Successful College Prep through UVM’s Pre-College Courses.

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Claire Goodwin

Are you a motivated student interested in taking college-level courses in high school? The University of Vermont Pre-College Program helps high school students prepare for college life and course rigor.

Kate McAllister, a high school senior at Champlain Valley Union High School in Vermont, completed Intro to Psychological Science, among a number of other pre-college courses, and is excited for her upcoming academic prospects at UVM.

“I absolutely loved the course…it was not hard for me to participate, and my teacher created a very positive learning environment.”

She felt she was given the independence to prove her skills as an incoming freshman, but was also the support to succeed in her studies. “It was a really great confidence booster for me before I go into college.”

Kate found time to incorporate her pre-college courses into her busy high school and summer work schedule, earning college credit while also staying on track in high school.

Beginning her freshman year at UVM next semester as a psychology major, Kate credits her pre-college courses with preparing her for what’s to come. “This was a perfect opportunity to see if a big school was a good fit for me.” Kate also enrolled in the Dual Enrollment Voucher Program, which allows Vermont high school students to take up to two college courses with tuition fully reimbursed. Kate decided to enroll in more courses with her high school discount code to access classes at half price.

Learn more about UVM’s Pre-College Program and Summer Academy. Registration is now open.

Multi-Tasking: Helpful or Hindrance for Pre-College Students?

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Claire Goodwin

As technology progresses and we have more tools at our fingertips to keep ourselves organized and “efficient,” why does it feel we have less time to finish all the tasks at hand? Whether texting a friend while running errands, or doing homework while uploading a picture on Instagram and watching TV, this interconnected world almost begs for us to be multi-taskers.

We’ve all heard this expression before, and some of us even pride ourselves on our multi-tasking abilities. Christine Rosen, in her article, “The Myth of Multitasking,” views this tendency as a hindrance to time-management, efficiency, and long-term learning.

Studies have shown that “workers distracted by email and phone calls suffer a fall in IQ more than twice that found in marijuana smokers,” and multi-tasking can be creating such an information overload that we are losing our ability to be productive, especially among new generations who are more likely to be “media multi-taskers.”

Another study found that “task-switching leads to time lost as the brain determines which task to perform.” This can hinder learning, make it harder to retrieve information, and lead to more stress. Multi-tasking has created a generation who holds “great technical facility and intelligence,” while also creating students who are impatient with long silences and slow, time-consuming activities.

Perhaps finding courses such as Drawing in UVM’s Pre-College Art Studio course or On the Meaning of Life Philosophy course can help students to put down their devices and be more in the moment.

As research on this issue evolves, we will all have to ask ourselves if multi-tasking will be helpful in processing information more quickly, or if it will hinder our ability to be good listeners, to pay attention, and be efficient learners. So the next time you are doing homework, driving, or eating lunch, be in the moment, and consider how multi-tasking personally affects your learning and ability to be productive.

Learn more about the courses offered at UVM’s Pre-College and Summer Academy.

Sources: – http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20707868,00.html#you-re-not-really-multitasking-0 – Rosen, C. (2008). The Myth of Multitasking. The New Atlantis, (20), 105-110. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/43152412 – http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-myth-of-multitasking

Parents: How to Prepare for “Empty Nest Syndrome.” Try a Test Run with Summer Academy.

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Claire Goodwin

Getting your teen ready for college can be a whirlwind of excitement and emotions. You can become so busy that you don’t have time to cope with the fact that your child is about to leave home to embark on a new adventure, one that could be thousands of miles away.

Often times a successful “test run” for both the student and parents can be UVM’s Summer Academy, where students spend two weeks on campus.

Many parents experience “empty nest syndrome,” a phenomenon where parents feel deep sadness and loss when children leave home.

Here are some tips for parents on how to prepare and cope with this sensation:

Spend as much time with your family and children as possible during their senior year of high school

As Benjamin Franklin said, “Lost time is never found again.” These moments will give you the opportunity to talk to your student about next steps, preparedness, and communication while in college.

Talk to your child about expectations and the basics of caring for themselves.

Perhaps your child is used to home-cooking, being free from financial obligations, and living comfortably with family. Talk to them about the basics of caring for themselves, such as washing clothes, cooking, cleaning, making smart credit card decisions, budgeting, and dealing with roommates. Also, establish how you will keep in touch, how often, and when to visit, so that you’re all more comfortable with the “send-off.”

Treat it like an adventure.

Don’t let scary thoughts take over. Reassure your child that this experience is once in a lifetime, as they will also feel apprehensive and excited. Stay positive to not only prepare your child, but also yourself.

