EDUCATION
Tips to stay safe on campus
Ways to make applying to college less stressful
Applying to colleges is exciting for
many high school students. But
that excitement is sometimes tempered
by anxiety. The college application
process can affect students’ lives
for years to come, so it’s understandable
why some teenagers might feel
stressed as they apply to college.
The National Center for Educational
Statistics says 69 percent of high school
graduates in the United States enroll in
college the fall after graduating from
high school. Many students begin applying
to college before entering their
senior year of high school. Students
can employ various strategies to make
applying to college less stressful.
Create an inventory of
experiences and awards
When completing their college applications,
students submit a variety of
materials. In addition to students’ track
records in the classroom, schools will
be interested in kids’ extracurricular
activities, hobbies, volunteer work, and
even things they do during their free
time.
Parents and students can work together
to develop a master list that includes
information about what students
have accomplished during high
school. These may include involvement
Caribbean L 42 ife, Jan. 25–31, 2019
in certain clubs, participation in sports
teams, advanced ranking in scouting
programs, or even a list of books read.
Having this document handy will make
it that much simpler to fi ll out college
applications.
Investigate the Common
Application
The Common Application began as
a niche program for select private liberal
arts colleges, but now has grown
into an organization that services more
than 750 schools. The organization enables
students to create an account and
complete one basic form that will be accepted
by all institutions who are members.
It helps students streamline the
college application process and reduce
redundancy. An alert system also helps
applicants manage application deadlines.
Avoid applying everywhere
Some students think that applying
to dozens of schools will improve their
chances of being admitted. However,
applicants may be wasting their time
applying to schools they have no intention
of attending, and that only adds to
the stress of meeting deadlines. Narrow
down the possibilities to a handful
of favorite schools and go from there.
Use the resources at your
disposal
Students who have access to guidance
counselors, mentors, college centers,
or even teachers who are willing
to help with the application process
should use these resources wisely. In
addition, iPhone and Android apps can
help streamline the college application
process.
Consider scholarships
concurrently
Some schools automatically consider
applicants for scholarships,
grants, and work-study programs. But
that’s not so with every school, so students
may have to apply on their own or
rely on third parties for scholarships.
Fastweb is a leading online resource to
fi nd scholarships to pay for school.
Advance preparation can make the
college application process a lot less
stressful for students and their parents.
The college-application process can affect students’ lives for years to come, so it’s understandable
why some teenagers might feel stressed as they apply to college.
College students have a few different
living options at their
disposal, but many opt for dormitory
living, as it is one of the more
convenient and popular boarding options,
particularly for out-of-town students.
Thousands of post-secondary
students pack up their belongings and
move away from home in the pursuit of
an education, and parents want to do
what they can to ensure their collegeaged
kids are safe.
For many students, college represents
the fi rst time they will live anywhere
other than the homes they grew
up in. Dorm life can be an exciting adventure,
but it can also be one that may
open new college students up to inherently
risky situations.
While students should look forward
to fun and excitement at school, it’s also
important for them to be prepared for
what lies ahead at college and in dorm
life — and to take the proper safety
precautions:
Fall in with a trustworthy group
of dorm friends. Friends can be informed
of your schedule for both classes
and work, so they are aware of where
you are supposed to be at certain times
of the day. If something is amiss, these
friends can alert authorities or investigate
your whereabouts further.
Lock your dorm room door. Always
keep the dorm room door locked,
and make sure your roommate is on
the same page. Locking the door can
deter people from entering without
your permission and prevent theft.
Keep belongings out of sight.
When preparing to move into a dorm,
leave heirlooms or expensive jewelry
at home. Once you move in, store your
more valuable belongings out of sight
or in a locked box or safe. Consider
getting insurance for dorm belongings,
which will protect you in the
event of theft.
Travel in groups. When attending
parties or other functions, always
arrive and leave in a group. This offers
extra protection, as assaults and
other crimes are less likely to occur
when criminals are outnumbered.
Know the evacuation routes.
Learn your dorm’s evacuation policies.
Know where all exits are and how
to get out of the building if exits may
be blocked. Find out if fi re drills or
other safety procedures are practiced,
and participate in them.
Use the elevator. If there’s an elevator,
use it. Stairwells are secluded
and dark and often provide the perfect
opportunity for would-be criminals to
take advantage of unsuspecting students.
Use common sense and trust your
instincts with regard to dorm safety.
Emphasizing caution will go a long
way toward making your college memories
good ones.
Dorm room and campus safety should be a top priority for students.