Oh, Toto, I Don’t Think We’re in High School Anymore

With a few weeks left before recent high school grads pack away their swim fins and suntan lotion and head off to their first semester, college counselors have a few tips to help shift young minds back into gear.

The best plan is to stay academically active through the summer, said Jack Rivas, an academic advisor at UC Santa Barbara.

“Don’t let their academic skills that they’ve used to graduate from high school lie dormant over the summer,” he said. “You’re elated, your family is elated and then you vegetate for three months. I would suggest not doing that.”

But students who took the summer off can still stage a comeback.

First, read, read, read. Students will be expected to do a lot of it in college and professors often expect familiarity with many of the books.

One publication that may help is ARCO’s second edition of “Reading Lists for College-Bound Students.” The book, published by Simon & Schuster Macmillan, lists the 100 most-often-recommended books for students entering college as well as a list of books recommended by individual colleges and universities.

The following are additional tips gleaned from counselors and self-help books on what students can do to make their transition into college a wee bit easier:

Summer Orientation

It’s mandatory for some, optional for others. But take advantage of this time. It’s a chance for you to make friends with other students in the same boat you’re in as well as familiarizing yourself with the campus. Get to know where the registrar’s and financial aid offices are--chances are, you’ll be making numerous visits there. It’s also important to attend this session because advisors and upperclassmen often use it to show you how to pick and register for classes--a process that can be daunting at first.

Housing

Start looking for housing now. If you haven’t been able to land a spot at the college dormitory, finding an apartment near campus can be difficult and expensive if delayed until the beginning of the school year. To find a place to live, browse rental and roommate listings at the school’s housing office, dorms and student lounge, and scour the local newspapers’ classified advertisements. If you have already been assigned a roommate, give him or her a call. See if you’re compatible before you’re stuck with them all year.

Choosing Classes

Purchase your college course catalog. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to figure out what you need to take in order to graduate. If you haven’t chosen your major yet, figure out the general requirements you need. Attending summer orientation is a good place to get help. Over the course of your college years, don’t depend entirely on advisors to tell you what you need to graduate. Keep checking the catalog, because advisors overloaded with students can make mistakes.

There are plenty of books that will give you a good hint of what you can do to prepare and what to expect once you start attending college. They cover everything from how to study to how to survive cafeteria food. Here’s a sampling:

* “The Real Freshman Handbook: An Irreverent & Totally Honest Guide to Life on Campus” is a non-stuffy book written by Jennifer Hanson and her friends, who were all college juniors when they wrote it in 1996. Houghton Mifflin Co.

* “The Princeton Review, College Companion: Attaining Academic and Social Nirvana” was written by Melanie Sponholz, who graduated summa cum laude in 1993 from Drew University in Madison, N.J., and her husband, Joe Sponholz, a 1994 cum laude from New York University. Princeton Review Publishing.

* “Educating Ourselves: The College Woman’s Handbook” is a hefty 608 pager by Rachel Dobkin and Shana Sippy that covers such issues as choosing a major and negotiating relationships. Workman Publishing.