SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING STUDENTS FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE

The Duel Credit Honors Geology program in Kern County California provides opportunities to work with high school students during their senior year. Considering the well-documented gap between secondary and university expectations this program seeks to provide not only college-level science curriculum, but also to prepare students for the universally substantial increase in rigor. The adaptations these students need to make to be successful in college include improved study habits, as well as reading, writing and research strategies. Several changes that produce the best results are creating effective study groups, chunking the text in smaller than chapter sections, and taking adequate notes while reading and during lecture. Ultimately, students need to be taught how to self-direct individual learning approaches in order to navigate an increasingly difficult curriculum with significantly higher expectations of independence.