Theories of Learning. Upon successfully completing this course, students will have explored the relationship between their own skill, will, self-regulation, and academic environment and the interconnected impact of these elements on academic achievement and learning.
Throughout the course, you will engage in self-reflection, self-assessments, and various activities and assignments designed to help you think about and apply the concepts. Many topics include videos and other media materials that provide a contextual understanding of the information.
The Risks And Rewards Of College
The cost of a four-year college education has risen roughly 135% since 1980, adjusting for inflation. For this and other reasons, more and more students must take out student loans to finance their education. Upon graduation, many find they have accrued a sizable debt. Given the significant expense, some question the value of earning a college degree. However, along with the rising cost, the lifetime earnings difference between college and high school graduates has widened. The increased earnings potential for a bachelor’s degree allows a college graduate to recover the cost of college over time and eventually surpass the earnings of those with only a high school diploma.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, attending a four-year public college costs 57% more than it did 20 years ago, adjusting for inflation. In 2021-2022 dollars, one year's college tuition in 1963 cost just over $4,600. In 2021, it cost more than $14,000. Across all types of schools, the cost of college has increased more than 135%, or about 2.3 times, between 1963 and 2021. Compared to other school types, four-year public colleges saw the steepest price hikes from 2000-2021, jumping from roughly $14,000 a year to just under $22,000 annually.
According to Federal Student Aid, more than half of students leave college with debt, with the average student owing $28,950. In 2010, 34.3 million students received some sort of federal loan. By 2024, that number has risen to 42.8 million. That does not include private loans or loans taken by parents on behalf of their student.
For college to be a good investment, the benefits of a degree (e.g., higher pay) must outweigh the opportunity cost of attending. In this case, the opportunity cost is the sum of tuition, fees, and housing costs plus the wages that would have been earned from working directly after graduating from high school. Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that while the cost of college increased, the labor-market value of a bachelor’s degree climbed to an all-time high. In 2023, college graduates with a bachelor’s degree earned on average almost $1,500 per week, while those with a high school diploma earned an average of $900 per week, 67% more than high school graduates. This increased earnings potential allows college graduates to “catch up” relatively quickly in terms of net lifetime earnings.
According to the College Board, recent college graduates who completely financed their education with student loans will earn enough by age 33 to cover the cost of those loans. They will also match the to-date lifetime earnings of those the same age with only a high school diploma. Thus, the opportunity cost of attending college is recovered over time.
A college degree also lowers the probability of unemployment. In 2023, the unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree was 2.2%, while it was almost 4% for high school graduates. Furthermore, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who started jobs between the ages of 18 and 24 saw 61% of those jobs end in less than a year. In contrast, those who began working between the ages of 25 and 36 had only 34% of their jobs end within a year. Additionally, for the older age group, having more education significantly increased job duration. Despite the rising costs of college, a college degree still remains a wise investment.
What about Certificate Programs?
Since 2006, the number of people completing certificates – a credential that typically requires less time to finish than a two-year degree – has risen substantially at many schools. Institutions across the U.S. awarded more than one million certificates in 2021-2022, 38% more than in 2006-07, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2023 median weekly earnings for those with a certificate is $1364, 51% higher than those with a high school degree. You can learn more about certificates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Certificates: A fast track to careers.
Why the Gender Pay Gap?
As you likely noticed in the above chart, there is a difference in pay by gender, at all levels of education. This is a complicated issue with several contributing factors. You can learn more about the gender pay gap from "The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap" from the AAUW. This 2021 updated version discusses the impact of Covid-19 on women and the work force.
The Community College Environment
Student Responsibilities
Now that you have transitioned into college, you will have new responsibilities. Research has shown that students who get involved in career-planning activities stay in college longer, graduate on time, improve their academic performance, tend to be more goal focused and motivated, and have a more satisfying and fulfilling college experience. This is why an important first step in college is examining your personal identity and values. By examining your values first, you begin the process of defining your educational goals and ultimately planning your career. You will explore your values in Chapter 3.
