My name is Alex Frazier, and I graduated from Harrison Central High School in 2004. I was the co-valedictorian and carried a perfect GPA of 4.0. Although I did receive high aptitude scores on the ACT (comp. 35) and SAT (M 800 V 600), I depended, as did most other students, on high school classes and experiences to ready me for college.
I am now a freshman at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. My GPA for first semester was a 3.118. It seems acceptable to most people, but to me, because of my perfect GPA in high school, it feels extremely low. Breaking down my first semester reveals a 2.56 GPA at midterms, dropped class because of failing grades, and a change of major from math to music. I thought I was prepared for college, but I could not have been further from the truth.
The problem lies not in the college, but in my high school experiences. My studies at HCHS failed to prepare me for what lay before me in the near future, I use the term "studies" loosely.
In fact, I rarely studied for any quizzes or tests in high school. The only times I ever took material home to learn were for the midterm and final exams.
Here at GCC, studying is mandatory to maintain good grades. In fact, a large amount of studying is crucial for success. Because of my lack of studying in high school, I have absolutely no study skills. I struggle to get motivated to study, and I frequently wait until the very last minute to "cram" for the test.
This entire distress could be reduced if high school classes were more difficult, requiring study techniques to be practiced and mastered.
Information at HCHS was practically spoon-fed tome with notes on the board to copy, handouts of notes, notes on the overhead projector, etc. Consequently, we students never learned how to properly take notes by listening to the teacher lecture and jotting down the important ideas and information.
Here at college, the professor frequently lectures for the entire class, expecting us to write down all vital and relevant information. We take notes every day for weeks and then are tested on a massive amount of information.
That grade could very well be half of the semester's grade, and if I did not take good notes, I achieve a miserable score. Since this was never required of me in high school, I am completely unprepared.
Also, as of June 2004, Advance Placement (AP) courses were not available at HCHS. The only "honors" class at the high school was English College Prep, and even that class was barely different from English Basic.
For example, my schedule was very full senior year, and the only opening for English was during one of the basic classes. The plan was to attend that class, but work on the honors class work instead. I could scarcely see any difference in the classes, albeit a few extra vocabulary words here and there. Having had the availability of AP classes could have greatly affected my success at GCC.
I am certain that I am not the only student that is struggling with college classes after hardly struggling in high school. This scenario is most likely common with graduates from the Harrison Hills City School District.
Seldom do you hear students call for higher standards, but I must make suggestion in this desperate situation. Provide Advanced Placement classes. Permanently alter lesson plans so students have to efficiently take detailed notes in order to success in the class. Make tests so that students are forced to learn to study.
If these solutions or variations of them will not work, dig deeper into the problem, the faculty. Certain teachers at the high school do not possess the ability to handle these suggested changes and others not aforementioned.
We, as a community, need educators who can train students in succeeding in life. Teachers are the foundations of children's education; they cannot lay a weak cornerstone. Please find a solution to these critical problems quickly, so any more damage done to graduates is minimal.
