College Preparation Speaker: Jordan Smith

1. College Preparation Speaker: Jordan Smith Associate in Applied Science Graduated in May 2013

2. KATTY PERRY REMIX Last Friday night Yeah we studied all night long Til we started getting questions wrong Then we drank our coffees gone Last Friday night 2 research papers done While everyone else was having fun But come stress Monday we’ll have none Last Friday nightYeah we danced on tabletopsAnd we took too many shotsThink we kissed but I forgotLast Friday nightYeah we maxed our credit cardsAnd got kicked out of the barSo we hit the boulevard

3. The Notorious College Triangle As a first time freshmen transitioning into the college lifestyle, this triangle holds a lot of truth. You will have many different opportunities to spend each of your days at college, but time is limited and those activities you partake in come at a cost!

4. The Ying and Yang of College Life

5. What do you wish you would have known when you were in high school (or wish you would have done different)? • I wish I would of invested a lot more time in testing out areas in which I want to major in. • Onet is a great online resource that provides valuable information about the occupation your seeking http://www.onetonline.org/ • Guidance Counselor – provide tests that help indicate what area your interests relate to: www.mydreamexplorer.org • Setting up volunteer experience to test out my major • The best strategy I found is to call a local area and see if you can job shadow. • Job shadows are one of your best sources of information because the people your shadowing can describe their experience in schooling and their daily routine in the workforce. • New visions allied health/law/education/child care • New Visions: Allied Health – My rotations reassured me that I had a strong interest in the human body, which has currently played a role with the major I have chosen and my long-term goal to become a physician assistant. Not to mention, my name has been recognized among several different medical practices which aids in professional connections.

6. What do you wish you would have known when you were in high school (or wish you would have done different)? • Finding out what courses/grade requirements are required for that specific major • For instance, Human Performance and Human Promotion suites many people interested in fitness, however, are you capable of succeeding at taking math courses straight up to calculus • There are always pre-courses you must pass in order to reach the next level of your schooling. • For instance: You must pass (2 classes of skills, magn 101, math 102, and Math 103 (Advance Algebra and Trigonometry) before you go try Pre-Calculus • In some cases, you cannot even move on in your major unless you pass everything with a C or higher. For example: in a massage therapy major, you must pass Anatomy Physiology I and Myology I before you can go onto the second courses in massage therapy – fail = a year wait = $$$ / time / effort • Do I want to do a minor / does my school even offer a minor? • Minor – a secondary field of study on a specific subject that usually requires around 2 years of courses to complete

7. Once you have a strong idea of your major(s), choosing a college is the next area to approach! • Does the college contain other majors and minors I would be interested in if I don’t like my major? • Math and Sciences, Health-related Studies, Biology – Biology Education • Verses: a college specifically for nursing majors only • Does this institution's credits transfer to other colleges? • Reasons why you might leave: maybe the institution is too far, too expensive, doesn’t have the major you want to switch into, continuing education • SUNY Morrisville > SUNY Potsdam Verses Private Colleges

8. Paying for College does not end after FAFSA • How much does the college cost? • Let’s Talk Loans: Unsubsidized vs Subsidized Loans – student loans • 6.8% interest on an unsubsidized loan • If you are able to take out a parent loan, you can only take out up to $31,000 in sub/unsub and $57,500 if your parent’s credit is not enough to be able to take out a parent loan • http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized • So take money into consideration when thinking about choosing your college: • Should I go to a community college first? • Community colleges offer a lot of different majors and minors, some that the degree can get you into an immediate job, while others are a great source before transferring

9. Paying for College does not end after FAFSA • SCHOLARSHIPS • A great aid in paying for college and can be used as a great motivator to keep doing well in school • HOWEVER, note to self, with a scholarship comes a GPA requirement • If your GPA doesn’t live up to their standards, the scholarship will be removed and you will be responsible for recovering the money for your college education