Secondary to the critical nature of assessing your values is the importance of committing to your responsibilities as a student. What are your new student responsibilities? Are they financial? Course-specific? Social? Health-related? Ethical? What exactly is expected of you?
Expectations for student behavior vary from campus to campus. A Web search for “college student responsibilities” reveals the breadth of expectations deemed important at any given institution.
Broadly, though, students are expected to at least act consistently with the values of the institution and to obey local, state, and federal laws. It may also be expected that you actively participate in your career decision-making process, respond to advising, and plan to graduate.
Institutions invariably provide additional details about student responsibilities. ACC's Student Rights and Responsibilities provides information on Student Standards of Conduct, Academic Integrity, and Student Complaint Procedures. Details may be formal or informal. The University of South Carolina site “What Every Student Needs to Know,” for example, outlines a formula of responsibilities for student success.
Overall, you demonstrate that you are a responsible student when you do the following:
- Uphold the values of honesty and academic integrity.
- Arrive on time and prepared for all classes, meetings, academic activities, and special events.
- Give attention to quality and excellence in completing assignments.
- Allow sufficient time to fulfill responsibilities outside of class.
- Observe etiquette in all communications, giving respect to instructors, fellow students, staff and the larger college community.
- Take full advantage of college resources available to you.
- Respect diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.
- Achieve educational goals in an organized, committed, and proactive manner.
- Take full responsibility for personal behavior.
- Comply with all college policies.
By allowing these overarching principles to guide you, you embrace responsibility and make choices that lead to college success.
College vs. High School
If you know others who attend or have attended college, then you have a head start on knowing what to expect during this odyssey. Still, the transition from high school to college is striking. Even for those that have not been in high school for a while, high school is often their last experience in a traditional educational setting. College life differs in many ways from high school. The following supplemental video clip is an overview of the challenges you may face as a student and provides examples of issues students face in transitioning from high school to college. Click on the “cc” box underneath the video to activate the closed captioning.
For more information about high school vs. college, refer to this detailed set of comparisons from Southern Methodist University: “High School vs. College”The site provides an extensive list of contrasts, such as the following:
- Following the rules in high school vs. choosing responsibly in college
- Going to high school classes vs. succeeding in college classes
- Understanding high school teachers vs. college professors
- Preparing for tests in high school vs. tests in college
- Interpreting grades in high school vs. grades in college
Watch this supplemental video from the UNLV Academic Success Center on the High School to College Transition.
Types Of Courses
Course Delivery Formats
Choices. And more choices. If college success is about anything, it’s about the choices you need to make in order to succeed. What do you want to learn? How do you want to learn it? Who do you want to learn it with and where? When do you learn best?
As part of the many choices you will make in college, you will often be able to select the format in which your college classes are offered. The list below illustrates some of the main formats you may choose. Some formats lend themselves more readily to certain subjects. Others are based on how instructors believe the content can most effectively be delivered. Knowing a bit about your options can help you select your best environments for learning.
Lecture
Lecture-style courses are likely the most common course format, at least historically. In lecture courses, the professor’s main goal is to share a large amount of information, ideas, principles, and/or resources. Lecture-style courses often include discussions and other interactions with your fellow students.
Tip: Students can best succeed in this environment with dedicated study habits, time-management skills, note-taking skills, reading skills, and active listening skills. If you have questions, be sure to ask them during class. Meet with your instructor during office hours to get help on what you don’t understand, and ensure that you’re prepared for exams or other graded projects.
Laboratory
Lab courses take place in a controlled environment with specialized equipment, typically in a special facility. Students participating in labs can expect to engage fully with the material—to learn by doing. In a lab, you get first-hand experience in developing, practicing, translating, testing, and applying principles.
