Seven Things Every High School Student Should Know Before College
Joseph Thoburn speaks to high school students at the Fairfax Christian School.
What separates the students who thrive in college from those who just survive? Recently, Joseph, a graduate of the Fairfax Christian School, returned to speak with high school students about how to succeed in college. Joseph earned degrees in economics and mathematics at the University of Virginia, finished last spring, and is now, at age 22, working toward a PhD in economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Joseph gave an overview of his university experience, the students asked questions, and he answered them honestly. The result is a practical road map from high school to a career, and nearly every point comes back to habits a student can start building today.
Here are seven lessons that will serve you well.
1. College Runs on Self-Discipline
No one will make you study. High school is structured from first bell to dismissal. College is not. "At most you have three hours' worth of class a day, and then you go home," Joseph told the students. "You've got to study yourself."
Nobody calls home when a student skips a lecture, either. "You're the one paying for the education. You're the one that's going to have to show up." Joseph credits the discipline built at the Fairfax Christian School with making that transition easier.
Use the transition year well. If you are coming from a prep school, the first year of university often feels like a review of the basics, giving students time to adjust to the pace. Students who use that time to build routines pull ahead. Students who coast discover the gap waiting for them.
2. Grades Matter
A strong GPA keeps every door open. Joseph was busy in high school with golf, chess club, several honor societies, and the jazz ensemble. Though extracurricular activities matter, good grades were also essential. For students hoping for athletic or merit scholarships, a strong GPA "can be the difference between you getting it and not getting it" when a committee is comparing equally qualified applicants.
Apply early if you know where you want to go. Joseph applied early action to UVA. "I got my acceptance on December 13th, and then I didn't have to stress out for the rest of the school year. I could focus on my grades." If you have a clear first choice and are serious about it, early action can take enormous pressure off senior year.
3. Opportunities Are Personal
Professors choose students they know. As an undergraduate, Joseph worked as a research assistant for a professor at George Mason University and for a PhD student at UVA. Those positions are hard to plan around, because a professor's interests have to match yours and they have to need help at that moment. But one thing is predictable: "If you have straight A's in all your classes, but you never go to office hours, and your professor doesn't know your name, the professor's not going to ask you to be the research assistant."
Show up where the faculty are. One of Joseph's research positions came from a conversation at a department social event with a graduate student who studied housing economics. They shared an interest, the grad student needed an assistant, and it was a natural fit. "I never would have had that opportunity if I hadn't gone," Joseph said. "Just being around, showing your face is half the battle."
Most departments host coffee socials, seminars where faculty present their research, and sometimes dinners with visiting speakers. These low-pressure events let students meet professors outside office hours, which many find intimidating.
Say yes when the door opens. Joseph's relationships led to more than research. Joseph spent a summer at Oxford University studying with a UVA professor and interned for a United States senator, experiences that grew out of being known and being ready.
Relationships multiply. Part of the reason Joseph chose UNC for the PhD was to widen that network. After getting to know roughly forty faculty members at UVA, Joseph now has the chance to build relationships with another forty at UNC. Different departments also have different strengths, so moving between them broadens what a student learns.
4. Math and Writing Pay Off Everywhere
Take the hard math. Joseph's advice was direct: if you can take AP Statistics, AP Precalculus, or AP Calculus, do it. Those courses are "very flexible no matter which domain you go into," whether that's biology, economics, or any other STEM field. A strong math foundation gives students more choices later.
Write well now. College also demands a great deal of writing. The essays students labor over in high school English pay off twice: once in stronger college application essays, and again in every paper that follows.
Know where the learning leads. Joseph made a point every student should understand. "A lot of times you don't enjoy learning something because you don't know where it's going." In high school, Joseph wondered why anyone would ever need a logarithm. "And now I use them all the time." Joseph hopes to work in economic consulting, where economists build the statistical models for businesses and litigation. That is high school math, put to work.
The next time "When will I ever use this?" comes up, take ten minutes to look up where that formula, poem, or historical event shows up in real careers. A subject is easier to study once you can see where it leads.
5. Read the Fine Print, Then Earn the Scores
Credit is not the same as an exemption. Joseph transferred 41 credits from high school AP and Dual Enrollment classes, but still needed four years to complete a double major, because the university required its own general education courses. "Even though they gave me credit for English, they didn't let me get out of English." Before counting on AP or dual-enrollment credit to shorten college, check whether a top score actually excuses you from the class. That can be the difference between three and four years.
A 3 is not a 4. Top schools like UVA give AP credit only for scores of 4 and above. Some universities don't give any college credit for AP scores; however, if you didn't take many AP classes or didn't get high scores, they may not even consider you for admission. Joseph had to retake a course after earning a 3 on an AP exam, when a 4 would have earned credit. Repeating material can help, but it isn't always the best use of time and money.
6. Be Flexible
Have a second path. Joseph arrived at UVA planning to major in business, took a business class, and realized it wasn't what he loved. Business schools at universities like UVA and UNC are competitive to get into, and some cost more per semester. Joseph pointed out that students who end up in economics instead still have access to the same recruiting firms, and in Joseph's view the long-term difference is small.
Don't let a rejection define you. The same goes for selective clubs. Some finance clubs manage real money and accept only a tiny fraction of applicants. Joseph served as president of the Economics Club at UVA, which drew about 120 applicants for a board of roughly 15 students. "There's just too many good candidates," Joseph said. "I wouldn't get too caught up or emotionally invested in getting into a club or not getting into a club."
Look for open doors. Joseph also worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant, grading exams and leading discussion sections. A paid university position signals to employers and graduate schools that a student can hold a job and explain ideas clearly. Many of Joseph's friends who landed internships in their second year received job offers by their third, leaving their final year free to explore subjects like literature and philosophy.
7. Finish Strong: No Senioritis
Joseph closed on a warning every senior needs to hear. Universities can and do withdraw offers of admission, even at top schools. At the University of California, for example, every acceptance is conditional: admitted students agree to earn a C or better in their senior-year courses and to keep up the level of work that earned them a place. Nationally, about one in five colleges rescinds at least one offer each year, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
Two words: no senioritis.
Survive or Thrive
So what separates the students who thrive in college from those who just survive? It isn't where they went to high school, and it isn't natural talent. Joseph's story points to something simpler and harder: habits. The student who thrives studies when no one is watching, knows professors by name, takes the hard class, reads the fine print, and keeps working after the acceptance letter arrives.
You can build every one of those habits in high school. The question isn't whether your student is capable. It's whether they will start now.
Sign up for The Scholars Report to get more practical guidance on raising scholars.
