Effectively Transitioning to College

We are in this together

Transitioning to college can be challenging. You may feel a mix of emotions that can be both exciting and overwhelming. At times, you may feel alone in trying to figure out how to be successful, but in fact, it is very common to experience insecurity and lack confidence as you try something new. The key is to ask for help when you need it, as early as possible, and to recognize that everyone needs help. Professionals at all levels look to their peers and experts in the field for guidance and assistance. Writers look to fellow writers and editors. Administrators in higher education look to other colleges and hire consultants to offer advice. In fact, it is good practice to learn to ask for feedback and advice.

When you are feeling challenged and need assistance, know that it is a normal part of the college experience. Where could you use some feedback and/or assistance? What on-campus or off-campus resources might be able to assist you?

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. —Lao Tzu, philosopher

Orientation to the College

New Student Orientation

Within the first week of classes, most students realize that effectively transitioning to the college environment is an ongoing process.

Students who attended New Student Orientation before classes received some or all of the following: an overview of the requirements and opportunities specific to MCC, a photo ID, campus tours, a classroom expectation presentation, and an academic orientation that may have included school- or program-specific information and requirements.

College Success Courses

Courses designed to help students successfully transition into the college environment, such as College Orientation (COS 101) or College Orientation and Success Strategies (COS 133), are great options for students who want to start smart. These first-semester courses provide a supportive, interactive community of peers who are also embarking on their own college experiences and help you to develop the tools you need to succeed in college. Students in COS courses explore timely topics, engage in First-Year Experience activities and programming, and engage in an ongoing conversation that helps clarify their purpose, meaning, and direction.

Check your School, Pathway, & Major

When students apply to MCC, they indicate their future interests. In doing so, they become part of one of the following seven Schools:

APPLIED SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGIES: The School of Applied Sciences & Technologies offers credit and noncredit options that prepare students for careers in advanced manufacturing, engineering and applied technologies, information technology, and computer science, emergency services, and culinary arts and hospitality.

ARTS & HUMANITIES: The disciplines in the School of Arts & Humanities offer students the opportunity to explore creative means to express themselves while developing the skills most significant for success in and beyond college: innovation, written and oral communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. In the School of Arts & Humanities, students can explore career programs such as Visual Communication Technology and Interior Design, or consider transfer programs in disciplines that include Fine Arts, Communication and Media Study, and English.

BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES: If you are interested in a career involving business, accounting, management, or computer information systems, then the School of Business & Entrepreneurial Studies is the right place for you. Here you will find an exciting array of program and certificate options that will prepare you to transfer to a four-year institution or gain meaningful employment. Students in this School will apply their developing knowledge to provide the best service to their future clients and customers.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT: The School of Community Engagement &and Development is an excellent starting point if you are interested in helping your community. This School provides students with an understanding of their role within the service fields and the broader community. Students will learn to document procedures, develop interpersonal communication skills, and apply principles in their performance of services to the public. This School offers a variety of programs for transfer and employment in fields such as Addictions Counseling, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. There are many others.

HEALTH SCIENCES & PHYSICAL WELLNESS: If you are interested in a career in healthcare, sports, or physical education, then the School of Health Sciences and Physical Wellness is the place for you. Programs in this School provide students with classroom, clinical, and practical experiences to develop proficiency in their professional skills to become a valued member of their team within their chosen discipline. Degree options include Health Studies, Physical Education and Exercise Science, and Sports Management. Students interested in clinical health programs such as Radiologic Technology, Dental Hygiene, and Nursing will have the opportunity to learn about various health careers as they compete the pre-requisite courses required for admission into these competitive programs.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH (STEM): The School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) offers a wide array of programs that engage students in discovery, application of theoretical principles, and opportunities to learn how to work with cutting-edge technology. Students can choose from high-demand career programs including Biotechnology, Optical Systems Technology, and Agriculture and Food Studies or transfer programs in areas as diverse as Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering Science.

SOCIAL SCIENCES & GLOBAL STUDIES: If you are interested in examining how human beings impact the world in which we live, the School of Social Sciences & Global Studies is a great start. The programs in this area will enable you to study contemporary issues and global challenges while developing the critical thinking and professional communication skills required to examine how individuals and groups in society relate to each other. Programs in this School include African American Studies, Global Studies, Urban Studies, and Psychology, among others.

Each of the Schools is a meta-major and includes many different pathways, including certificates, Applied Associate’s Degrees (to enter a career after MCC), and Associate’s Degrees (to transfer to another college after MCC).

