Starting college can feel overwhelming, but participating in our Summer Advantage program gave me the tools and confidence I needed to succeed. This pre-semester program focuses on three essential areas that every incoming student should master: academic preparation, communal living, and time management.
The Summer Advantage program allowed students to earn eight
credits before the fall semester, giving us a significant head start on our degree requirements. We became familiar with our course loads and academic expectations in college, learning firsthand how different the workload is from high school. Most importantly, we learned the locations of classrooms and key campus buildings ahead of time, eliminating the stress of getting lost during our first official week.
The program provided early opportunities to meet future classmates, roommates, and suitemates, creating bonds that would prove invaluable during stressful times. Forming friend groups before the school year helped ease the social transition into college life, making campus feel less intimidating and more like home. Living in shared spaces taught us about communal living, compromise, and respecting differences, while early experience with a roommate helped us navigate personal boundaries and shared responsibilities.
Summer Advantage fostered improved time management skills,
teaching us to balance academic responsibilities and personal time effectively. We learned the importance of making mature decisions, understanding that college consequences carry more weight than in high school. Learning to say “no” to social invitations when necessary helped us maintain focus and protect our academic success, while the program highlighted the independence of college life and the need for self-motivation.
Perhaps most importantly, we realized that professors do not monitor attendance closely, making personal accountability essential. Attending classes and completing assignments on time became our own responsibility, preparing us for the self-directed nature of college learning.
This foundation has been invaluable as I continue my college journey.
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