PREPARING TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION INTO COLLEGE

            DO-IT, a program at the University of Washington (which stands for Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology), is committed to increasing the success of students with disabilities in college and careers.   The program focuses on three phases to your planning:   preparing for college, including the preparations and work you must do while you are in high school; staying in college, which entails the development and use of new skills; and preparing for moving beyond college.  

            It is important to begin your planning early.   Here are some important considerations for the first phase of your planning:

• Entrance requirements – Call the colleges you are interested in attending.   Speak with school counselors to find out what the entrance requirements are.   Ask for detailed information to be mailed to you.   Get additional information online through individual school Web sites.   Attending a community college, from which you are able to transfer to a four-year college or university, can give you additional time to meet entrance requirements.  

• High school grade point average (GPA) – Your high school GPA may be an important consideration when you apply to college.   Therefore, work hard to achieve good grades.

• Pre-college examinations – You will usually have to take a pre-college exam, such as the SAT, and the score you receive will help to determine how strongly you will be considered during the application process.   Talk to your college’s office of disability services or a school counselor about testing accommodations, if you feel that you will need them.

• Applications   -- The application includes such things as your grades, coursework, recommendations, personal goals, and abilities.   Take time to do a complete and careful job.   Have a close friend, family member, or teacher proofread your application before you send it to a college, then give you constructive feedback.

• Funding – There are resources to help you cover such costs as tuition, rent, lab fees, books, assistive technology, and application fees.   Talk to teachers, counselors, your college’s office of disability services, and the financial aid office.   Start early.

• Support services – Knowing your needs and how they can be met is an important factor in selecting a college.   Arranging support services in college, rather than beforehand, can take a lot of time, depending on what you need and the services that are available.

• Transition and orientation – Ask your high school counselor about transition programs that can help prepare you for college.   Also find out if the college you wish to attend has an orientation program for new students.

Successful Transition Fall 05 INDEPENDENCE