10. Paying for College does not end after FAFSA • Note to self – textbooks are not included with your loans/grants • A common college estimate for a student’s textbooks per semester is a whopping $400. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEZZwEb99OE 1.42 • MY BIG TIP TO YOU!!! • DO NOT BUY FROM THE SCHOOL STORE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TOO • Here is why: you have several other resources that are available to you and can save you literally hundreds of dollars! • Check to see if the books you need are at the library where you can rent them out and complete your homework in the library • Check your online sources: amazon, ecampus, ebay etc. • You can often buy cheap used ones or rent the book for a huge discount or buy ebooks and usually get half off • Beware that some books you must buy from the school store, like lab books and/or specific copies for the college • Check your fellow students to see if they are selling their textbooks

11. Paying for College does not end after FAFSA • TIP NUMBER 2 – REFUND CHECKS!!! • How would you like a $3-6,000.00 check come in your name? At college, it is very possible for that to happen, given your financial aid status • Leftover loans are converted into a refund check, which goes directly to you. You have access to a large quantity of money • BUT, don’t forget what I just mentioned, “LOANS ARE CONVERTED INTO A REFUND CHECK” • This is NOT FREE MONEY! You will be paying that money back and the interest along with it • All I ask is you be wise with that kind of money • Using it for a car, apartment etc is a great way of using that money • Many though go shopping, buy video games etc

12. Courses you didn't take but wish you would have? • Physics, Pre-calc/Calculus, Spanish • The high school courses are cheaper and the General Education requirement is subject to most majors. I found my high school college • classes to be taught at an easier level • then at college! You are about to see • the difference between high school and • college!

13. The Difference Between Schooling in High School VS College • There is a major difference between the balance of responsibilities between a teacher and a student from high school to college. At college, a common phrase that is used to explain the reality of your situation is, “They don’t care, they have your money already.”

14. Amount of homework/studying has to be done in college • The rule at college – for every hour of lecture, you are expected to do 2 hours of studying outside the class • In an average schedule, that is about 15 credits, aka about 5 classes, that is about 14 hours worth of lecture = 28 hours of expected studying outside class! • Lecture examples of memorization – be able to remember and spell • Austerolopithecusafarensis, Spongiform Encephalopathy • There are no word banks, corrections, restests • Domain Kingdom Phylum Subphylum Class > Bio 121 Practical • Multiple Choice – not setup to be easy • A,b,c / a and b only / all of the above / none of the above • 6 possible choices and the process of elimination is not as easy, give you need to know information about each choice

15. Professors don't necessarily give you breaks, etc • No corrections • No retests • No word banks • Doctor’s note required for Exam Makeups • No Review Sheets • Cheating = Possible Expulsion and marking on your permanent record • Up to 3 hours worth of lecture – miss it, and you miss a lot! • There are Final Grade Requirements that can determine whether you fail or not regardless of your overall grade in the class.

16. Distractions / Temptations at College • College provides several temptations that can lead you astray and result in serious consequences • Access to drugs, pills, alcohol • Plenty of late night parties to attend to all throughout the week • A lot more lusty / romantic attention • Plenty of student activities to attend • CONSEQUENCES • STDS • Pregnancy • Expulsion • Thousands upon thousands of wasted money • Academic Probation

17. CONSEQUENCES of a Low GPA • Failure to live up to the set GPA standard of your college will result in Academic Probation • Academic Probation WARNING – If you cannot get your grades up to the set GPA standard in the following semester, you will not be able to return the following year • Often, if the student fails to get their GPA up both times, and wants to come back, the student must go to another college/take summer classes and get there GPA up before reapplying for the college they got dismissed from

18. Career, Counseling Services and Tutoring • If you are struggling with your grades, take advantage of the resources around you to help you out: • Career Services – a great source for getting a plan together to help with your college career and also useful when looking to work on: resume, interview, job search, internships etc • Counseling Services – college is full of stress and a crucial to learning about you. Use the counseling services to help with the mental strain of college and all of other of the life struggles that can be jeopardizing your health and in return your grades • Tutoring – Many colleges offer free tutoring. Often, the tutors are peer tutors, meaning they are students and have taken the class your trying to get help in, which has many benefits of its own • HOWEVER, BOTH REQUIRE THE ULTIMATE COLLEGE SKILL A.K.A. TIME MANAGEMENT!!!

