College Preparation: Attitude for Success

What behaviors, attitudes and skills are essential for success in your college career?

It’s a fact that what high school teachers expect from students is different from the expectations of college professors or instructors. And now we’re learning that a student’s behavioral preparedness can be as important, if not more, as their academic preparedness when it comes to success in college.

Take “studying,” for example. College instructors often tell students they must “study hard” for their class. But in high school, studying usually means completing nightly homework, taking biweekly tests, and completing short-term assignments. College “studying” in contrast, means completing work independently—even if the teacher doesn’t collect or grade it. It means reviewing a syllabus at the beginning of a course, developing a plan to complete long-term projects and studying large amounts of material for infrequent exams.

This different approach to studying is a gap not adequately addressed for students in middle and high schools. And yet, it’s as essential as academic preparedness in predicting a student’s success in college and beyond.

Here are some interesting stats from a 2012 Columbia University research project:

• Only about 60 percent of first-time, full-time degree-seeking college students at four-year colleges actually earn a degree within six years
• Only about 30 percent of first-time, full-time students at two-year colleges earn a certificate or associate degree within three years

What are the expected “college success” behaviors?

Four main behaviors were called out as important predictors of college success. These include:

1. Academic habits
2. Cultural know-how
3. Ability to balance school and other demands
4. Ability to engage in help-seeking

Take a look at this interesting chart showing how key skills can carry a student successfully from middle school through to their career:

Other key behavioral factors have been identified as predictors of a student’s success through their careers and in life:

• Life-long learning
• A sense of quality
• Taking responsibility
• Persisting
• Working in teams
• Problem solving
• Adapting to change

It will take time for these non-academic readiness standards to be incorporated into ongoing local and state college readiness initiatives. In the meantime, Crystal Clear College Planning can provide resource advice to help students learn about successful behavioral “smarts” for college and beyond.