Everlyn Ramirez

Secondary Education for College Preparation

Rhetoric 1312

Abstract

In this literature review the topic of college preparation will be presented to the readers.
In specific, the main question, is secondary education prepare students for college. This
paper will give an inside look of what students, administration, and teachers are going
through to make sure students are prepared to attend college. During the literature review,
interview and surveys will be shown and the opinions of other experts. The subtopics in
this paper are, academic preparation from secondary school for college, challenges that
both high school students and college students are facing, teaching techniques, and lastly
college opportunities and resource for students. There might not be a yes or no answer to
the main topic question, but hopefully by the end of this analysis there will be more
clarity of the life of young adults.

Is secondary education preparing students for college?

Research papers, football games, prom, college applications and much more that now
a days high school students are looking forward too. Each and every day the standards of

high school students raise creating both stress and excitement for the new life they are
about to enter. What happens once the student does reach that life and they are not as
prepared as they thought they were? They reality is that, most high school senior are
going into college or universities unprepared, but not all. In this literature review the
readers will have an inside look into secondary education preparation for college. In this
paper the topics of college standards, high school standards and uncontrollable standards
such as home income, social pressures and inner personal pressures encounter. The
following questions will be answer

What challenges do high school students face when preparing for college?

What new techniques of teaching and opportunities are given to students before
going to college?

How are colleges helping students prepare for higher education?

Hopefully by the end of this literature review readers can get a better understanding of
the life of young students and continue to promote high quality secondary education.

What challenges do high school students face when preparing for college?
There will always be stereo types about high school, and that students wont be
prepared for they work loads of college or the real word. The truth is that high school is a
different world, (Luis Aguirre, Senior). Now days high school students are faced with
workloads, social pressures, and many more stressful situations. In a blog by Grant
Wiggins who is the co-author of Understanding by Design and the author of Educative
Assessment and numerous articles on education, gives 8 reasons why students are not
prepare for high school. One of reasons that Wiggins gives is 3. Writing. In all but the
least demanding colleges, students are expected to write serious academic papers of at

least 3-4 pages every few weeks in courses other than Languages or Math. (Wiggins,
2015) In a survey for 25 high school 2015 graduates asking them how prepared they felt
about college, (all students had college in their plans) 54 percent of them feel on a scale
from 1-5 one being not prepared and five being very prepared students chose 3. On a one
to one interview with a graduate senior, from Irvin High School said, High school is
hard in some stuff, but in academics things are really not challenging, I mean I know that
in college things are going to be harder than this. (Giovanni Paz, Grad. 2015). Not only
academics seem to be issue for some high school students, but social pressures are a huge
thing in high school. In interview a college freshman, graduated 2014, said that high
school did not prepare her for the workloads of college. One of the struggles that she
mention, I had a hard time managing my time with work as school, and what made
things worse was that I didnt know how to study, since in high school they dont teach
you that (Leslie Moreno, grad. 2014). Students tend to really focus on looking good,
having all the followers on twitter, or being homecoming queen. According to Diocese of
Gary Diocesan Youth Council (DYC), acceptance by other is one of the challenges faced
by high school student. Students feel a pressure to fit in and be accepted so they are not
judged or discriminated against. Discrimination is caused by many factors such as race,
intelligence, interests, gender, and sexual orientation. (DYC, 2014). When going in to
high school students are still, some but not all, immature and have the need to have
people around them. This is not exactly to be popular, but mainly to find out their
personality. According to the YOUniversitytv a website where online college tours can be
found, also tips for college students and much more gave us the top 3 biggest challenges
new colleges students are facing, time management, academic workload, and
personal responsibility. (YOUniversityTV , 2015). In an interview with the college
advisor or Irvin High School, Mrs. Susan Wiggs explains how procrastination is what
really hits the students hard when trying to prepare for their college education. These are
just a few of many challenges faced by students which not everyone knows about.