Tip: To best succeed as a student in a lab course, be sure to find out in advance what the course goals are, and make sure they fit your needs as a student. Expect to practice and master precise technical skills, like using a microscope or measuring a chemical reaction. Be comfortable with working as part of a team of fellow students. Enjoy the personal touches that are inherent in lab format courses.
Seminar
Seminar-style courses are geared toward a small group of students who have achieved an advanced level of knowledge or skill in a certain area or subject. In a seminar, you will likely do a good deal of reading, writing, and discussing. You might also conduct original research. You will invariably explore a topic in great depth. The course may involve a final project such as a presentation, term paper, or demonstration.
Tip: To best succeed in a seminar-style course, you must be prepared to participate actively, which includes listening actively. You will need to be well prepared, too. As a seminar class size is ordinarily small, it will be important to feel comfortable in relating to fellow students; mutual respect is key. Initiative and responsiveness are also vital.
Studio
Studio-style courses, similar to seminars, are also very active, but an emphasis is placed mainly on developing concrete skills, such as fine arts or theater arts. Studio courses generally require you to use specific materials, instruments, equipment, and/or tools. Your course may culminate in a public display or performance.
Tip: To succeed in a studio-style course, you need good time-management skills, because you will likely put in more time than in a standard class. Coming to class is critical, as is being well prepared. You can expect your instructors to help you start on projects and to provide you with resources, but much of your work will be self-paced. Your fellow students will be additional learning resources.
Workshop
Workshop-style courses are generally short in length but intensive in scope and interaction. Workshops generally have a lower student-to-teacher ratio than other courses. Often the goal of a workshop is the acquisition of information and/or skills that you can immediately apply.
Tip: To succeed as a learner in a workshop, you will need to apply yourself and participate fully for a limited time. A workshop may last a shorter amount of time than a full term.
Independent Study
Independent Study courses may be less common than other course formats. They allow you to pursue special interests not met in your formal curriculum and often involve working closely with a particular faculty person or adviser. Independent studies usually involve significant reading and writing and often end in a research project or paper. Your special, perhaps unique, area of interest will be studied thoroughly.
Tip: To succeed in an independent-study course, be prepared to work independently but cooperatively with an adviser or faculty member. Adopt high standards for your work, as you can plan for the possibility that your project or culminating research will be of interest to a prospective employer. Assume full responsibility for your learning outcomes, and be sure to pick a topic that deeply interests you.
Study Abroad
Study-abroad courses and programs give students opportunities to learn certain subjects in a country other than their own. For most U.S. students, a typical time frame for studying abroad is one or two academic terms. For many students, study-abroad experiences are life-changing.
Tip: To succeed in studying abroad, it may be most important to communicate openly before, during, and after your experience. Learn as much about the culture in advance as possible. Keep up with studies, but take advantage of opportunities to socialize. Use social networking to connect with others who have traveled where you plan to go.
Technology-Enhanced Formats
Most, if not all, college course formats can be delivered with technology enhancements. For example, lecture-style courses are often delivered fully online, and lab courses often have Web enhancements. Online teaching and learning are commonplace at most colleges and universities. In fact, the most recent data (2012) about the number of students taking online courses shows that roughly one out of every three U.S. college students take at least one online course.
Technology-enhanced delivery methods may be synchronous (meaning in real-time, through some kind of live interaction tool) as well as asynchronous (meaning in delayed time; they may include online discussion boards that students visit at different times within a certain time frame).
