Are you really ready for college?

Strength, stamina, and study — a “must”

2012-01-22T15:33:00.000-08:00

The truth is that far too many high school students are studying no more than they did in middle school. Ask them how many hours each week they really study, and the response is often, “It all depends.” And that means it all depends on whether or not a test is coming up. Or they might say “It depends on how much homework I have.”

It’s a telltale sign that when the student’s homework is done, “study time” ends.

Students feel that, as is often the case in grade school, simply doing homework is “enough.” They are completing their assignments. Then, if they don’t do well on tests, they say “I’m just not good at that” —“that” being history, math, foreign language, or whatever the subject may be. Students don’t really see the relationship between not studying and getting lower grades.

Twitter Party Tonight: Preparing Students for the 21st Century Workforce

2012-01-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

Join Dr. Bob and other experts for a fun and engaging Twitter Party, hosted by Educationworld.com. Dr. Bob will talk about preparing students for the 21st century workforce. Tweet your questions and comments to Dr. Bob, the expert on college readiness. He will share how students can become really ready to succeed in the today’s competitive and global work environment. We hope to see you there!

When: January 5, 2012 – 8-9 p.m. EST

Where: Twitter

What: A Twitter party, intended to help and inform high school educators and parents about what skills are needed to prepare students for today’s work environment.

Official Hashtag: #edworld

More information: Edworld Twitter Party Info

What you do (or don’t do) today and every day determines your future

2011-12-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

Never seem to have time to really get ready for that next test or big assignment? If you answer “yes,” take this little quiz.

How many hours each day do you spend on these entertainments?

Be honest. It’s important information for you.

television
cell phone
face book
music
iPod
computer games
sports
socializing with friends

How many hours do you spend each day on these tasks?

studying & homework
part-time job
extra-curricular activities
volunteering
other responsibilities

Your assessment

Now rank the items according to their totals from most to least time spent.This assessment is your entertainment and work profile. It’s important. It defines your life in terms of interest, activities, jobs, and goals. You are what you do, and what you accomplish.

Why it’s important

Does time slip through your fingers despite your good intentions? Don’t let daily and weekly activities control you. You want to be in control. That means you must get organized, set your priorities, get things done, and control your time.

More tips about studying

2011-09-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

Study takes an independent, self-directed effort — creating different methods to approach and learn different subjects. What kinds of extra work?

Studying is coming prepared for every class. You are up to date in your reading, and you have even read ahead. You have done all your practice exercises (even when they’re not required), and you’ve gone over them.
Studying is reading and working ahead in all your courses. Reading ahead gives you an edge and prevents confusion. When the teacher introduces a new theory or concept, you already know something about it. And if you didn’t understand it when you read ahead, you can ask the teacher questions. If you did understand the material, then the teacher is reviewing and clarifying for you while only introducing the material to the other students. Reading can give you great starts in learning new things. And it will help you contribute better to class discussions.

Dr. Bob speaks to students of Lima Senior High School in Lima, Ohio

2011-04-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Starting a New Semester Right

2011-02-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

Because you're in a new semester, it’s time to do some reviewing and reevaluating. How well did you do last semester? Were your grades what you expected? Are you looking forward to this semester?

Think about the football or basketball team that goes into the locker room during half time. What goes on there? Well, the coach tells the team what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong so that the team can become better during the second half of the game. So let’s go into the locker room.

Planning your college visit (Part 3 of 3)

2010-06-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

What to take with you
To prepare for your college visits, create an academic profile for yourself and take it along to show the various people you meet. Besides showing your academic success, list your extracurricular activities (including sports and music) and any part-time jobs. Also, take a copy of your high school transcript and records of your standardized test scores, like the PSAT, PLAN, ACT, and/or SAT. The profile should also show courses you plan to take to finish your high school program.
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When you visit the Admissions Office (Part 2 of 3)

2010-06-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

College visits are arranged though an Admissions Office. Call or email this office, and get the name of the admissions counselor you talk to. This is your contact person going forward.

Ask if you will receive printed information before your visit. Let the counselor know that you want to visit several offices (see below), and ask the counselor to set up appointments for you with these offices. While many college admissions counselors try to answer all the questions students and parents have, insist on speaking to people in particular offices because their special knowledge of certain areas will make you better informed. Plus, it’s always helpful to have the names of individual college officials to contact when questions occur to you after your visit.

Confirm your visit with this counselor by email.

During your college visits, you should ask a lot of questions.
Read more »

Visiting Colleges and Universities (Part 1 of 3)

2010-06-01T16:15:00.000-07:00

Summer is a good time to visit colleges. It’s a convenient time for both you and your family. (Don’t forget to take your parents along!) And because colleges offer courses even during the summer months, you can visit classes and talk to enrolled students.

When should you visit colleges?
Read more »

Difference between colleges & universities

2010-05-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

Summer is the time that many families visit colleges. This article begins a multiple-part series about visiting colleges. Check back every few days to read about another topic. Today, we begin with the basics.
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Interview with WPR's Kathleen Dunn

2010-05-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

Listen to Dr. Bob talk with Kathleen Dunn and address listeners' questions about preparing for college in high school.

Dr. Bob's recent TV interview about his new book

2010-04-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

With anchor Portia Young
Broadcast on WISN ABC 12 in Milwaukee

Free Q&A Event with Dr. Bob

2010-04-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

What is it:
Get to know the author of Are You Really Ready For College? and find answers to how high school students can become better prepared for college

When is it:
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27

Where is it:
At the Open Book store located at 4093 N. Oakland Ave in Shorewood.

Map it:
Click here for directions to the Open Book store

Attend the event and get 20% off your book purchase

The long-term consequences of cramming for tests

2010-03-29T16:53:00.000-07:00

A dictionary definition of cramming would be something like this: “trying to quickly force material in a container that cannot hold it.” This definition just about sums up the disastrous “learning” technique that so many students have adopted in recent years. For many, it is the normal way of studying. It’s a habit that will produce dire consequences in college.

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Start planning for college in the sophomore year

2010-02-12T10:10:00.000-08:00

For the student who is really serious about college, early planning is the key to the whole college selection and application process. How early? During the sophomore year of high school, students should begin the college search process. What does that mean?

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Standardized tests require systematic preparation, not a casual attitude

2010-01-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

Standardized tests are just a fact of educational life. And it’s a real alphabet stew: SATs, ACTs, APs, IBs, LSATs, MCATs, DATs, GMATs, GREs.

Students get their first taste of bubbling answers with number-two pencils in second grade. Such tests continue through elementary and middle school to rank students and mark their academic progress.

In high school, however, standardized tests take on a new meaning: They become qualifying tools used by colleges to admit or reject students.

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Ready, set, college! What you need to know before you get there.

2009-12-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

Did you know that 47% of today's college-bound high school students graduate with an A average; 88.1% graduate with at least a B average. Yet most teens earn such grades by studying fewer than five hours a week. Regardless of your grade level, you should really be studying at least 10 hours a week! But students sail through their high school courses by cramming for tests or studying the minimum hours for classes - just to get by. Students rely on the teachers to remind them about tests or papers. High schoolers view learning in the classroom as their 'study time' and any studying at home is just 'extra.' However, when students enter college, these approaches become their downfall. It's the major reason that 63% of students don't graduate in the traditional four years - and nearly 40% don't graduate at all or take longer than six years to graduate.
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