Leadership Life Skills

TRANSITION TO
UNIVERSITY Presented By: Tong
 Let’s
break
the ice a
little
with an
airplane
 Tell me about yourself…
• Where do you come from and why did you
choose HELP University?
• What have you enjoyed most so far about
being at University?
• What are you most looking forward to about
being at University?
• What are you most nervous about?
 Changes that students face
• Students undergoing the
transition to university face
changes in many life areas

• Academic
• Personal
• Social
• Cultural
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 Changes from Secondary
school to University
What’s different?
Changes that students face
Academic
• larger classes, with
potentially less contact
with instructors
• change to lecture format
• reading load and volume
of learning increase
• responsibility: “nobody’s
going to take
attendance”
• time outside class
increases & time inside
classes shrinks
 Changes that students face
Academic (cont’d)
• need to structure own time and
study
• need to balance work, school and
social life
• essay writing issues (e.g.,
academic honesty, citations, the
writing process, argument versus
exposition etc.)
• understanding how ideas of the
course go together and how they
will be examined
• learning how to study effectively
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 Changes that students face
Academic (cont’d)
• learning how to read and listen actively
• need to develop critical and analytical thinking skills
• changes in ways of knowing and with it a change in the
meaning of learning and education
• consequent change in perception of their own roles, the roles
of teachers, and the level of difficulty of school work

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 Changes that students face

Personal/Social/Cultural
• entering new phase of adulthood;
relationships with parents and peers
change towards interdependence
• being/studying away from home
• life, career, and academic goal setting
• “freedom” issues – drinking, social
activities, time, etc.

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 Changes that students face
Personal/Social/Cultural (cont’d)
• developing awareness of the new environment
• fitting in and making new friends
• navigating the help sources available on campus
• becoming comfortable with size and diversity of campus

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 Changes that students face
Personal/Social/Cultural (cont’d)
• new institutional processes (e.g., services offered in the
GUIDANCE office now divided into Counselling, Advising,
Student Affairs, Career Services, etc. )
• changes in the way learning is institutionally organized
• potential lack of connectedness on the larger campus; feeling
like a number

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 Changes that students face

Personal/Social/Cultural (cont’d)
• understanding the “culture” of post-
secondary education
• encountering new ideas in an
environment that challenges students’
beliefs
• reflecting on values and lifestyles and
connection of education to career paths
• deciding on a belief system that is
personally valid
• developing social responsibility
• beginning as the first-year student again
after being the high school senior

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 Beginnings:
transitions from high
school

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 Beginnings:
transitions from high
school
• Students report being concerned about:
• Eligibility for post-secondary study
• Choosing the right program and the right school
• Finances: tuition fees, scholarships, bursaries
• Relationship of academic study to career aspirations
• Influences from others regarding what/where to study
• Knowing what to expect

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 Continuations:
transitions to university

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 Continuations:
transitions to university

• Students report being concerned about:

• Finding their way around, fitting in, making
friends
• Being successful, meeting the expectations of
the university
• Understanding course requirements and degree
regulations
• Balancing school, work, and social time
• Locating and using supports on campus
• Relating to their professors and instructors
• Are they taking the “right” program

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 Specific figures
 Approximately 9.5% of the population aged 18 and older
have a depressive disorder in a given year.
 Anxiety has a lifetime prevelance rate of 25.1 %
 Approx 1 in 18 (or 5.55% or 15.1 million people) in USA are
addicted to alcohol
 Approx 1 in 68 (or 1.47% or 4 million people) in USA are
addicted to drugs
 Eating disorders - It is estimated that 8 million Americans
have an eating disorder
 How about;
 Relationships problems
 Anger issues
 Mild sadness
 Addiction to smoking/gambling
 Stress
 Dieting issues
 Sleeping issues
 Reasons for stress
Deadlines

Grades not being high enough

Multiple exams The heavy workload

Relationships with friends

Busy life
Tiredness
 Reasons for stress
Boyfriend/Girlfriend issues

Financial problems

Speaking and understanding English

 Reasons for stress
Future plans

Time management problems

Doing
presentations

Family problems
 Tell me…
1. What are the challenges faced as you
transition into college

2. How can you overcome these challenges ?

10 Keys to Effective Transition
to University Studies
Defining Success in University
Short Term Success = performing well in
University
– academic results
– being an all-round student receiving an all-
round education
Long Term Success = performing well in
future career
– intellectually, socially and emotionally
 #1: Make well informed and weighted
decisions about career, course and
institutions of study
Decisions about career
– know yourself (abilities, interests, goals)
– get accurate information about possible
options
Decisions about course
– based on career goals
Decisions about institutions
– create shortlist based on logistics
– consider quality of staff and programme
 #2: Set personal goals for your duration in
university and be motivated about achieving
them

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”

Set goals at the start
– academic goals
– new skills
– sports/leadership
 #3: Develop a proactive attitude towards
education by taking responsibility and initiative
in your studies

Take charge of your work

– be clear about demands
– think creative solutions
– identify own weaknesses
– seek help if necessary; don’t wait to be helped
“Don’t wait for things to happen, make
things happen!”
 #4: Increase written and spoken language
proficiency as well as the ability to exercise
analytical and logical reasoning

Intellectual demands in University - higher

– written and spoken English
practice makes perfect
– independent thinking
analytical
critical
applied
#5: Master University pedagogy including
note taking, essay writing, study and exam
taking skills

Lectures different from classrooms

– note taking system
Essay writing
– research skills
Study
– attacking difficult texts – 5 Ws, 1 H
Exam taking
– understanding and application
#6: Understand and apply the concept of
managing self in time

Time is the same for everyone – 24 hours

Be mindful of time
Be disciplined
Be strategic
– Important vs. Urgent
#7: Develop emotional health and maturity
which enables stability of mind

Emotional health
– relating to self
Self acceptance
Self reflection
Self knowledge
Manage emotions
– relating to others
Communication
Conflict resolution
 #8: Ensure high level of physical health
which enables a sufficient store of energy

Healthy eating
Drinking enough water
Exercise
Rest
#9: Enhance leadership skills by participating
in the social, cultural and sporting life of
your campus

Leading and visioning

Communication skills
Organizational skills
Motivational skills
 #10: Find an academic role model and
mentor

Advisor
Counselor
Guide
Hero / heroine
 In Summary
1. Make well informed and weighted decisions
• about career, course and institutions of study
2. Set personal goals for your duration in university
• and be motivated about achieving them
3. Develop a proactive attitude towards education
• by taking responsibility and initiative in your studies
4. Increase written and spoken language proficiency
• as well as the ability to exercise analytical & logical reasoning
5. Master University pedagogy
• including note taking, essay writing, study & exam taking skills
6. Understand and apply the concept of managing self in time
7. Develop emotional health and maturity
• which enables stability of mind
8. Ensure high level of physical health
• which enables a sufficient store of energy
9. Enhance leadership skills
• by participating in the social, cultural and sporting life of your campus
10. Find an academic role model and mentor
 1`
You Can Do It!

Remember: The longest journey begins with

a single step