The following table describes the attributes of four main “modes” of delivery relative to the technology enhancements involved.
| CONTENT DELIVERED ONLINE | FORMAT | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | Face-to-Face / Traditional | A face-to-face course is delivered fully on-site with real-time, face-to-face interaction between the instructor and student. A face-to-face course may make use of computers, the Internet, or other electronic media in the classroom, but it does not use the institution’s learning management system for instruction. A learning management system, like Blackboard, Moodle, Canvas, or others, is an online teaching and learning environment that allows students and teachers to engage with one another and with course content. |
| 1% to 29% | Web-Enhanced | A Web-enhanced course takes place primarily in a traditional, face-to-face classroom, with some course materials being accessible online (generally in the learning management system), like digital readings to support learning objectives. All Web-enhanced classes regularly meet face-to-face. |
| 30% to 79% | Hybrid/ Blended | Hybrid courses (also called blended courses) strategically blend online and face-to-face delivery. “Flipped classrooms” are an example of hybrid delivery. In a flipped classroom, your instructor reverses the traditional order of in-class and out-of-class activity, such that you may be asked to view lectures at home before coming to class. You may then be asked to use class time for activities that enable you to engage dynamically with your instructor and fellow students. Blended courses have fewer in-person sessions than face-to-face or Web-enhanced courses. |
| 80+% | Online | An online course is delivered almost entirely through the institution’s learning management system or other online means, such as synchronous conferencing. Generally, very few or no on-site face-to-face class meetings are required. |
Online Courses
Most colleges now offer some online courses or regular courses with an online component. During Covid-19, almost all college courses are offered online. You experience an online course via a computer rather than a classroom. Many different variations exist, but all online courses share certain characteristics, such as working independently and communicating with the instructor (and sometimes other students) primarily through written computer messages.
Your online course may be Synchronous, which means it has scheduled virtual meeting times and attendance is usually required. At ACC, these courses are labeled as DLS DIL. Asynchronous means there are no live components to the class and all instruction is online. Asynchronous does not meet the class is self-paced; it will still have set due dates throughout the course. At ACC, asynchronous courses are labeled as ONL DIL. It is important to know the difference before registering. You should also find out what technology is required. Some classes require webcams for virtual meetings or proctored exams, some require you to have access to a printer, and almost all require that you have the ability to create, open, and edit word processing files.
- You need to own or have frequent access to a recent model of a computer with a high-speed, reliable Internet connection.
- For an asynchronous section, without set class meeting times, you need to self-motivate to schedule your time to participate regularly.
- Without an instructor or other students in the room, you need to be able to pay attention effectively to the computer screen. Learning on a computer is not as simple as passively watching television! Take notes.
- Without reminders in class and peer pressure from other students, you’ll need to take responsibility to complete all assignments and papers on time.
- Since your instructor will evaluate you primarily through your writing, you need good writing skills for an online course. If you believe you need to improve your writing skills, put off taking an online course until you feel better prepared.
- You must take the initiative to ask questions if you don’t understand something.
- You may need to be creative to find other ways to interact with other students in the course. You could form a study group and get together regularly in person with other students in the same course.
Watch this supplemental video, Online Classes Tips and Tricks, by Sarah Jane Lamberth, for some strategies to help you succeed in online classes.
Types of Classes in Your Degree Plan
Just as you have choices about the delivery format of your courses, you also have choices about where specific courses fit academically into your chosen degree program. For example, you can choose to take various combinations of required courses and elective courses in a given term. Typical college degree programs include both required and elective courses.
- A core course is a course required by your institution, and every student must take it in order to obtain a degree. It’s sometimes also called a general education course. Collectively, core courses are part of a core curriculum. Core courses are always essential to an academic degree, but they are not necessarily foundational to your major.
- A course required in your major, on the other hand, is essential to your specific field of study. For example, as an accounting student, you would probably have to take classes like organizational theory and principles of marketing. Your academic adviser can help you learn which courses within your major are required.
- An elective course, in contrast to both core courses and required courses in your major, is a variable component of your curriculum. You choose your electives from a number of optional subjects. Elective courses tend to be more specialized than required courses. They may also have fewer students than required courses.
Most educational programs prefer that students take a combination of elective and required courses during the same term. This is a good way to meet the demands of your program and take interesting courses outside your focus area at the same time.
