Student Orientation

One question families rarely ask when looking at prospective colleges is what kind of orientation the school provides to help students make the transition from high school to college. A well-designed program can be extremely helpful, and for some students it can make the difference between feeling alienated and feeling part of the college community.

Some large universities have one or two-day orientations students can choose to attend during the summer before starting freshman year. These programs tend to focus on academic advising and helping students choose courses.

When students arrive a few days before classes start, there are tours of the campus and programs to help them learn about college life—fairs to introduce students to clubs and community service, sessions to learn how to use the library, and introductions to campus health and counseling centers, career services, and study abroad programs.

But some schools offer more intensive orientation programs that really help students feel engaged and prepared for college.

One of the best is at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. Freshmen arrive in August for Autumn Term, a three-week class that helps them adjust to the rigor of college coursework. These are discussionbased classes of 20 students which address interdisciplinary topics such as “The Roots of Terrorism,” which could combine history, political science and religion.

Other offerings have included “Politics and Film,” “The Wonderful World of International Business,” A Journey into Contemporary French Culture and Society,” and “Dimensions of Self.”

During the courses, students are introduced to college-level writing and learn how to do research. When the fall semester starts, they know their way around the library and are more confident in their ability to handle college courses. Students who are afraid to participate in class discussions are offered help with communication skills.

The Autumn Term professor is also the academic advisor for the students in the class. These professors are truly mentors who help students plan curriculum and encourage them to get involved in campus activities.

Students stay with their professor/mentor throughout freshman year in the required two-semester “Western Heritage in a Global Context” course. Since all freshmen take this course, they have a common basis for discussion. At the end of the year, most students choose an advisor in their major. But some students return to their freshman mentor for the required senior class, “Quest for Meaning.”

The whole approach is designed to help students get off to a successful start in college. Freshmen have the campus to themselves, before upperclass students arrive. In addition to the academic experience, the freshmen share social activities and excursions to the beach at nearby Fort DeSoto, where they learn about the local ecosystem.

Instead of arriving on a crowded campus and feeling intimidated as they make their way around campus the first week, Eckerd students are immediately engaged with mentors and other students as they acclimate to the academic culture.

The downside is dealing with Florida’s heat and humidity in August, but Eckerd’s campus is on the water, and I saw some tempting hammocks on the sand. If you want to wear shorts and flip flops for much of the year, Eckerd may be the college for you.

While there are many criteria to think about when choosing a college, I do think that the effort a college puts into helping students adjust to college life says something about the values and priorities of the institution. Schools that are attentive to students’ developmental and psychological needs are likely to provide the kind of support that will help students succeed throughout their college experience.

Audrey Kahane, MS, is an independent college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or at audreykahane@earthlink.net.