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Dear Dr. Syl,

How was your transition from high school to college? What would you have done differently and what should we be aware of avoiding?

–From High School to College

Dear From High School to College,

Everyone has a different experience when transitioning from high school to college life.  One big difference for me was the weekly schedule adjusting.  As a commuter student with a full-time job, I had to make sure that all my classes were scheduled for only two long days at school, which was very different than our Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. high school schedule.  I also began using a planner to keep track of assignments, exams, work schedule and budget, something I did not really need in my high school years.

 The biggest difference was going from a segregated campus (Black and Latino students only) of less than 1,000 students to a huge state university with over 30,000 students, the majority being White and Asian.  This may not be a big deal to most, but for a Latina from Inglewood, California, this was a major change.  

If I could go back to freshman year in college, I would make a big effort in becoming involved in a club or organization.  As a commuter student, I did not have the opportunity to build the long-lasting relationships that you see on TV.  Avoid being stuck in your home/city and explore your new surroundings!! This is something I regret and would advise all new college students to work towards.  These new surroundings and relationships can be a huge blessing when you are in that college classroom and feel totally out of place. 

Best of luck muchacha!

Dr. Syl

P.S.- If you have any questions you would like answered, please submit them here.  Stay tuned for the next segment of Ask Dr. Syl every 15th of the month!!