Think about and start new activities.

Making a list of all the activities you want to do for yourself is healing, and you’ll be busy in no time. Connect with old friends, join a community club or gym, keep a journal about your emotions, meditate, take up a new hobby, volunteer in your community, or consider going back to school.

Accept support if you need it.

If you’re have a difficult time coping, reach out to loved ones and friends that can listen and understand or consider professional help to get you through this period. This may also be a good time to listen to your body. Meditation, exercise, calming projects, and keeping a journal are all helpful remedies.

Focus on the positive side of your kids moving out.

You may feel lost for the first weeks or months, but keeping a positive mind is always healthy. Think about all the activities that you haven’t been able to do for yourself over the past years. Also, give yourself a huge pat on the back for raising a person who is now taking on new, exciting roles in their life!

Whatever you do to cope with empty nest syndrome, there are productive ways to keep yourself busy, stay positive, and continue to connect with your student as they—and you—undertake this momentous next step in your lives. Happy new adventures!

Learn about Summer Academy and Pre-College Programs at UVM.

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Recover-From-Empty-Nest-Syndrome

Mindfulness: An Approach to High School Stress & Performance

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Claire Goodwin

High school can be a stressful time, and finding ways to mitigate that stress is vitally important to obtaining good grades and keeping peace of mind. One approach is through meditation and mindfulness, a fast growing trend throughout the U.S.

In a recent CNN article on mindfulness in education, the author mentions that the practice of mindfulness in schools has rapidly grown and more educators are exploring ways to offer it to their students.

While many students may not take meditation seriously at first, the developing evidence and trends are showing that these exercises are helping teens all over the country with their social, emotional, and attention skills and in coping with academic pressures.

According to Dr. Vo, author of “The Mindful Teen: Powerful Skills to Help You Handle Stress One Moment at a Time,” mindfulness can help improve teens’ relationships, behaviors, and schoolwork.

What do you have to lose by trying these techniques and calming your mind for a better performing you? Talk to your teachers, principal, and school counselors to explore the options offered in your school or community–or find out how to implement them.

In the meantime, here are a few apps to get you started:

Take a Chill—An application filled with tools to help teens manage stress and bring mindfulness into their everyday lives.
Stop, Breathe, and Think— Short meditations to help you stop, breathe, and expand your mind.
Mindshift—An app to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety.
Kelty Mental Health Mindfulness—Resources for parents, educators, and young adults on practicing mindfulness.

Learn more about UVM’s courses for Pre-College students.

Pre-College Parents: Can You Nip Senioritis in the Bud?

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Claire Goodwin

The fall semester has come to a close, and spring is quickly approaching. For most pre-college students, the final months of school can be a blessing or a curse: graduation is just around the corner; summer is in the air; college applications are complete. Eking through those last months of homework, exams and college decisions can be grueling.

“Senioritis,” a terrible affliction that affects millions of high school students, hits around January and February when seniors lose motivation to finish homework and attend classes, and have a dismissive attitude towards school in general. Sound familiar, parents?

Parents, it’s important to not let the end-of-school funk affect your student by letting their grades drop or spoil those last precious months. Giving in to senioritis can be a big mistake, and colleges notice as they keep track of your performance even after receiving your application. “Admission officers can ask a student to explain a drop in grades and can revoke an offer of admission if not satisfied with the response,” according to the College Board.

How can you combat this so-called malady? Here are four steps to help nip senioritis in the bud and help your pre-college student to continue to impress their top college choices:

1. Enroll in engaging pre-college courses. By the last semester of senior year, students will have fulfilled the majority of the necessary classes to graduate. Why not encourage them to take a Pre-College course or two that sparks their interest and could even help them choose a major? Electives can challenge students academically and impress college admissions on their transcript.

2. Find an interesting internship or independent study opportunity. Boost their transcript while learning something new and exploring an area of study. Students can learn valuable skills, such as time management, organization and self-discipline before being released into the independent world of college.

3. Set achievable short- and long-term goals. Stay on track during the final months of high school. Short-term goals, such as earning a high grade on an essay, and long-term goals, like raising their GPA, will help them keep their head in the academic game. Keep a daily checklist of these goals.

4. Have fun and find time to relax. The end of high school, waiting to hear back from colleges, and saying goodbye to friends and family can be a stressful time for high school students. Remind them to take care of their body and mind by spending time with friends and family, attending sporting events and extracurricular activities, and looking for “me” time through self-reflection and goal planning.

Learn more about UVM’s Summer Academy and Pre-College courses.

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