First years learn skills, prepare for college life

By Amber Soule

You’re fresh out of high school and have never been to college, so you have no idea what to expect.

You’re stressing yourself out thinking about how you are going to balance school, work and still have a life. You have no idea what you want to do with your life, but you do know that you want to go to college to further your education. You have so many questions, but you just don’t know where to start. Sound familiar? You should consider taking HD100.

HD100 is a college success course that introduces students to college. It gives you a place to ask questions and talk to other new students. According to information released by the college, subjects covered include tips on becoming a successful college student, how to successfully manage your time, how to set goals, how to find the best learning style for you, how to develop new habits to help your success as a student, as well as how to put together a plan that connects your education and your possible future career.

HD100 is a tuition-free course with one transferable elective credit. Why is it free? Sharon Juenemann, the learning assistance coordinator, said, “Within the last few years we have decided to make HD100 a tuition-free course to give students more incentive to take advantage of it.”

With about 450 students enrolling this term, HD100 has 35 sections during fall term, and has six to eight sections running during winter and spring term. The class meets twice a week for five weeks, or once a week for 10 weeks.

The purpose of HD100 is not only to help the students get more acquainted with their college surroundings and help their learning experience, but also to increase the student’s persistence at Mt. Hood and to keep them returning the following terms. “Most college students don’t feel a connection to their college, so they don’t return. HD100 surrounds students with people just like them, people that they can talk to,” said Juenemann. HD100 really does help students connect to their college and to their fellow students, and in doing so helps them return next term. In the fall semester of 2004, of the freshmen students that didn’t take HD100, only 20 percent returned to school the following term. Of the freshman students that did take HD100, 54 percent returned the following term.

“A common mistake made by freshman students is that they underestimate class time in their schedule,” said Juenemann. “They don’t understand the time needed. You can’t just do the bare minimum; you need to go above and beyond. Plan to stay on campus beyond when your classes end, and take advantage of all of the college resources: the cafeteria, the library, and your teacher’s office hours. Get connected to your college. The more you make college you life, the more successful you will be at college,” she said.