19. How important good time management is to be successful • So important: • Printing out PowerPoint's for each class • Preparing for daily quizzes ( MWF 8 AM ) • Organizing study sessions for each exam ( 300 SLIDES 1 EXAM) • Finding time for social outings • Actual class times • Appointments (health center, tutoring, career services etc) • Clubs • Sports • Laundry/Groceries • Fitness • Morning classes that you cannot change • Emails – must check to keep updated with activities • Online classes = beware, you must have good time-management to succeed at these types of courses • JOBS!!!

20. FUN: Sliding down a muddy hill on a rainy day

21. CREATING STUDY GROUPS WITH FRIENDS

22. HONORS DINNER

23. Costs of college (do you work part-time or in the summer when your in college) or how you get money, etc • Work study is the most popular way to get money! • Tutoring, Note-taking, Dining Services, Library, Cyberlabs • Work-study is your greatest advantage because you can usually find something that relate to your major • Peer Tutoring = Education / Daycare Center = Early Childhood Development • Part-time jobs are a possibility given you have a car, the money for gas and the ability to balance BOTH JOBS! • Remember being a college student is a FULL-TIME JOB! There was even a limit of 10 hours per week for work study!

24. Costs of college (do you work part-time or in the summer when your in college) or how you get money, etc • Becoming an RA – Benefits and Cons • RA = resident assistant: a job that entails you supervise a floor in a dorm and the residents on that level. • You work with other fellow RA’s at the dorm, rotating days when you are in the office, being a guide for anyone at the dorm. • Hours are usually from 7-11 and 11-3 on weekends • Must do hourly rounds and make sure everything is going good on the floors • Must do write-ups for those that are disobeying the rules • Must provide 3 RA activities for your residents to participate in • Job requires: resume, interview, group activities, training

25. Costs of college (do you work part-time or in the summer when your in college) or how you get money, etc • PROS • In exchange for your services as an RA, you get room and board paid for, which can save you up to $6-10,000 a year depending on how much your college charges you • The RA position is great to put on a resume, given it shows you held a big leadership position, were able to practice good time-management, were good at working with a variety of people etc • As an RA, you get a big opportunity to help many college students

26. Costs of college (do you work part-time or in the summer when your in college) or how you get money, etc • CONS • Late hours • Your resident can say anything they want to you, but you must show restraint • You must serve your residents, like if they get a lock out at 4 in the morning and your asleep or if your eating with friends • Very time consuming • You do not get to chose which hall to be at

27. Who are you? The Worthy Competitor or Easy Defeat? • Remember this while you are at college: Look at college as a gym. Think of each class, clubs, volunteer services, & work-study as all the fitness machines at a gym. Now look at the professors, director of those clubs/volunteer services, and your bosses as your personal trainers. They will help guide you on how to use the tools, but ultimately it is up to you to do the work. Likewise, the amount of effort you put in to your college experience, will determine your final results, as would your regular fitness routine for your body would. Now, when you graduate, think about it as taking all that training and putting it all to use in a big competition. You will be competing against thousands of other college graduates for that one job, and/or in this case, the medal for the competition. Ask yourself when you are at college, are you training yourself to be a worthy competitor, or an easy defeat?

28. LAST TIP • When you graduate, your resume if going to reflect important factors: • Whether you are well-rounded • Professionals want to see you are proficient in other crafts and are skilled at time-management, organization etc • Your overall GPA • And yes, C’s and B’s get degrees, but don’t forget when your employer sees that GPA, he/she is seeing the proof on whether or not you actually know your craft or not!

29. DOABLE

30. Questions, Comments? Email: Jwasmith1993@gmail.com PowerPoint will be on LaDue’s Webpage • !?...