Welcome to College Life

To quote a wise teacher from my high school years, "you live what you value." What does it mean to value a good education? Is value measured in attendance, the quality of the work produced, the number of degrees awarded, or the amount of alumni contributions? If we are honest with ourselves about the state of our post-secondary institutions, value is measured in retention rates.

According to a variety of studies, your child has a 50/50 chance of completing college (give or take a percentage point or five depending on the study). I taught at a university which loses a third of its freshmen before they enter their sophomore year. Less than a third of the entire student population graduated within a six-year time frame. Intelligence, social background, grade point average, ACT scores, and other regularly cited criteria had no bearing on whether a student would survive his or her freshman year.

Unlike many academicians, I actually enjoy teaching freshmen. I don't consider doing so a burden, but it can be a time-consuming activity. It is not enough to teach incoming freshmen the ins and outs of public speaking. They need instruction on classroom decorum, academic integrity, campus navigation, student support services, independent study, and adulthood. I like to call this process the proper care and feeding of freshmen.

The purpose of this blog is to share insights, advice, and anything else available in my bag-o-tricks to increase college retention. This blog is written with my children, students, and fellow anxiety-ridden parents in mind. I will address topics from selecting the right university, preparing students for college, and knowing what to do once they arrive on campus. Comments are welcome. Please be cordial to me and other posters.