Hopefully something can be done for students can be prepared for their future.
What new techniques of teaching and opportunities are given to students before
going to college?
Regardless students are facing many challenges students also receive many
support by their schools. Since 2009 schools have improve their teaching techniques
according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Dual credit
classes, college level classes, and Advance Placement college level classes were offer to
86 percent of US high schools. (NACAC, 2012). Now a day the high paying jobs involve
engineering, mathematics, and science, high schools are incorporating more of those
subjects into their schools. There are many schools that are known as magnet schools,
meaning that school focuses on a carreer, such as engineering, medical, criminal justice,
business, and the new adoption of a STEAM Academy, (EPISD, 2015). The NACAC
report on Preparation for College also explains us the more involvement of counselors
time with students to help them understand and make most of their decisions fully
informed. Some schools do have what is known to be a college readiness advisor. Who is
in charge of helping students with scholarships, help with admissions, college preparation
in general. Mrs. Susan Wiggs, the Irvin High School advisor explains how all students
have opportunities to succeed in college, academically and financially. Wiggs says,
Many students dont understand that if you want to go into a good college, hard work
starts since freshman years and even before, but students wait till their senior year to join
all the clubs and get all the scholarships and expect amazing results. Even though
students have the opportunity to join many organizations and clubs that helped them with
their decision of to where they future will lead and also teaching the students
responsibility and time management students dont realize that hard work is involved in
the process. In an interview with a college sophomore, she explained how being involve
in high school organization helped her be ready to tackle the challenge of high school.

Leslie Moreno explained that being involve in extra curriculum activities really helped
her prepare for college, I was involve in students council for 4 years and was Student
Body President which that really help me when I needed to manage my time, Moreno
said, , but in all truth academics didnt do much for me, it was hard coming to the new
environment of lots of workloads and short times. There are many more tools that high
school that offers students to be prepared for the new life, things might sometimes be
limited, but everything is for the students.
How are colleges helping students prepare for higher education?
Most public colleges always want the best for their students, for them to succeed
every step of their future. Many high school students are terrified of going into college,
mainly for all the bad rumors students hear for high school. College is difficult, but help
and support is always there. A college student in his blog wrote about the expectations of
college by high school to the reality of what college looks like.
In high school they told us: "If you do have papers, your professors just lecture and put
the assignments on the syllabus. You're completely responsible for remembering the
deadlines. They won't remind you. All your professors will do is lecture and the rest is up
to you."
Once I was in college a professor said: "Okay, so your next paper is in two weeks! I'll
keep reminding you in the interim, but I just want to make sure you have enough time to
do it! Let's run through the structure -- I want to see real quick, and if you have any
questions, feel free to email me or come to my office hours! (huffington post,2013)
As well colleges offer freshman orientation where students have the opportunity to learn
about their college, also get to meet all the resources that college offers. One of the
biggest help offer in college, is the university class. Most students see it as a drag but in
reality this class was specifically focused for freshman to have an easier transition from

college to high school. Not only does college help with academics but also with any
social issues. Students have the resource when feeling down and stress there will always
be someone there to hear for them. College is a hard step into a young adults life, but
there are tools that make things much easier. Most professors are always willing to help
with their work, and what students know are counselors now become academic advisors
and they help so much as well. (Interview with professor and academic professor). Many
more opportunities are given to students when a student is willing to ask for the help.
Conclusion
Even though college can be a scary topic, secondary education has done their best
to help their students succeed in their future. It is now all up to the students to ask for the
help and get informed about that they want for their future. The help and the support for
the students is there, I now up to students themselves to make the effort of fighting for it
and creating the future their want for themselves.

References
(2012, January 19). Retrieved July 1, 2015, NACAC from
http://www.nacacnet.org/research/research-data/nacac-research/Documents/Preparing
Students for College_12-18-12.pdf
Magnet Schools, El Paso Independent School District, El Paso, Texas. (2015). Retrieved
July 1, 2015, from http://www.episd.org/schools/magnet_schools.php
The 3 Challenges Most Students Face Making The Transition From High School To
College. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.youniversitytv.com/collegetips/3-challenges-students-face-making-transition-high-school-college/
Wiggins, G. (2015, April 8). 8 Reasons that today's high school is poor preparation for
today's college. Retrieved July 1, 2015, from
https://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/8-reasons-that-todays-high-school-ispoor-preparation-for-todays-college/
Ten Biggest Issues Facing HS. (2014, May 1). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://dgweb.dcgary.org/youth/dyc/10biggest.htm
Trudon, T. (2013, October 11). High School VS. College: What It's Really Like As
Experienced Firsthand. Retrieved June 15, 2015, from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/11/high-school-vs-college_n_4073178.html