Since your required courses will be clearly specified, you may not have any questions about which ones to take or when to take them. But since you get to choose which elective courses you take, some interesting questions may arise.
It’s important to track and plan your required and elective courses from the outset. Take advantage of a guidance counselor or another adviser to help you make sure you are on the best trajectory to graduation. Reassess your plan as needed.
Types Of College Students
Who Are You As a Student?
Imagine for a moment that you live in the ancient city of Athens, Greece. You are a student at Plato’s University of Athens, considered in modern times to be the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. The campus sits just outside Athens’s city walls, a mile from your home. You walk to class and take your seat in the gymnasium, where all classes are held. Gatherings are small, just a handful of fellow students, most of whom are males born and raised in Athens. When your class is finished, you walk back to the city. Your daily work awaits you—hurry.
Now return to the present time. How does your college environment compare to the university in ancient Athens? Where do you live now, relative to campus? Do you report to a job site before or after class? Who are your fellow students, and where do they live in relationship to you and campus? What city or country are they from?
If you indulge these imaginative comparisons, you may find many similarities in the past and the present. You may find many differences, too. Perhaps the most striking difference will be the makeup of each student body. Consider the following facts:
- In fall 2015, 20.2 million students attended American colleges and universities. That was almost 5 million more students than enrolled in the fall of 2000.
- Of the 20.2 million U.S. college students, about 17.3 million are undergraduates; about 3.0 million are in graduate programs.
- Almost half of all undergraduates (46 percent) are community college students.
- During the 2015–16 school year, colleges and universities are expected to award 952,000 associate’s degrees, 1.8 million bachelor’s degrees, 802,000 master’s degrees, and 179,000 doctor’s degrees.
- Females are expected to account for the majority of college students: about 11.5 million females attend in fall 2015, compared with 8.7 million males.
- More students attend full time than part-time (an estimated 12.6 million, compared with about 7.6 million).
- Nearly 4 out of 5 college students work part-time while studying for their degrees, averaging 19 hours a week.
- International students now make up about 4 percent of all university students in the U.S., which hosts more of the world’s 4.5 million international students than any other country.
These brief statistics point to the scope of university life in America and the diversity of the student body. Clearly, there is no “one size fits all” description of a college student. However, each student bears a responsibility to understand the diverse terrain of his or her peers. Who are the students you may share class with? How have they come to share the college experience with you?
In this section, we look at several main categories of students and at some of the needs of students in those categories. We also take a brief look at how all students, regardless of background, can make a plan to be successful in college.
Categories of Students
You may take classes with students from many walks of life. Which of these categories best describes you?
Traditional Students
Traditional undergraduate students typically enroll in college immediately after graduating from high school, and they attend classes on a continuous full-time basis at least during the fall and spring semesters (or fall, winter, and spring quarters). They complete a bachelor’s degree program in four or five years by the age of twenty-two or twenty-three. Traditional students are also typically financially dependent on others (such as their parents), do not have children, and consider their college career to be their primary responsibility. They may be employed only on a part-time basis, if at all, during the academic year.
Nontraditional Students
Nontraditional students do not enter college in the same calendar year that they finish high school. They typically attend classes part-time due to full-time work obligations. They are more likely to be financially independent, to have children, and/or to be caregivers of sick or elderly family members. Some nontraditional students may not have a high school diploma, or they may have received a general educational development degree (GED).
The following video features several nontraditional students from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Students discuss their status as nontraditional students and how they feel about it. Note that the differences are not just with age but also experience. Click on the “cc” box underneath the video to activate the closed captioning.
International Students and/or Non-native Speakers of English
International students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of studying in college. English is likely their second language. Non-native speakers of English, like international students, come from a different culture, too. For both of these groups, college may pose special challenges. For example, classes may at first, or for a time, pose hardships due to cultural and language barriers.
