High school poses many challenges for students emerging into young adulthood. However, upperclassmen tend to take the brunt of the pressure as they are encouraged to become mindful of their futures. Many students consider going to college, but with an influx of emails from schools and last-minute resume boosts, one pressing question is raised: Do students truly feel prepared enough for college by their high schools? According to the Education Week Organization, “More than 4 in 5 high school seniors report feeling very or mostly academically prepared for college.” Many students in the U.S. feel as though their high schools substantially prepare them for higher education, but here at Ipswich High, we can’t help but wonder if that’s truly the case.
At Ipswich High School, we are lucky enough to have access to a multitude of resources provided by the guidance team that enhance our learning about the college process. Every year during the fall semester, IHS hosts a college fair, which is an experience in which students can meet with representatives from different colleges, universities, and even trade programs to learn more about them. Ms. May, a beloved guidance counselor here at IHS, claims that while the decision to come to the college fair is “entirely dependent on the student,” many leave feeling like they gained “valuable information after attending.”
Similarly, IHS also provides students with a chance to attend a college boot camp during the summer. With the guidance team and select teachers as instructors, Ms. May states that through this experience students can “get a head start on setting up their Common App, build their resume, learn about financial aid and even gather insight from college admissions workers themselves.” While Ms. May notes that the bootcamp is funded by a grant and is not guaranteed every year, it presents students with an opportunity to accomplish many of the necessary tasks during the college process before senior year begins.
Likewise, during the second semester of senior year, the guidance team comes into senior English classes to present students with scholarship opportunities, encouraging them to apply to as many as possible and minimize their financial burden.
In her twenty three years at IHS, Ms. May has watched thousands of students walk across the stage at graduation and continue on to pursue higher levels of education. When asked if she thought that most students who came through IHS were prepared for college, she felt that all students were prepared academically. She has observed that students develop more independence each year of high school, and by the time they graduate they are ready to “spread their wings” and take on college.
Senior Maggie Beland, who will be attending the University of New England next year, says that she is very excited for college and “very excited to be around new people and a community that shares similar interests,” but has also expressed nerves about moving away from home. This nervous feeling is very common, as moving to college is the first time that many kids move away from their parents. Maggie feels confident in her college decision and believes that college fairs, BRIDGE, and the bootcamp are beneficial events for IHS students. She found them to be extremely helpful to her search for college. She says that “[students] have benefitted from [the fairs] to get a glimpse of what is out there that caters to their interests, but with no pressure to decide on anything yet, as they still have time.” As a whole, college fairs act as a stimulant to future interests, but with no binding decisions.
Overall, IHS has a multitude of resources available to help students prepare for and get excited about college. The independence needed in a college setting can be challenging to prepare for, but Ms. May has observed that her students foster a growing sense of independence each year, making her confident that they will succeed in college.
