Chapter 1 Notes: The Essentials for College Success

Chapter introduces the core idea that college success is about thriving, not just achieving nominal success.
Emphasis: college is an important investment of time, money, and effort with potential for transformation.

College is an important investment of time, money, and effort, and for some students the college experience can be transformative.
Key questions to guide your start:
- Do you already have a good understanding of how to thrive in college and why it is important?
- What personal and career goals do you want to pursue during and after college?

Bedford/St. Martin's source link: http://drive.google.com/file/d/1zhm79Ev3CQK9s9mjRPBni93yFAm9aSmf/view

Thriving in college and life means going beyond minimum requirements to meet and exceed goals.
It involves discovering talents and abilities.
It yields self-satisfaction, self-esteem, and pleasure.

College success courses introduce students to how to be successful in college and life.
Research findings in the field of “student success”:
- Increase the likelihood of success in college.
- Increase student involvement in student organizations, campus activities, and interactions with faculty.
- Prepare students to make better choices while they are in college.

The people you meet in colleges/universities have a great influence on your experiences.
Types of people on campus include:
- Students
- Instructors
- Administrators
- Advisers
- Other staff members

Among campus contacts, fellow students often have the most influence on your choices.
Types of students:
- Traditional and non-traditional
- Veterans
- International
- Part-time
- Peer leaders
Prompt: What type of student are you?

Instructors have a significant influence on your thinking and understanding.
Instructors will:
- Not tell you what, how, or when to study (they expect autonomy in learning)
- Rarely monitor your progress
- Usually have private offices and set regular office hours when they can meet with you

Academic advisors help map out your course of study and stay on track to graduation.
When working with an academic advisor:
- Use the course catalog and consider majors.
- List majors that appeal to you.
- Know prerequisites and co-requisites needed for your major.
- Know what you want to take away from the meeting.

These individuals provide various forms of assistance and support:
- Make significant policy decisions.
- Determine important financial allocations and priorities.
- Help govern the institution.

The value of college can be measured in many ways.
Why is college important to you?
- Enables social mobility and merit-based evaluation.
- Improves earning potential.
- Increases the likelihood of employment.

Unemployment rate by degree level:
- Doctoral degree: $1.6\%$
- Professional degree: $1.6\%$
- Master’s degree: $2.4\%$
- Bachelor’s degree: $2.7\%$
- Associate’s degree: $3.6\%$
- Some college: $4.4\%$
- High school diploma: $5.2\%$
- Less than a high school diploma: $7.4\%$
- All workers: $4.0\%$
Median weekly earnings by degree level (in dollars per week):
- Doctoral degree: $1{,}664$
- Professional degree: $1{,}745$
- Master’s degree: $1{,}380$
- Bachelor’s degree: $1{,}156$
- Associate’s degree: $819$
- Some college: $756$
- High school diploma: $692$
- Less than a high school diploma: $504$
- All workers: $885$
Source: Gardner/Barefoot, Your College Experience, 13e, © 2018 Bedford/St. Martin's

Bedford/St. Martin's source link: http://drive.google.com/file/d/147AeM4xYHrD-WZUDL6Kg80oApwZUGOCe/view

Your purpose for coming to college may change as you discover more about yourself.
Purpose connects to motivation and influences the choices college students make.
Understanding your purpose helps you set the right goals.
Question to reflect: What is your motivation for attending college?

How do you define success?
Where do you start in the quest for success?
Success is the result of intentional steps you take and your accomplishments.
To get started:
- Identify your personal strengths.
- Ask yourself tough questions.
- Establish goals for today, this week, this year, and beyond.

You will make choices every day in your college career; choices can support or sabotage your larger goals.
Key concept: locus of control
- Exercising maximum control over your own life by freely making choices
- An active view rather than a passive view of self

Pathways are based on information about whether students will be more or less likely to complete courses successfully.
Pathways can save time, money, and energy by helping you choose courses that are right for you.
Guided Pathways: a prescribed set of courses leading to certain majors and degrees.

Tips for emailing instructors:
- Use your college e-mail address.
- Make the subject line informative.
- Address your instructor with respect.

Reflect on your decision to enter this college at this time of your life.
Who influenced your decision?
College students often feel stress balancing personal and academic lives.
How can you include time to engage in at least one high-impact practice each year?