First-Generation College Students
First-generation students do not have a parent who graduated from college with a baccalaureate degree. College life may be less familiar to them, and the preparation for entering college may not have been stressed as a priority at home. Some time and support may be needed to become accustomed to the college environment. These students may experience a culture shift between school life and home life.
For an in-depth look at the experiences of four first-generation college students, you can watch this supplemental documentary called First Generation. This is a long documentary, over an hour, but is an engaging and relevant look at the experience of being a First Generation College Student.
For a shorter video, watch this supplemental video from PBS News Hour called Why First-Generation College Students Need Mentors Who Get Them.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities include those who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, blindness or low vision, brain injuries, deafness/hard-of-hearing, learning disabilities, medical disabilities, physical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and speech and language disabilities. Students with disabilities are legally accorded reasonable accommodations that give them an equal opportunity to attain the same level of performance as students without a disability. Even with these accommodations, however, physical and electronic campus facilities and practices can pose special challenges. Time, energy, and added resources may be needed.
At Austin Community College, students with disabilities can get assistance from Student Accessibility Services.
Veterans and Military Affiliated Students
Austin Community College is home to many veterans and military-affiliated students, and this population is expected to increase as more veterans complete their service and seek higher education opportunities. Colleges play a large role in the transition veterans make when they return to civilian life and also benefit from veterans’ presence on their campuses.
While all students experience challenges when transitioning to college, veterans have unique challenges. As students, they have to interact with a civilian population and be responsible for their daily activities without having a direct chain of command to follow. Being a veteran also has its advantages. The skills and abilities that veterans bring to college can be an asset in many ways. Their service experience may make them more self-sufficient than other students, and their leadership skills are invaluable inside and outside the classroom. Veterans shared experiences lend a unique perspective that can enhance the learning experience for all students. The following is a list of characteristics that may apply to veteran students.
- Many veterans are older and may be more mature than traditional college-age students.
- Some veterans have more responsibilities, such as married life, children, and continuing military duties compared to traditional college-age students.
- Some veterans have seen overseas combat, but not all veteran students have been in combat situations or have been overseas.
- Some veterans have experienced war, death, horror, shock, fear, etc., and some may still be experiencing the physical and/or mental after-effects of deployment.
- Veterans are, in general, very motivated and self-disciplined students, and can contribute to the classroom and campus life.
Many veterans and military-affiliated students attend college using one of the GI Bills. GI Bill benefits help veterans and their families pay for college, graduate school, and training programs, but also come with specific stipulations and rules. ACC's Veterans Services helps veterans manage their benefits and get connected to a network of support and service. ACC’s Veterans Resource Center, located at the ACC Highland Campus, offers the college's military and veteran students a central, one-stop location for obtaining essential support services such as VA certification and advising for VA benefits. The 4,000-square-foot center also features a lounge area where students can connect with peers and participate in veteran-specific activities. ACC also offers VetSuccess on Campus, which provides a counselor to help veterans, active-duty military, and eligible family members obtain college and community services through hands-on assistance and referrals.
Early College High School and Dual Credit Students
Austin Community College offers programs for high school students that allow them to earn college credit while still enrolled in high school. The Early College High School Program offers qualified, motivated high school students to earn an associate degree (or up to 60 college credits) while earning their high school diplomas. Austin Community College and the partnering School District cover the cost of tuition, textbooks, transportation, and other fees. ECHS students save an average of $12,000 on tuition and fees. All ECHS classes are taught by ACC faculty and are offered at ACC campuses, online, and in partnering high schools.
ACC’s High School Programs offers college classes to qualified high school students in the ACC service area. Classes are taught by college faculty at an ACC campus, online, or at a high school campus. Tuition and fees are waived for in tax district students for up to 12 eligible classes. Out of tax district students are assessed a $150 per course fee for up to 12 eligible classes. Types of eligible courses include core curriculum, workforce, and foreign language. ECHS and Dual Credit students are often in classes with traditional ACC students.
