Under the new normal, yet to be defined, society as we’ve known it will be no longer.  A tsunami of change continues to overwhelm us as we grapple with hanging on to the familiar.  The same can be said for the American higher education system.

And during this time, college students and their families have experienced all levels of bewilderment about their academic and economic futures.

Although the forces of change have smacked higher education dead in the face, rest assured, their traditional perspectives about academic life have deep roots and, most likely, will resurface once they regain the reins of their academic domain.

Old Habits May Persist in the New Normal

Grab Your FREE Download!

No doubt about it, Covid19 has left an indelible mark on the psyche of higher education. But the history of higher education bears the true tale that through multiple social calamities, higher education has been among the slowest to adapt to the intense forces of social change.

You can be guaranteed that “traditional” higher education policies, practices, and procedures will somehow find their way back into the new normal.  Most students are generally unfamiliar with their campus’ policies and procedures including the ones that they can actually manage to achieve their best academic outcomes.

So, in the wake of all this social, educational, and economic upheaval, college students really need to take some time to reassess their college and career goals and success strategies.

The state sponsored staying at home mandates could be an opportunity in disguise, allowing you the time to analyze your college experiences, investigate your campus’ student success strategies, and plan your future actions accordingly.

Issues to Think About…

Just give some thought, for a moment, as to whether or not you’ve been using the best campus strategies to accomplish your college and career goals:

1. Are you satisfied with your major or are you still undecided?
2. Are your finances for next semester in order…financial aid, student loan, part time work, etc.?
3. Have you had substantive conversations with your academic adviser about your academic plans?
4. Have you evaluated your degree audit to determine the completion status of your overall graduation requirements?
5. How are you going to use your academic options next semester: Add/Drop, Pass/Fail, and/or Course Withdrawal?
6. If you have a part-time job/college work study, how is that working out for you and your class schedule for next semester?
7. Is study abroad and/or the National Student Exchange program still a viable opportunity?
8. Have you included an internship(s) in your academic timetable?
9. Thinking about transferring to another college or university…have you done the investigative legwork yet?
10. Have you assessed last semester’s academic challenges and the changes needed to improve your performance?

The above is just a suggested list of items you may need to consider while preparing for your next semester.  And you should be preparing…

Next Steps…

Multiple national and local social and economic decisions, at all levels, will have to be made over the next several months including within your own personal sphere of influence.

Now may truly be an opportune time to plan the best college and career strategies you can with the intent of putting that plan into action before the next semester begins!

” I am not a product of my circumstances, I am a product of my decisions.” Stephen Covey

Consult steadily with those you trust.  Hopefully, that includes your academic adviser.  Academic and career advisers are temples of knowledge when it comes to college and career success and should not be overlooked during your deliberations.

Remember:  the positive mindset and consistent work habits that you develop today will definitely move your success agenda forward now and in the decades to come.