Whatever School you are part of, it is important to stay connected to your resources (your professors, tutors, advisors, etc.) and to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Monroe Community College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy stipulates that:

  • Students must have a minimum cumulative SAP GPA of 2.0, including TRS and repeated courses
  • Students’ credit completion must equal 67% of credit-bearing courses taken in the current term
  • Students must complete their educational program in no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program

Photo ID

It’s important to get an MCC identification card because it enables you to swipe into the many learning centers on campus and serves as your library card to check out books and media and to access the study rooms available in the Library. Additionally, you should be ready to show your current photo ID card any time you are asked to do so by a college official (Public Safety, administrator, staff, faulty). Getting an ID card is one of the activities completed during New Student Orientation, so if you didn’t attend that program, you should go get your ID card right away by going to room 3-124 D on the Downtown campus or 3-139 A on the Brighton campus

Course Materials

Coming prepared to your class is an important part of your success at MCC. Required materials for each course are listed in the course information sheet. The College bookstore offers several options for required texts including new, used, rental, and digital texts. Many course texts are also on reserve at the circulation desk for your use in the Library. You can expect to be assigned work in your course texts as early as the first day, so it is a good idea to purchase materials early.

For textbooks and related supplies:

  • Brighton Bookstore, call (585) 292-2020, DC Bookstore, call (585) 685-6006 or click here for information
  • MCC Library to borrow faculty-reserved textbooks, call (585) 292-2665, or click here to search for textbooks

If your financial circumstances prevent you from purchasing course materials, please visit the following websites to learn about resources at MCC:

Spend some time early in the semester getting organized. Some students use different colored folders for each class with corresponding notebooks. They keep important course handouts, such as the course information sheet, syllabus, and any other handouts (especially those that refer to assignments and assessments) in the folder. And, they keep all their notes in a spiral bound notebook, adding a date each time they take notes. Other students take notes on loose leaf paper, so they can add them to the folder and have all materials for assignments and tests in one place. Many online students keep a similar paper system or house all their materials electronically. The key is to find a system that works for the course and for your learning style.

Getting Involved at MCC

Making connections to peers, professors, and resources can enrich your time in college. MCC has a diverse student body. The varying backgrounds and different perspectives in the MCC community are part of what makes the college experience valuable. Getting to know classmates gives you an opportunity to find support with peers, create study groups, and make friends. Professors often know about opportunities and resources at the College, as well as opportunities beyond the College. The more the faculty are aware of who their students are, the more they can make timely recommendations, so getting to know your professors is just as valuable as getting to know other students.

There are resources at MCC to support students at each stage of their academic journey. To name a few, the First Year Experience program assists students as they transition to college, and the many learning centers help students excel in courses throughout their time at MCC. Counseling services supports students as they adjust or work through crisis, and many clubs and organizations help students connect with others who have similar interests.

By taking advantage of the resources on campus, you can not only find the support you need, but you can also learn valuable leadership skills that will be helpful in any job. These skills include preparing an agenda, running a committee meeting, presenting to an audience, making decisions by consensus, planning events, and more. Not only do you have the opportunity to learn these skills by participating in clubs and organizations, but you can develop those skills in a supportive environment where mistakes won’t cost you the job or promotion. The full college experience means getting the most out of each class as well as being involved in campus life.

Your Rights and Responsibilities as an MCC Student

Now that you have transitioned into college, it is important to commit to your many responsibilities as a student. What are your new student responsibilities? Are they financial? Course specific? Social? Health related? Ethical? What exactly is expected of you?

According to recent research, students who are involved in career-planning activities stay in college longer, graduate on time, improve their academic performance, tend to be more goal focused and motivated, and have a more satisfying and fulfilling college experience. This is why an important first step in college is examining your personal identity and values. By examining your values first, you begin the process of defining your educational goals and ultimately planning your career. These important steps will be addressed in the following chapters of this text.

Monroe Community College respects the dignity of each individual member of the College community and recognizes certain rights and responsibilities as integral to achieving opportunities for intellectual, cultural, social and personal growth, and the health and safety of every student. Student Rights and Responsibilities are outlined in MCC’s Student Handbook and discussed in the last chapter of this textbook. You may wish to refer to the handbook and Chapter 10 throughout the course for important policies and procedures.

Overall, you demonstrate that you are a responsible student when you do the following:

  • Uphold the values of honesty and academic integrity
  • Arrive on time and prepared for all classes, meetings, academic activities, and special events
  • Attend all classes and stay for the entire class period
  • Participate actively in groups
  • Give attention to quality and excellence in completing assignments
  • Allot sufficient time for responsibilities outside of class
  • Observe etiquette in all communications,
  • Give respect to instructors, fellow students, staff and the larger college community
  • Take full advantage of college resources available to you
  • Respect diversity in people, ideas, and opinions
  • Achieve educational goals in an organized, committed, and proactive manner
  • Take full responsibility for personal behavior
  • Comply with all college policies

By allowing these overarching principles to guide you, you embrace responsibility and make choices that lead to college success.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

As you transition to being a college student, you’ll need to “put yourself out there” by meeting new people and experiencing many firsts. In the next week, make a conscious effort to talk to someone on campus you don’t know or utilize a college resource or learning center you’ve never been to before. Take a step, even if it is a small step, toward connection to Monroe Community College and all it has to offer.