Your first few semesters will be a testing ground for discovering your academic abilities and learning to adjust to institutional reality. Stern (1970) found that "university-bound high school seniors evidently share a highly idealized image of college life representative of no actual institution at all" - Freshman Myth.

This is a transitional time where you may be:

forming new relationships and modifying existing ones
accepting and adjusting to changes within your routine
learning to live with an increased independence
adjusting to increased academic demands
learning new study habits

Throughout your academic career, you will be encouraged to:

modify your expectations so that they are real and consistent with the actual experiences you will encounter at the University

discover interests and explore options before making decisions about classes, majors, careers.

take initiative and learn about and make use of the University resources available to you

take ownership of your education and play an active role in the advising process

attend class on a regular basis as well as meeting deadlines

ask questions when you don't understand something

maintain a positive attitude about change

develop and use effective study habits

Handout: High School Vs College (pdf)

The workplace, jobs and skill demands are changing. Today every student requires 21st century skills to succeed. They include:

21st Century Content: global awareness, financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy, civic literacy and health and wellness awareness.

Learning and Thinking Skills: critical thinking and problem solving skills, communication skills, creativity and innovation skills, collaboration skills, information and media literacy skills.

Life Skills: leadership, ethics, accountability, adaptability, personal productivity, personal responsibility, people skills, and social responsibility.

www.21stcentury skills.org

Career Services, GSU 309 or 768-4287
www.hartford.edu/career