Experience exploration: Some colleges see benefit in waiting to decide on a major
August 17th, 2021Deciding your career path right after high school can seem like a tall order. It may appear as if most of your peers know exactly what they want to study and where this will lead them after college graduation. While true for some, many students benefit from time to explore options in order to find their best fit.
Universities with multiple academic divisions still need students to choose a starting home base, such as liberal arts, business, engineering, etc. However, a trend is on the rise where some schools are creating programs to help students navigate the process and are easing up on the push to make a decision early on. University of Colorado Boulder offers a Program in Exploratory Studies, which gives students the resources and guidance to feel confident in their academic and career journey. The article referenced below from The Hechinger Report highlights several schools now encouraging more time to explore before selecting your major.
Article referenced below from The Hechinger Report, written by Jon Marcus, published on July 23, 2021
Some colleges ease up on pushing undergrads into picking majors right away
BOULDER, Colo. — Ingrid Dominguez can’t remember why, when she was applying to college, she decided she would major in business.
“I don’t really know, honestly,” Dominguez said. “Senior year in high school was just, like, ‘You have to decide what you want to do right now.’ ” And picking business “is what everybody else was doing.”
But Dominguez wasn’t chosen for the highly competitive business track when she was accepted to the University of Colorado Boulder — “a blessing in disguise,” she said, because it gave her the chance to take courses in science and health. And she enjoyed those so much she’s now majoring in integrative physiology with plans to open a chain of protein cafés.
Time management: Start the year focused and organized
August 3rd, 2021Ahhh, the first day of school is right around the corner. Welcome back to a jam packed schedule, which we know can be equally exciting and exhausting! Most of us get the feeling that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to fit it all in, but I can promise you this feeling won’t go away after high school, so embrace the challenge and learn how to manage it now.
By implementing time-management strategies, you can start the school year feeling more organized, focused and balanced, which is really the key to success for all ages.
Today, we share time management tips published by My Click Journal. Not only does this link provide guidance on the topic but it also gives sample planners and examples for time-blocking. Who doesn’t love a good color coding option? We are excited for this school year and want you to make every minute count!
Article referenced below from My Click Journal, published September 21, 2019
8 TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR STUDENTS
Welcome back! Today we are going to talk time management tips for students! As a student myself, I’ve always been trying to find the best ways to be more productive and manage my time better. So here are my best time management tips for students!
Need a study routine? Here is mine!
1. Try social media blockers
Blocking your computer or phone for a set amount of time from social media is one of my favorite ways to be more productive and manage my time better.
Apps called FocusMe, AppBlock, SelfControl, or Flipd allow you to block certain websites or apps for a set amount of time, with no option to turn it off. You have to wait for the timer to expire before having access to the apps again.
Believe it or not, it is super effective and makes you really focus on your work and studies.
Include a little downtime in your summer plans
July 20th, 2021Summer is a time to unwind, away from the busy school year schedule. Having a little downtime is not only good for the soul, it can facilitate more creativity and be key to doing your best work in the fall. Of course, we have always recommended that students utilize the summer with some productivity so that when the school year rolls around they are not completely overwhelmed. However, the benefit of summer break is that you can do it on your own time. And often when activities are done by choice rather than assignment your project will reflect more passion and interest.
The article referenced below from Teen Life is a classic. Althouh written several years ago, it offers a great reminder that all of us need time to recharge and relax. Learning how to de-stress can help if you feel overwhelmed with the stressors of school this fall.
Article referenced below from Teen Life, written by Randi Mazella, published on July 16, 2014
Why Teens Benefit from Summer Downtime
For most teens, the school year is very busy. Balancing school, homework, sports, extracurricular clubs, religious events, etc., can leave very little downtime. Summer seems like it would be a great opportunity for teens to slow down and relax.
But many teens (and their parents) feel pressured to make sure their summer is productive. They may worry that they will be in trouble come college application time if they do not participate in activities that are “resume worthy.” Robin Mamlet, co-author of the book, College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, says, “There is nothing wrong with downtime. After the rigor of the school year, kids are entitled to some time that is simply whiled away.”
With more than half the summer ahead of us, what is the best way for teens to re-charge before the next school year?
Tips for a balanced, focused college list
July 6th, 2021College application season is right around the corner, which makes this month a great time to continue narrowing down that college list. Building and refining your list appropriately will help you feel more at ease as you tackle admission requirements this fall.
Remember our Shrop Ed mantra: it is best to search broadly, but apply narrowly. When searching, open your mind to schools that might not have been on your radar, then dive deeper to determine a good fit before applying.
When applying, strive to select no more than eight or nine schools, with at least two compelling green light options in the mix. Your list should be based on a number of factors important to you personally and the article linked below from Niche may be a huge help as you think through choices.
Article referenced below from Niche, written by Jenna Spray published on March 28, 2021
My Take: How to Narrow Down Your College List
I have always found it a little crazy that—worldwide—teenagers are expected to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives.
As a senior in high school, I was panicking about choosing a college because I had no idea what I wanted to study!
College is so expensive and such a big commitment that I worried about choosing one based on my future career then regretting it later on.
Luckily, I identified a variety of factors that would help me choose.
Whether you’re unsure of your major like I was or simply needing help to cross schools off your list, here are the factors I use to help me my make my college decision.
