Dr. Jennifer Price, Biology instructor for Project Dragonfly at Miami, knows a thing or two about college students. Having taught college courses over the past 9 years at several community colleges, four-year colleges, and now graduate school, she has seen a shift in students being less prepared.
“When students aren’t prepared for college, this may lead to not being prepared in their future jobs,” said Price. “They need to learn to complete things fully, come to class daily and be on time, and they need to learn to advocate for themselves.”
So what did she do when she noticed this change? She teamed up with her mother, Dana Johnson, who has decades of experience teaching college freshmen at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and together, they wrote a book.
“Will This Be On the Test? is targeted to incoming college freshmen or even high school students. But, it can benefit more mature college students too,” said Price. “There’s a whole section on asking professors for a letter of recommendation. And it appeals to all majors.”
Advice for College Students
We asked Dr. Price to give us a few nuggets of advice for college students. For the full guide, however, definitely check out the book!
- Understand the fundamental difference between high school and college. “In high school, you spend most of your work time in class, whereas in college, most of your work time happens outside of class, on your own.”
- Seek help when you need it. “Some students don’t know what office hours are or they just don’t use them to get help. Other students don’t realize there are tutoring centers. They’re used to having their parents call for them rather than seeking help on their own. In big college classes, teachers can’t hold students’ hands; students need to learn to proactively advocate for themselves.”
- Develop a positive relationship with your professors. “Some students are always thinking about what they can get away with. Students should think of their professors as real people – they are friendly! Introduce yourself to a professor in the first week. Developing a positive relationships could earn you a letter of recommendation but also help you understand that everything they do is meant to help you. Their policies are there for a reason. It’s not the professor vs. the students. They design the course to benefit the students and help them think more critically/master the material better.”
- Be prepared. “Read the syllabus carefully for every class so you know what’s expected of you. Put deadlines in the front of your notebook or some prominent place so you remember. Read rubrics carefully.”
With chapter titles like “It’s Not All about You,” and “Just Kidding! It Is All about You: Personal Responsibility,” the book is written in a way that really makes sense for college students.
“Overall, the book is about developing good habits,” said Price. “You won’t get the most out of your college experience if you don’t develop the proper habits. Only 60% of students who start a college degree finish it.”
The book (Will This Be On the Test? What Your Professors Really Want You to Know about Succeeding in College.) is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target, and Walmart.
