Special Report: Most students are not prepared for college

This special report was written and distributed as part of my employment with Quantum Learning Network/SuperCamp, where I work as Social Media Manager. It was published as part of a marketing campaign and the original publication can be found online here. 

Most students are not prepared for college
By Mariah Gillespie

Social Media Manager, Quantum Learning Network

According to the latest test scores shared by both the College Board and the ACT, most high school students are not ready to face the rigorous academic demands of college. Data released in September 2013 found that only 39% of ACT test-takers met three or more college-readiness benchmarks in English, reading, science and math. Nearly one third did not meet any at all. Similarly, the College Board (producers of the SAT), reported that just 43% of students who took the SAT received scores that indicated they are adequately prepared for college. Unfortunately, this number has remained virtually unchanged for the last five years. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, there is a “disturbing” lack of improvement among the nation’s high school students throughout the past 40 years.

Top students may not be as prepared as you think

Even your top achieving students may not be as prepared for college as you might hope or expect. In the United States, 30% of college students drop out after their first year, and more than half never graduate at all—regardless of what their grades were like when they entered college. It could be dangerous to assume that straight-A students will be as successful in college as they were in high school; students who jumped through hoops and breezed through AP classes may find themselves struggling with college-level courses. In addition, a lack of social and emotional skills in top-performing students often makes the transition from a high school environment to a more stressful college environment a difficult one.

Gen Yers have different study habits that may cost them in their academic career

Junior high and high school students, products of Generation Y, are wired 24/7. This is the first generation to grow up with computers and the Internet; they’re comfortable with and adaptable to the latest technologies. Constant exposure to the networked world allows them to retrieve information instantaneously, and this has a profound impact on their learning style—especially in problem-solving situations. Gen Yers create their own documents and databases, use the web for researching and networking and place high value in personal relationships. But technology can also provide distractions that prevent students from doing what they need to do to get ahead. Instant messaging, texting, tweeting and facebooking are readily available activities that teens find difficult to switch off due to “fear of missing out.” This overwhelming amount of information and distraction can lead to poor study habits such as cramming for tests, studying with friends in an unproductive environment, googling instead of researching and spending too much time on social media sites when they should be studying.  

Study strategies are imperative for academic success

To maximize true learning, it is vital that students learn in an optimal and supportive learning environment. Teens should have a designated study area of their own, quiet and away from distractions. It should be well-lit and stocked with the necessary reference books, writing materials, text books and notes. Research proves that listening to certain types of classical music can optimize functions of the brain that store and retrieve information, so a little Bach or Handel can go a long way. Students will excel in the classroom if they are aware of the specific learning strategies that can help them retain information taught in their classrooms.

Reading comprehension levels are at an all-time low

The College Board reports that SAT reading scores for graduating high school seniors has reached the lowest point in nearly four decades. Nationally, the reading score was 497, down 33 points from 1972. Reading comprehension is an integral part of any student’s education, and the ability to read quickly while maintaining comprehension gives students the edge they need to be successful in the 21^st century. Given the demanding reading load of college courses, it is essential for college-bound students to be able to read with focus and attention. They must learn to shift their mental state and prepare their minds to access the appropriate brainwaves for optimal learning. Valuable reading techniques, including superscanning large amounts of content, using a visual guide and mind mapping, are not readily taught but have been shown to greatly improve reading comprehension.

Writing skills are vital for school, work and communication

More than 75% of American students who took a writing exam did not communicate effectively, despite having easy access to a spell check, thesaurus and other word-processing tools. Being a powerful writer is a priceless skill for both school and life. It’s one of the top three most highly rated skills employers watch for, and 97% of executives rate strong writing skills as absolutely essential or very important. The key to successful writing is narrowing the gap between what’s in your mind and what’s on the page in front of you. Some methods for bridging that gap include fastwriting, mind mapping, clustering and writing “colorfully” to maximize the impact of a story. These are proven techniques for improving writing and communication skills. Students can jump-start the creative process by showing rather than telling their story; in time, they will find their voice and develop the writing skills they need in college and beyond.

Let’s face it: everyone has a different learning style

Every person has the potential to be smart when given the proper tools, opportunities and support. The challenge is that people learn differently, and when students find out how they learn, it accelerates their path to becoming smart. Determining your personal learning style means knowing how what you experience enters your brain and naturally makes sense to you. When you know that your learning-style preference is visual (seeing), auditory (hearing) or kinesthetic (movement/touching), you set yourself up for more success. Being aware of your focus gives you valuable insight into your own reactions and will help you to learn better.

What are your options to set your child up for success?

Summer learning loss often occurs when students’ minds aren’t actively engaged in the months between school years. This can have a profound, cumulative impact on momentum and on their academic careers. Tutoring and summer school engages students in learning during the summer months, but experts maintain that remedial summer school is not enough. Instead, they advocate experiential summer learning programs that attract and engage students to improve not just academic skills, but personal skills as well.

Not all summer camps are created equal

When evaluating your options for summer programs, choose carefully. There are all sorts of options out there, from sports camps and technology classes to programs that are little more than glorified babysitting. Choose the opportunity that will best prepare your child for both immediate and future success. Look for programs that offer significant increases in confidence and motivation that also arm them with proven academic value. A little fun doesn’t hurt, either!

Imagine having an insurance policy that positions your child to be better prepared for the academic and social demands of college and beyond.

College tuition and expenses cost tens of thousands of dollars. Imagine taking out an insurance policy that would protect your investment in the costs of your child’s education. Your best solution is SuperCamp, the original academic, life and career skills summer camp. For over 30 years, SuperCamp has been the respected worldwide leader, with over 70,000 graduates. SuperCamp programs enhance academic, leadership, communication and other essential skills and will better prepare your child for college, the workplace and a compelling future. SuperCamp offers 7, 8 and 10-day summer programs that allow students to dive into three key areas that are essential in their schoolwork and for college preparation.

Your child will discover how to study smarter, not harder.

Students learn a wide range of specialized learning strategies applicable in any learning situation. Quantum Reading, for example, helps students to increase their focus—which is crucial for comprehension—making their reading more meaningful and memorable. Most SuperCampers see a 200% increase in their reading speeds, and in many cases more than 300%. This is just one part of the system of strategies that students learn to habituate in place of old, ineffective study habits.

Avoid one of the biggest causes of college dropout.

Far too many high school students fail to transition smoothly into college because they lack emotional and relationship skills. At SuperCamp, students live in a college dorm room, eat in a campus cafeteria, and are surrounded by a brand new group of friends from all around the world. Separated from technology, students learn how to communicate without a cell phone, iPad, or other electronic device in their hands. SuperCamp teaches students communication strategies that build relationships, such as FIMAGE: fear of image. Many teenagers spend too much time creating and preserving their image. Students learn to move outside of their personal comfort zones and drop their FIMAGE. These communication strategies create positive patterns that they can apply to their lives both when they return home and when they go to college.

Everyone is google-able. Do you like what you see?

Facebook, twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other social networks are integrated into many aspects of a 21st century teen’s life. This generation of “digital natives” is all about sharing everything they do, from eating breakfast to major events in their lives. SuperCamp teaches teens the importance of representing oneself in a positive light, both off and online. College recruiters and employers all look at online activity to determine a student’s character. At SuperCamp, teens are given the support to both understand the importance of and effectively manage their online reputations.

For more information, call 1-800-722-0072, ext. 200, to speak to an enrollment counselor.

Written by Mariah Gillespie

Sources for information contained within this special report can be found here.