The Office of High School and College Relations at ACC provides a variety of support services to assist students in their transition of beginning college while in high school. More than 8,300 high school students are enrolled at Austin Community College, earning college credits while completing high school.
Working Students
Many students are employed in either a part-time or full-time capacity. Balancing college life with work-life may be a challenge. Time management skills and good organization can help. These students typically have two jobs—being a student and an employee. It can be a lot to balance.
ACC's College Work-Study Program is a type of financial aid that provides eligible ACC students with the opportunity to work part-time with an ACC employer or an external community service partner. Work-study employees work up to 19 hours per week, receive a semi-monthly paycheck, and are paid $22.00 to $23 per hour depending on their position.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- College can bring great benefits such as increased income and lower unemployment but comes with the risk of time and money.
- College brings new responsibilities and the expectations of college are very different from high school.
- There are several different types of course delivery formats in college including lectures, labs, seminars, and independent study.
- Many classes use technology to enhance the classroom experience, are taught solely online, or are a hybrid of classroom and online instruction.
- There are different types of classes, including those required for your degree plan such as core courses and major required courses as well as electives.
- There are many different kinds of college students and you will experience a diverse environment at a community college.
LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS
LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS
CC LICENSED CONTENT, ORIGINAL
- Manage the Transition to College. Authored by: Heather Syrett. Provided by: Austin Community College. License: CC BY-NC-SA-4.0
CC LICENSED CONTENT, SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTION
- Introduction to College Success. Authored by: Lumen Learning. Located at: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/collegesuccess-lumen/chapter/introduction-to-college-success/. License: CC BY-NC-SA-4.0
- College Overview in College Success. Authored by: Linda Bruce. Provided by: Lumen Learning. Located at: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sanjacinto-learningframework/chapter/college-overview/. License: CC BY 4.0
- Earnings and unemployment rate by educational attainment, 2021. Provided by: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Located at: https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm License: Public Domain.
- Is a College Cap and Gown a Financial Ball and Chain? August 2011. Authored by: Lowell R. Ricketts, Research Associate. Provided by: Prepared by the Economic Education Group of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Located at: https://files.stlouisfed.org/files/htdocs/pageone-economics/uploads/newsletter/2011/Lib0811ClassrmEdition.pdf. License: CC BY-NC 4.0
- Median weekly earnings by educational attainment and sex (annual). Provided by: Women's Bureau, An agency within the U.S. Department of Labor. Located at: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/wb/data/earnings/Median-weekly-earnings-educational-sex License: Public Domain.
- Personal Identity in College Success. Authored by: Linda Bruce. Provided by: Lumen Learning. Located at: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sanjacinto-learningframework/chapter/personal-identity/. License: CC BY 4.0
- The Big Picture in San Jacinto EDUC 1300. Authored by: Linda Bruce. Provided by: Lumen Learning. Located at: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sanjacinto-learningframework/chapter/the-big-picture/ License: CC BY 4.0Types of Students in College Success. Authored by: Linda Bruce. Provided by: Lumen Learning. Located at: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sanjacinto-learningframework/chapter/types-of-students/. License: CC BY 4.0
- Veterans in the Classroom in Instructional Guide for University Faculty and Teaching Assistants. Provided by: Northern Illinois University. Located at: https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide/veterans-in-the-classroom.shtml License: CC BY-NC-SA-4.0
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"Fast Facts." National Center for Educational Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences, n.d. Web. 16 Feb 2016.
"Fast Facts from Our Fact Sheet." American Association of Community Colleges. 2016. Web. 16 Feb 2016.
"Table 318.10." National Center for Educational Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
"Table 105.20." National Center for Educational Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
Kingkade, Tyler. "Most College Students Work Part-Time Jobs, But Few Pay Their Way Through School: Poll." Huffpost Business. Huffington Post, 7 Aug 2013. Web. 16 Feb 2016.
"Open Doors." Institute of International Education. 2016. Web. 16 Feb 2016.